One of the best ways to support your body in its attempt to cleanse and detox is with regular sessions in the steam room. What are some health benefits to expect from the steam room?
Cleansing and detoxing your body is important all year round. Whilst many of us think a detox is an annual antidote to the Christmas excesses, it is actually an essential activity and crucial to maintaining good health and well-being.
Steam rooms use moist heat, whereas saunas provide dry heat. A steam room achieves its heat and humidity through water vapour being pumped into the room. Whereas a sauna achieves its heat via a wood stove or heater. Both are highly effective at helping you to cleanse and detox; however, steam rooms are renowned for supporting your body in its expulsion of toxins and waste product build-up.
Stress, poor diet and digestion, medication and other external factors can all lead to a build-up of toxins. The heat of the steam room will open approximately 2.6 million sweat glands located under your skin. Just a single session in the steam room could help your body to eliminate up to 30 per cent of its waste and toxins through perspiration. Although it is worth noting the more regularly you visit the steam room the better the results.
Your immune system will benefit from regular steam room sessions too. When your body reaches the ambient temperature of the steam room, or 101 degrees Fahrenheit, viruses and bacteria accumulated are unable to survive such high temperatures. Furthermore, your body is also encouraged to produce more white blood cells, which help to fight infection.
It is proven that regularly relaxing in a steam room can help to soothe both your mind and your body. Steam rooms can help to alleviate stress and tension, and the calm environment promotes mindfulness. This, in turn, lowers blood pressure, relieves headaches, and can also help to promote a better night’s sleep.
Following a workout with a session in the steam room will help your muscles relax and prevent lactic acid from building up which can cause muscle aches and soreness. In addition, the heat from the steam will dilate blood vessels, improve circulation and increase blood flow which allows oxygen and nutrients to reach the areas they are needed most. Relaxing in the steam room is also an ideal way to reward yourself for your efforts in the gym. The promise of a little ‘you’ time can act as great motivation.
And finally, steam rooms are proven to rejuvenate your skin. As the steam opens your pores it allows toxins and waste products to be flushed out whilst deep cleansing your skin. Dirt, impurities and blackheads are expelled, and the appearance of acne is greatly improved. In addition, the heat of the steam helps to stimulate blood circulation to your skin’s surface. This means dead skin cells are removed and pores are hydrated, resulting in younger-looking and glowing skin.
