Do you like transparency? So do we. That’s why we’re telling you up front that this article contains links to products from Sunlighten, a Bulletproof affiliate. As Dave mentions in the article, he has a Sunlighten sauna in his personal biohacking lab. The research in this article is our own; we evaluate our affiliates and their products objectively. Enjoy reading!

In today’s uber busy, 24/7 world, you might find yourself feeling less Bulletproof than you’d like some days.

I have a busy travel schedule that includes lots of time spent on airplanes, which are full of toxic chemicals, bad air, and questionable food. Diesel increases the toxic burden on the body too. If you’ve ever felt run-down, sluggish or just plain gross, perhaps after a whirlwind trip or a gluttonous holiday, you know how it is. In order to maintain my mental performance and to feel and look good, I help my body get rid of toxins through the skin, and there is no better way to do that than far infrared saunas.

That’s why the new Bulletproof Biohacking Facility just got its first full spectrum infrared sauna installed, along with a bunch of other awesome biohacking tools I can’t wait to play with.

The only problem with saunas is that a lot of them may emit unhealthy electromagnetic frequencies that stress the body. I get enough of those from sleeping in hotels, so I went with a Sunlighten sauna, which has extremely low electromagnetic frequency emissions.

Infrared Sauna Benefits: Why Sauna?

Saunas can quickly and effectively help you get back to feeling amazing again. Sauna therapy has been around for centuries as a way to detoxify your body, but did you know that full spectrum infrared saunas can go even further by heating up your body’s core to a cellular level, where most toxins are stored?

Infrared’s deep penetrating heat is what most effectively stimulates metabolic activity, which in turn triggers the release of stored toxins through sweat, as well as through the liver and kidneys.

Think about it: this is why your body goes into fever conditions when you’re sick— a hotter body increases metabolic activity, kills unwanted intruders, and stimulates the release of toxins. Viruses and sometimes even tumor cells can be destroyed in the face of heat.

Highly emissive far infrared saunas help recreate your body’s fever-like response condition but raising your core body temperature, to make you feel even better inside and out. This post explains what they are and how they work to upgrade you from the inside-out.

Upgrade Your Core With Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna

Sweating is a critical human detox function, yet most people don’t sweat regularly or enough. Sweating helps the body make use of its ability to use the skin to eliminate toxins. The body is very effective at eliminating toxins this way, but it only works if we make the body sweat.

Worse, many of us sit at desks all day, and in air-conditioned indoor environments. In these conditions, the skin stores the toxins with little opportunity to eliminate them.

To combat these effects, infrared sauna systems help us to purify our bodies from the inside out.

Benefits of the infrared spectrum on the body include:

Far Infrared:

detoxification[i]

lowered blood pressure[ii]

relaxation[iii]

Mid Infrared:

improved circulation[iv]

weight loss[v]

pain relief[vi]

Near infrared:

cell health/immunity[vii]

wound healing[viii]

anti-aging[ix]

oxygenation of tissues[x]

What Is An Infrared Sauna, And When Should You Use One?

The key to making sauna use an effective detoxification method for you is daily use. Using it once and awhile will help, but it is daily use that will result in these long-term benefits.

First, it helps to understand what the difference is between traditional saunas, far infrared saunas and full spectrum infrared saunas:

Traditional hot rock and steam saunas operate at extremely high temperatures in excess of 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This kind of heat is uncomfortable for many people, and it is not necessarily effective as it simply heats the air around you.

Infrared light, experienced as heat, is the invisible part of the sun’s spectrum and is necessary for all living things. Far infrared has the ability to penetrate human tissue providing a deep, detoxifying sweat. Far infrared saunas are the most common on the market.

Full spectrum saunas emit three infrared wavelengths independently – near, mid and far. At optimal frequencies, the different wavelengths can precisely target specific benefits. Near infrared light shouldn’t be confused with ordinary red light. Therapeutic near infrared light is invisible to the naked eye and has a consistent output without extreme heat or light.

Next, keep in mind that not all infrared saunas are exactly the same.

Types of Infrared Saunas

If you are using an infrared sauna for health benefits, the single most important element to consider is heater emissivity, which is a measurement of how efficiently infrared heat is being conducted. In essence, high emissivity equals high quality and quantity of infrared light.

Part of the reason I chose a Sunlighten is that its heaters are up to 99% emissive and deliver the most effective far, mid and near infrared heat available.[xi] Sunlighten also manufactures the only 3 in 1 system with three separate heating zones to deliver near, mid and far infrared at optimal wavelengths they calculated based on more than 50 clinical studies.[xii]

Key Guidelines to Upgrade Your Sauna Experience

Here are a few guidelines for safe and effective sauna use:

Pre sauna session, hydrate with at least 8 ounces of water to prepare your body for an increase in core body temperature. It is best to maintain peak hydration throughout the day by drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water.

To get your body accustomed to infrared therapy, start with 10-15 minute sessions at 100°F every other day. The optimal sauna experience occurs between 100° and 130°

Gradually increase session length towards 40 minute daily sessions at the optimal temperature range

Don’t be surprised if you don’t sweat during the first few sessions. Sweating will increase with regular use, removing toxins and leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Listen to your body and be aware of excessive detoxifying. If you begin to feel flu-like symptoms, discontinue use and consult your physician.

Post sauna session, drink at least 24 ounces of water or electrolytes to rehydrate. Dry off with a clean Bamboo Carbon towel, which is anti-fungal, anti-microbial, then and let your body cool naturally.

You can follow up later with a refreshing shower.

Ready to Sweat?

Infrared saunas are more effective at stimulating detoxification and gentler on the body than traditional hot rock saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs. Deep, cellular sweating is key to detoxify and energize your body! And did I mention…it’s a great way to relax, too?

References:

[i] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/solo-test-results.pdf

[ii] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/health-benefits/

[iii] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/health-benefits.pdf

[iv] http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1127811

[v] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/Dr-Beever-Weight-Loss-Research.pdf

[vi] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/auburn-study-111313.pdf

[vii] http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1127438

[viii] http://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=dentistry_fac

[ix] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16414908

[x] http://www.sunlighten.com/cell_health.html

[xi] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/osaka-japan-test-results.pdf

[xii] http://www.sunlighten.com/pdfs/solocarbon-custom-spectrum-efficiency.pdf