Back
The hot truth about Finnish saunas
Hi Friends,
Dry sauna is likely superior to wet sauna
Dry (Finnish) sauna delivers low-humidity heat, so your skin hits 40 °C in minutes while core creeps up only ~1 °C. That gradient shunts up to 70 % more cardiac output to the skin, mimicking moderate-intensity cardio without moving a muscle.
1. Enhanced Blood Flow: The heart pumps up to 70% more blood, similar to intense aerobic exercise (zone 3), with 50-70% of this increased flow re-directed to the skin, promoting vasodilation and improved skin circulation.
2. Increased sweating and detoxification: To maintain a stable core temperature, the skin produces 0.6-1 kg of sweat per hour, facilitating significant detoxification.
3. Improved heat tolerance: The body becomes better at handling heat, leading to a lower core body temperature (offering metabolic advantages) and an increased capacity for efficient sweating in hotter climates.
4. Activation of heat-shock proteins: The skin experiences substantial heat shock protein activation, while a modest 1°C increase in core temperature is sufficient to activate these proteins without the risk of hyperthermia.
5. Longer exposure at higher temperatures: dry saunas are more tolerable for longer durations and at higher temperatures, allowing users to maximize the benefits at minimal risk.
Keep calm and sauna on,
Bryan
