Are you going for a full detox? If you are eating well and combining it with exercise, the next step you need to take is to purge those remaining toxins. A trip to your local spa can help, but like many others, you may be wondering if a sauna or steam room would work better?
Both use heat to cleanse your pores and improve skin, but knowing the added benefits can help you make a decision. Below, we give our guide to the sauna vs steam rooms argument.
Differences Between a Steam Room and a Sauna
While similar, the steam room and the sauna have quite a few fundamental differences. Both have advantages and disadvantages when you are considering a detox. The best way to view them is that one uses moisture, and one uses heat.
The sauna uses a wooden stove (it may be gas or electric if a modern counterpart) to heat rocks. It creates a very hot environment with low humidity. It is recommended that each sitting lasts around 20 minutes.
Modern equivalents are the infrared sauna. These saunas use light as opposed to steam to create heat. They raise your core body temperature to produce the same reaction.
A steam room uses humidity caused by the release of steam into an enclosed space. Steam is created by a generator, or boiling water is poured over hot stones. It is recommended that people should spend around 15 minutes in a steam room.
Benefits of a Steam Room
A steam room is great for anyone with nasal problems. If a user is congested or a little bunged-up, the hot steam can help clear the passageways. Many steam rooms use oils to assist with this, so you may notice a tang of eucalyptus or tea tree in many steam rooms.
The second health benefit is their ability to promote relaxation in muscles. The combination of heat and moisture can release tension and knots in a way similar to that of a massage. This method can also help relieve any mental stress and promote relaxation in the mind.
Finally, the type of heat in a steam room can improve your circulation. Good circulation leads to better organ function and a number of enhanced health benefits.
Benefits of a Sauna
Experts at The Sauna Company say “Saunas provide some slightly different health benefits to a steam room. One they both have in common is their ability to improve circulation, as previously mentioned.
Saunas are a better choice for anyone trying to promote athletic recovery. Infrared saunas, in particular, have been known to relax and improve the neuromuscular system in a much quicker time frame. “
Studies have also shown that they can assist with pain relief. Joints and muscle ailments have been known to reduce their effects with sauna treatments, particularly in the use of infrared saunas.
Benefits for a Detox
Both saunas and steam rooms use heat to open up the pores in the skin, a natural process that occurs when your body sweats. This releases toxins, replenishing, and rejuvenating. A build-up of dead skin and sebum, both responsible for blocking pores and creating spots, can be removed in this manner.
The elevation in temperature in both types of the room increases circulation. This is known to result in healthier skin and more energy.
Cleansing the Body
Once you know the benefits of a sauna and steam room using our handy guide, you can make an informed decision. Alternatively, try them both for a number of weeks and see which makes the most improvement to your wellbeing.
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