Did you know that environmental toxins can affect your weight? New Norwegian research documents a phenomenon already well-known in the USA: How toxins (obesogens) can cause obesity.
– I deliberately talk little about weight, but this is very interesting research that I believe is important to share, says Siw Hansson Kaulbach, founder of the Radiant Health brand.
Environmental toxins can increase weight
In the recently published study, researchers at NTNU examined 34 different plastic products and found a staggering 55,000 different chemical components in the products. They were only able to identify 629 of them. It turns out that these substances, when ingested, develop new fat cells.
Environmental toxins are stored in fat cells and adipose tissue. Environmental toxins disrupt metabolism and can increase the volume of fat cells, as well as block fat burning, which in turn makes it difficult to lose weight. The disruptions can also affect hunger and satiety. The ripple effects are many.
In the USA, the problem has long been an established phenomenon; that toxins in food, medicines, and the environment cause obesity (obesity) in the population. The environmental toxins linked to obesity are called " obesogens."
Infrared sauna reduces environmental toxins
Infrared sauna is a good tool for reducing environmental toxins in the body.
– The research on obesogens becomes very interesting when put in the context of studies on infrared sauna and detoxification, explains the founder.
When you take an infrared sauna, your body absorbs the infrared heat rays, which in turn penetrate skin and tissue. Infrared heat rays penetrate five times deeper into the body than the heat in a traditional Finnish sauna. Environmental toxins are mobilized out of fat cells and excreted through sweat, urine, and feces.
Sweat excretes Bisphenol A (BPA)
A study from 2012 showed that 15-20% of induced sweat consisted of cholesterol, fat-soluble toxins, heavy metals, sulfuric acid, and ammonia, as well as sodium and uric acid. The excretion of certain heavy metals was also found to be significantly higher in sweat than in urine.
The endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A (BPA), one of the worst offenders in plastic, is excreted to a greater extent in sweat than in urine. BPA has been detected in sweat even when not detected in either serum or urine samples.
Infrared sauna and weight loss
Infrared sauna works in two ways:
The sauna supports the body's detoxification processes to remove environmental toxins from the body AND it increases heart rate and pushes the body into burning mode. Studies such as this one and this one have shown that an increase in core temperature over time with infrared sauna reduces body fat percentage. With increased excretion of waste products, weight loss will also be easier.
There can be many reasons why people struggle with their weight. In addition to environmental toxins, everything from diet, calories, and stress, to lack of sleep, medications, and genes can play a role.
Decades of research indicate that infrared sauna offers many health benefits. Primarily, the sauna helps the body heal itself. We can mention strong detoxification, pain relief, increased circulation, increased metabolism, healthier and clearer skin, better sleep, and more energy.
These positive health effects have led to infrared heat gaining more and more attention in medicine. Studies also reveal that regular sauna visits mean we live longer.
Fat, sweat, and tears
Fun fact: When losing 10 kg of fat, 8.4 kg is breathed out, while 1.6 kg becomes water that is excreted through urine, feces, sweat, and tears.
Text: Trine Dahlman
