21 Comments

  1. References

    1. Research found a 142% increase in IGF-1 during sauna use.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/999213/

    2. If you suffer from depression or just want to improve your mood, the sauna might be able to help. One reason is that sauna use increases beta-endorphins in the blood and produces feelings of euphoria.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3218898/
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3002937/
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8061252/

    3. Whole-body heat therapy has also been shown to improve symptoms of depression in cancer patients through this same mechanism.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1607735/

    4. In a randomized, double-blind study on depression, a single session of elevating core body temperature to 101.3°F caused an acute antidepressant effect that lasted for six weeks after the treatment.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27172277/

    5. Research shows that using a sauna in combination with other therapies aided the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4719492/

    6. Another study found that sauna therapy reduced the pain from fibromyalgia.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21742283/

    7. There is little evidence on if the sauna reduces soreness from workouts. But, if it does help reduce soreness, as many people claim, it is likely because saunas cause the release of endorphins, which are opiate-like chemicals that act as natural pain killers.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3218898/
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3002937/
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8061252/

    8. Heat stress increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, also known as BDNF, which is a protein that is crucial for cognitive health.
    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02656736.2017.1394502

    9. Research shows that BDNF is also involved in muscle repair and the growth of new muscle tissue.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23897689/

    10. A study of middle-aged Finnish men found that those who used the sauna four to seven times per week had a 65% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those who used the sauna only once per week.
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187

    11. Men were instructed to stay in a sauna that was heated to 176 degrees Fahrenheit or 80 degrees Celcius until they felt totally exhausted and felt like they had to leave to take a break from the heat. And the results showed that there was a 310 percent increase in norepinephrine and a ten-fold increase in prolactin
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2759081/

    12. “Heat stress significantly increased prolactin and norepinephrine secretion; the percentage increases from the initial plasma concentrations varied from 113 to 1280% (mean 510%) and from 18 to 150% (mean 86%),”
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00691246

    13. Research shows that sauna use can reduce levels of cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone in the body.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3788622/
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2759081/

    14. That’s beneficial because research indicates that reduced levels of BDNF might play a role in depression and anxiety
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2732010/
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4513557

    15. “The present data suggest a protective effect of regular sauna on skin physiology, especially surface pH and stratum corneum water-holding capacity.”
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18525205

    16. According to animal studies, heat shock proteins might reduce fat mass.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4216407/

    17. A 2015 study involving Finnish men between 42 and 60 years of age looked at the link between sauna use and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events.
    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2130724

    18. "Further studies are warranted to establish the potential mechanism that links sauna bathing and cardiovascular health."  
    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2130724

    19. "via improved endothelium-dependent dilatation, reduced arterial stiffness, modulation of the autonomic nervous system, beneficial changes in circulating lipid profiles, and lowering of systemic blood pressure"
    https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(18)30275-1/fulltext

    20. “The higher frequency of sauna bathing was related to a considerable decreased risk . . . of all-cause mortality events independently from conventional risk factors.”
    https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2130724

    21. Flies that are repeatedly exposed to head stress experience much higher levels of heat shock proteins and a significant increase in lifespan.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12815314/

  2. I been having a lot of stress & be getting depressed at times & when I go to the gym & hit the sauna right after makes my mood soo much better it really relieves stress!!

  3. I’m in my first week of sauna use. I had a stroke 4 years ago and it’s hard for me to recover from hard workouts. I usually skip 2-3 days to feel recovered.
    This week I have felt like I could lift every day.
    I’m doing 30 minutes per night in the sauna.

  4. I like to play chess in the sauna. Or any logical game what needs your brain. And when my body starting to heat up after 15-20 miutes, in 100 celsius, your brain works so hard. You walking out from wall to wall almost, but you need to solve the logical propblem. Its train your brain. After that in room temperature, i beat the 2000+ level opponents…

  5. While there may be benefits to sauna, there are so many conclusions that this video draws that are misleading. Finnish men who sauna more often are likely more social and exercise more. Saying "sauna significantly decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimers" is just bad science. Another example is the claim that "sauna increases norepinephrine and therefore helps your focus". You might have elevated NE levels during sauna, but that doesn't say anything about enduring focus benefits.

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