The immune system is an amazing thing, capable of fighting to protect your body against armies of harmful organisms and toxic chemicals. While many people think that the immune system is most vulnerable during cold and flu season, it can actually suffer at any point during the year because of certain lifestyle choices. Things such as unhealthy eating, chronic stress, and not getting enough sleep or exercise all have an effect on your immune system.
There are several ways to boost your immune system, but only a handful of these are natural methods. One such option is to buy an infrared sauna, as its health and wellness properties can be of great benefit to those who have poor immune systems.
Symptoms of a Weak Immune System
A weak immune system prevents your body from fighting infection and disease. It’s the reason that some people seemingly catch every illness going around, while others are never or rarely affected.
There are several factors that can lead to a weakened immune system, although having a hereditary immunodeficiency disorder is the conclusion many people jump to. However, other factors that can influence your immune system include emotional stress, lack of sleep, overworking your body, chemical exposure, viral or bacterial infection, and dietary habits.
While a weak immune system may need the expert diagnosis of a doctor to detect, there are signs that you can look out for that include pink eye, sinus infections, colds, diarrhea, pneumonia, and yeast infections. Someone with a weakened immune system will likely have intense or repeated bouts, rather than a one-off occurrence. Fortunately, you don’t need an official diagnosis before using an infrared sauna to bolster your immune system.
How an Infrared Sauna Can Boost Your Immune System
Far infrared saunas work by raising the core temperature of the body, much like your body does when it’s exercising, or trying to fight off bacteria, microbes, and infections. When the body’s core temperature rises, your bone marrow produces a higher number of white blood cells and the thymus produces more T-cells. This means that your body is better able to fight off any potential infections, giving your whole immune system a boost. Studies have shown that people who regularly sauna bathe are more than 65% less likely to catch a cold or influenza.
In addition to the increased production of pathogen fighting cells, using a far infrared sauna induces your body to sweat profusely. This is because the infrared rays penetrate deep into your skin, leading to an increase in blood and oxygen flow. The heat warms you from the inside rather than the outside, so it has the effect of pushing out toxins rather than pulling them out. This winds up removing 5-6 times more toxins from your body than traditional sweating can. The detox effect sweating provides further helps the immune system, as there will be less toxins for your body to fight.
Using a far infrared sauna can help relax the body and mind, improve sleep patterns, burn up to 600 calories in a 30-minute session, and promote a healthier lifestyle. Considering that lack of sleep and stress are two big factors in weakening the immune system, this should also give your immune system a boost.
If you’re concerned about your immune system, using an infrared sauna as a complementary therapy to any medical treatment is an excellent way to treat your symptoms and feel better physically and mentally.
Sources:
Immunodeficiency Disorders, HealthLine.com
6 Benefits of Infrared Sauna Therapy, MindBodyGreen.com
