Diabetes & heart disease improved by Safer Sauna....

Today's Post:  Friday, 3-15-2013

Alex Ortner is a health and raw foods writer. 

(Raw foods tend to be vegetables and whole fruit. 

So people who eat raw foods more or a lot most days are less fat, healthier, and eat fewer harmful and fattening foods as a result. 

And, though there is a separate way that many cruciferous vegetables prevent cancer that cooking and eating with extra virgin olive oil give you – it makes their carotenes more bioavailable, some of the most effective cancer fighting compounds in cruciferous vegetables are destroyed by heat.  Notably raw broccoli an cauliflower florets prevent the aggressive kind of prostate cancer BUT only if they are eaten raw.)

Earlier this week, Alex sent this email about the Sunlighten infrared sauna:

“If you suffer from type I or type II diabetes there may be a new tool to add to your healing arsenal.  We all know that an effective diet and exercise plan can help alleviate the symptoms of diabetes, but the treatment below might surprise you.

In a study published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Dr. Richard Beever of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Canada found that infrared saunas help diabetics.

In another study at the Fraser Lake Community Health Center in rural British Columbia, all patients with type II diabetes were invited to participate in a study consisting of 20-minute infrared sauna sessions three times a week for three months. The study used Sunlighten infrared saunas.  

"Sauna use may be associated with improved quality of life in people with type II diabetes mellitus," the research concluded.

 "Uptake of infrared saunas use is greater than the uptake of other lifestyle interventions."

When I found out about this new treatment, I looked a little deeper into how infrared technology actually works to reduce the symptoms of diabetes.  Here's what I found out:

Infrared saunas have been shown to improve the condition of diabetic neuropathy.  Infrared lighting reduces the numbing conditions and causes molecules of nitric oxide to be released from hemoglobin in the bloodstream, which, in turn, increases blood flow.

This is particularly beneficial to diabetics who suffer from poor blood circulation to the feet and other extremities.

Saunas with infrared heaters are also less hot than typical saunas, so the heart does not have to work so hard in these saunas to manage the heat….”

My comments:

He goes on to say that he and health oriented friends have had very good experiences using the Sunlighten brand of infrared sauna.

Note that in order to use one you have to have the space to install it and time to use it on top of your other life and exercises you do.  Timewise, “20 minutes 3 times a week” is doable for many people however.

But if you do have, use of an infrared sauna may be even more beneficial than his article suggests.

“Infrared lighting reduces the numbing conditions and causes molecules of nitric oxide to be released from hemoglobin in the bloodstream, which, in turn, increases blood flow. “

Better blood flow and more relaxed blood vessels caused by this nitric oxide release does a lot more than that!

Nitric oxide release can help heal people with injuries heal faster once the swelling goes down. 

It lowers high blood pressure.  It can improve ED -- and done before lovemaking can make it work better from the better blood flow.  And, it can, like vigorous exercise, get more blood flow to your heart and brain.

So using one while doing slow breathing Yoga style or Resparate style or Qi Gong style while using an infrared sauna can be a superb way to de-stress or lower high blood pressure.

Though you sweat less, the sweating you do will help you remove organic and metal toxins.

Note that although you do sweat less, drinking 9 ounces of ice water before and 9 ounces of room temperature water after is likely a good idea.

And, on days that are already a bit too hot & for people taking diuretics or who are already a bit dehydrated before their session be extra careful! 

Have someone who can check during the 20 minutes and you can call for if you suddenly feel too hot or light-headed.

And be totally sure to have the 9 ounces of ice water right before you use it.