Can Infrared Therapy Help You Fit Into a Smaller Size of Jeans?
Infrared saunas have been a wellness trend for some time now. More recently, the at-home version – the infrared sauna blanket – has been growing rapidly in popularity. Stronger immunity, relaxation, stress relief, better circulation, and pain reduction are just a few of the many positive effects of infrared therapy. Some users even claim that infrared sessions can help with weight loss – but is that really true?
What Is Infrared Therapy?
Infrared therapy is most often experienced in infrared saunas, which use light to create heat. Unlike traditional saunas, which heat the air with steam or hot stones, infrared saunas don’t heat the air around you. Instead, invisible infrared light warms the body from the inside out (it’s a type of electromagnetic radiation with a longer wavelength than visible light).
Infrared saunas operate at lower temperatures than traditional saunas, making it possible to enjoy the benefits of a sauna for longer sessions. Many people prefer this because it feels less overwhelming and more relaxing compared to high heat.
Today’s at-home infrared sauna blankets work on the same principle – instead of going to the sauna, you wrap yourself in a portable blanket and sweat it out. Yes, even in front of the TV!
Why Is Infrared Therapy Beneficial?
Decades of research confirm that regular sauna use increases life expectancy and plays an important role in maintaining good health.
Using an infrared sauna or infrared sauna blanket creates what is known as “beneficial stress” in the body. How can stress be good? Think of exercise: the physical stress of a workout makes the body stronger and more resilient the next time. Infrared therapy works the same way – your body adapts to the heat, becoming healthier in the process.
Scientifically proven benefits of infrared therapy include:
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Reduced stress
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Reduced depression
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Pain relief
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Relief from chronic pain
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Faster wound healing
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Reduced side effects of diabetes
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Reduced chronic fatigue
Does Infrared Therapy Support Weight Loss?
While these benefits are well documented, the link between infrared therapy and weight loss is less clear. It’s normal to lose some weight after a sauna session, but that’s usually temporary water loss from sweating.
One small study from Binghamton University in New York had participants use an infrared sauna three times a week for 45 minutes. After four months, those using the sauna had lost up to 4% body fat compared to the control group. While this sounds encouraging, it’s important to note that researchers didn’t track participants’ diet or exercise outside of the sessions, so the exact reason for the fat loss isn’t clear.
Still, infrared therapy may support weight loss indirectly. Both saunas and infrared sauna blankets raise heart rate and metabolism. As your body heats up, it works harder to cool itself down, which burns energy and boosts circulation.
Physiological reactions to sauna use are similar to those experienced during moderate to intense exercise. Sauna use can even be an alternative for people who can’t exercise due to chronic illness or physical limitations. One study published in the International Journal of Complementary Therapies in Medicine found that a 30-minute infrared sauna session provides the cardiovascular load of a 40-minute jog and can burn between 200 and 600 calories.
Less Stress = Better Weight Control
In today’s world, stress is a part of everyday life – and it’s harmful to health in many ways. One common effect of stress is weight gain or difficulty losing weight.
Stress often leads to skipping healthy meals, lack of physical activity, and poor sleep. It can also raise cortisol levels, a hormone linked to stubborn fat storage. That’s why stress management is so important when trying to lose weight.
Here’s where the infrared sauna blanket comes in. Research shows that infrared therapy helps reduce stress and promote relaxation. Less stress means better chances of losing weight successfully.
Conclusion
While more research is needed to establish a direct link between infrared therapy and weight loss, we know that it activates processes in the body that can indirectly support fat loss.
Infrared therapy provides numerous benefits: reduced stress, detoxification, a stronger immune system, healthier skin, and pain relief. If the time you spend enjoying your infrared sauna blanket also helps you drop a size in jeans, consider it a fantastic bonus!
Of course, sauna sessions don’t replace physical activity and balanced nutrition. The best results for your health come from combining all three. Give infrared therapy a chance to free your body from stress, tension, and toxins. Be your body’s best friend!