Saunas have been a tool used to improve health and mental well-being for centuries. There are many different health benefits to using a sauna from reduced stress levels to detoxification of the skin.

One question that we often get as one of the leading sauna suppliers UK is whether or not saunas are a good tool for weight loss.

This is a difficult question to answer. Saunas are no miracle weight loss god-send. They won’t make up for a lack or exercise and poor diet and are not designed to be used as your sole method of shedding the pounds.

However, they do have a relationship with weight loss and can be a valuable tool for those committed to losing weight and assist them in the process.

Will you lose weight in a single sauna session?

You might find that you are lighted when you leave a sauna than when you enter. Don’t get excited, this weight is almost all water weight lost through sweat during your sauna session. Water weight loss is very different to fat loss and should be replenished as soon as you can by drinking water. Dehydration is a serious threat when you fail to replace water loss or stay in a sauna too long.

How can a sauna help you to lose weight?

There are a number of ways a sauna can promote weight loss, even if it doesn’t directly result in it.

Firstly, sauna use raises your heart rate in a similar way to exercise leading to a temporary rise in your calorie usage. This can last for some time after you leave the sauna, for as long as your heart rate remains elevated, but will do little if you don’t back it up with exercise or lower calorie intake.

Secondly, using a sauna is proven to help reduce your stress level and stress is one of the biggest causes of weight gain. Stress can lead to poor eating habits, lack of sleep, and hormonal imbalances, all things that can cause weight gain to occur. Using a sauna on a regular basis can be a great way to soothe the mind and become more at peace with the world.

Sauna use, like any healthy habit is exactly that, a habit. Lots of people use their home sauna as a post-exercise reward to help with muscle recovery and relaxation. Once you are in a routine of working out then going to the gym, you are much more likely to stick to it and your sauna becomes an integral part of a weight loss programme.

There is also some research that suggests using a sauna can help to reduce your appetite and cravings for junk food making it easier for you to maintain a healthy diet and avoid high calorie food.

Overall, Saunas can aid in weight loss but they are not a get ripped quick solution and certainly should never be used as a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.