Infrared sauna and detox: sweat is not "just" the body's air conditioning. Sweat also removes waste products and toxins. An infrared sauna can be a useful tool for reducing environmental toxins in the body.
Saunas and "sweat lodges" have been used for thousands of years to cleanse and heal the body, and they are still popular today. Decades of research show that using a sauna has a range of health benefits, including pain relief, better-looking skin, better sleep, good recovery after hard training, improved performance and increased detoxification. Infrared heat is used as part of the treatment of diseases, and is receiving growing attention in medicine. Studies suggest that regular sauna sessions mean we live longer.
When it comes to infrared sauna and detox, or detoxification, the experts disagree. While some argue it is a myth that sweating in a sauna can "detox" the body, others point to research that has found heavy metals and environmental toxins in sweat. Both sides want more research, but that does not mean there is no research.
The "cocktail effect"
It turns out that Norwegians are among the most toxin-laden people in the world. Sixty years ago we carried around six or seven different harmful substances in the body. Today the number is between 200 and 400, including pesticides and mycotoxins (mould toxins).
In 2017, the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) listed 85,000 known chemicals. No one knows how many chemicals are actually in use or how they affect our health. Researchers are concerned about the "cocktail effect". The combined total may have unforeseen consequences. We know that environmental toxins can accumulate in the body and be stored in fatty tissue, which in turn can lead to illness.
Higher levels of environmental toxins in sweat than in urine
The body's own detoxification system works continuously to remove waste products and toxins through breath (carbon dioxide), stools, urine and sweat.
A study published in 2012 reported that 15-20% of induced sweat in an infrared sauna consisted of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulphuric acid and ammonia, as well as sodium and uric acid. In other words, an infrared sauna can enable the body to eliminate environmental toxins through sweat. The excretion of certain heavy metals was also found to be markedly higher in sweat than in urine.
In a study on Bisphenol A (BPA) in blood, sweat and urine, the substance was found to varying degrees in blood, urine and sweat. BPA is a chemical we take in through food and drink stored in plastic containers, as well as cosmetics, till receipts, dust and medical equipment in hospitals. It is an endocrine-disrupting substance. BPA has been linked to several diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cancer, and to kidney and liver damage. In the study, with 20 participants, BPA was also identified in sweat, even though it was not detected in the serum or urine sample. The study concluded that sweating appears to be a useful tool for helping to release BPA through the skin, in order to reduce the toxin in the body.
In the USA, environmental toxins in fatty tissue are considered a direct cause of rising overweight in the population; "obesogens", because the stored toxins disrupt metabolism. The toxins may also be one reason why some people struggle to lose weight.
A study from 2018 used infrared sauna as an aid to remove mycotoxins (mould toxins) in patients exposed to mould. When the English ME doctor Dr Myhill carried out tissue biopsies on her patients before and after sauna use, it turned out that all of them had a reduced level of toxins in the body. One of the patients had toxins reduced to ¼ of the original level.
"Killer sweat"
There are many good reasons to sweat. In 2001, a group of researchers discovered that sweat contains a natural antibiotic, a protein, which kills bacteria on the skin. Among other things, the protein can kill E. coli and fungi, and is important for protecting wounds against bacterial infections. Sweat also works as a natural moisturiser for the skin, and helps with dry skin and certain skin conditions.
By the way, do you know what happens when fat leaves the body? Where does the fat actually go? It does not turn into muscle, as many people think. Fat is broken down into carbon dioxide and water. Fun fact: With a weight loss of 10 kilos of fat, 8.4 kilos are breathed out, while 1.6 kilos become water that leaves the body through fluids such as urine, stools, sweat or tears (source: NHI.no)
Infrared sauna and DETOX: environmental toxins in the body are reduced by infrared sauna
Washing the body clean of toxins with an infrared sauna, or "flushing out" all toxins, is impossible. We are continuously exposed to environmental toxins, but, whether the amount is large or small, studies conclude that an infrared sauna can be a useful tool for reducing the burden of environmental toxins in the body.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is intended as general information only. Research on infrared heat and red light therapy is still developing, and individual results may vary. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Contact a doctor or other qualified healthcare professional if you have questions about your own health, diagnosis or treatment.
Text: Trine Dahlman
