The Scoop On Saunas And Weight Loss

Can taking saunas really help you lose weight?

The best answer I can give you is yes and no...

My main information source for this article on saunas and weight loss is my book called Sauna Therapy written by sauna researcher and expert Dr. Lawrence Wilson, MD.

Dr. Wilson has a great deal of knowledge about the benefits of sauna, so he’s a credible source for sauna information.

Do saunas burn calories?

Sauna sellers claim that taking a sauna burns hundreds of calories. I’ve seen claims of 600 calories and upwards of 1000 calories burned by spending 30 minutes in a sauna.

Fact or fiction?

Well obviously that depends on who you ask, but I certainly wouldn’t rely on a company selling saunas to tell me the real deal – for obvious reasons.

Dr. Wilson says that “the body does not have to burn calories to generate heat.” After all, the heat is being provided by an outside source.

Compare that to a fever. A fever is something that your body creates in order to fight infection, so calories are burned in the process.

During exercise, muscles are contracting, you’re generating heat and you’re burning calories.

In a sauna, the cooling process that is activated within your body does burn calories, but probably far less than some of the claims.

Ok, what about saunas and weight loss? Can taking saunas help you lose weight?

Yes, absolutely. Unfortunately, most of the weight is not the kind of weight that you really want to lose, which is fat.

“Temporary weight loss occurs due to sweating”, says Dr. Wilson. In other words, you lose water weight.

Dr. Wilson does say that some weight loss occurs due to elimination of unhealthy tissue.He also outlines some other ways that a sauna can fit into a weight loss program…

#1 Fatty tissue usually has very poor circulation.

Taking saunas can help enhance circulation, so regular use may help break down fatty deposits.

#2 An unhealthy, toxic environment within your body can help create imbalances of your liver, adrenals, pancreas, and other organs.

These imbalances can help create cravings for junk food.

Regular sauna use may curb your urge to eat sweets, starches and high fat foods by um, cleaning up the house a bit.

#3 Taking saunas may promote better nutrient absorption from food by eliminating toxic metals and chemicals.

Many times people feel hungry when really their body is simply craving nutrients that are missing from the diet.

If you can better absorb nutrients from the foods you eat, your chances of over-eating really decrease.

Of course you'll need to eat nutrient dense foods to fully realize that benefit.

#4 Using a sauna may enhance metabolic processes at the cellular level.

According to Dr. Wilson, this can help you burn fat more efficiently.

There are contradictory messages about saunas and weight loss, but here's the take home message…

Taking saunas can improve your health, but don’t count on losing weight.

Eat right, exercise and make the sauna a part of your overall weight loss strategy.

Check out this list of sauna books to learn more about sauna benefits.


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