Does Sauna Burn Fat?

For many people the biggest health issue they concern themselves with is shedding unwanted pounds. While there is a lot of advice online about how to lose weight, the sauna often gets overlooked as a tool in the fat burning arsenal.

It is true that most of the weight you lose after coming out of a sauna initially is simply water weight, however that shouldn’t cloud the fact that a sauna session helps to boost the body’s metabolism long after leaving the sauna. Boosts of 20% in metabolism are common according to Doctor of Physical Therapy Tim Jackson. This boost in metabolism lasts long after you have left the sauna (provided you are using proper heat levels of at least 150f in a traditional sauna).

Calories are the major cause of weight gain for most people. It makes sense to both limit calories coming in as well as burning calories by working out. Sauna use burns calories in a way similar to exercise. By heating up the body, the heart must beat faster in order to keep cool. The result is that simply sitting in a sauna burns a surprising amount of calories. According to the Mayo clinic health education website, a person weighing around 160 lbs. will burn about 300 calories during a 30-minute session in the sauna. This can be a game changer for people unable to fit in a proper workout before bed, or any other time, in their own home.

The stress hormone cortisol is a major cause of weight gain for many people. A sauna session has been shown to de-stress the mind in a number of ways. First of all it is a proven sleep enhancer, and more sleep has been shown to increase stress tolerance and improve moods. Sauna use also produces prolactin which the body converts into myelin which also protects our minds from being more vulnerable to anxiety. Sauna use also increases beta-endorphins and Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, both of which help create a sense of calm and happiness.

So which kind of sauna helps lose weight the most effectively? The steam sauna is the least likely to help since the ambient humid temperature will feel hotter while actually heating your body less. Infrared saunas have the advantage of heating the body without the sensation feeling high heat which is uncomfortable for many. This means your metabolism will increase without making you uncomfortably hot.

Calorie Burning

Calories are the major cause of weight gain for most people. It makes sense to both limit calories coming in as well as burning calories by working out. Sauna use burns calories in a way similar to exercise. By heating up the body, the heart must beat faster in order to keep cool. The result is that simply sitting in a sauna burns a surprising amount of calories. According to the Mayo clinic health education website, a person weighing around 160 lbs. will burn about 300 calories during a 30-minute session in the sauna. This can be a game changer for people unable to fit in a proper workout before bed, or any other time, in their own home.

Combat Cortisol

The stress hormone cortisol is a major cause of weight gain for many people. A sauna session has been shown to de-stress the mind in a number of ways. First of all it is a proven sleep enhancer, and more sleep has been shown to increase stress tolerance and improve moods. Sauna use also produces prolactin which the body converts into myelin which also protects our minds from being more vulnerable to anxiety. Sauna use also increases beta-endorphins and Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, both of which help create a sense of calm and happiness.

So which kind of sauna helps lose weight the most effectively? The steam sauna is the least likely to help since the ambient humid temperature will feel hotter while actually heating your body less. Infrared saunas have the advantage of heating the body without the sensation feeling high heat which is uncomfortable for many. This means your metabolism will increase without making you uncomfortably hot.