Sauna and Liver Health: Investigating the Science Behind Sauna Session

Long used for relaxation and socializing, saunas have become one of the top wellness trends making waves. 

Athletes swear by them for muscle recovery, busy folks leverage the heat for stress relief and anxiety, and skincare enthusiasts use the sauna heat to achieve unbeatable glowing skin.

Did you know that these sweat-inducing sessions can also improve your liver function? Sure, this may sound too good to be true, but recent studies have shown many benefits of sauna usage for liver health that are hard to ignore. 

Learn how saunas like Almost Heaven Pinnacle can boost your liver health and the best ways to maximize your sweat session.

Benefits of Sauna for Liver Condition

Cleveland Clinic explains that the liver is one of the most critical organs in the body. It performs crucial tasks, including detoxification, producing bile for digestion, storing vital nutrients, regulating hormones, and purifying blood.

However, when there's a toxin overload in your liver — be it from excessive alcohol consumption, pollution, or a poor diet — it can lead to several health issues, including fatigue, weight gain, and a weakened immune system, among others. In more severe cases, it may even result in serious liver conditions like hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer that can require medical intervention.

Consider taking sauna sessions if you want to support your liver function and amplify toxin expulsion. A 2012 study explains that sweating in a sauna can help enhance detoxification pathways and eliminate heavy metals from your body, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, thereby reducing toxin overload in the liver. 

This also prevents the remaining toxins from recirculating into your blood and allows your liver to spend its metabolic energy on other compounds that are more likely flushed through kidneys, urine, and stool.

Inflammation is a major culprit in liver damage. Chronic inflammation can lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer. While using a sauna can't entirely reverse liver damage, it can help manage it. Research shows that regular sauna sessions can reduce systemic inflammation, indirectly boosting liver function by repairing and regenerating healthy tissue.

To amp up these benefits, consider consuming antioxidant-rich and nutritious foods, including grapefruit, blueberries, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, particularly before the sauna session. 

Emerging studies have shown that sauna bathing can stimulate peristalsis and increase the diversity of gut microbiota, ultimately improving digestion, nutrient absorption, and liver function. 

Introducing Different Types of Saunas

You can use different types of saunas to improve liver health, including traditional and infrared saunas. 

Traditional Saunas

Also known as Finnish saunas, traditional saunas are crafted from durable woods such as cedar and hemlock that can withstand high heat without wrapping or splintering. 

These saunas have a stack of rocks and a heater — often electric or wood-burning — that raises the room temperature to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Since they usually have dry heat, you can ladle water on sauna stones to generate steam and slightly increase the humidity levels. 

Traditional saunas offer many benefits, such as:

• Detoxification

• Stress reduction

• Improve cardiovascular performance

• Boost immunity

• Helps with weight loss

Infrared Saunas 

Unlike traditional saunas, infrared saunas employ low EMF infrared heaters that emit infrared light experienced as radiant heat, which is absorbed directly into the human body. This leads to a deep, cellular-level sweat at much lower temperatures, ranging from a gentle 120 to a more intense 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 

These saunas are ideal for those who can't tolerate high heat or feel claustrophobic in steam saunas. 

Just like traditional saunas, infrared models have various benefits, including:

• Muscle relaxation and pain relief

• Improve skin health and reduce eczema symptoms

• Better sleep quality

• Reduce symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome

• Enhance blood circulation

Top Sauna Recommendations for Improving Liver Health

The following are some of our top recommended saunas for improving your liver health: 

Dynamic Saunas 2-Person Corner Low EMF "Heming Edition"

The Dynamic Saunas 2-Person Corner Low EMF "Heming Edition" Far Infrared Sauna DYN-6225-02 is a luxurious addition to any home. Crafted from reforested Canadian Hemlock wood, this sauna is environmentally conscious and aesthetically pleasing. Its corner design makes it a space-efficient choice that can easily fit into various home settings.

Equipped with seven carbon heating elements, the sauna heats up quickly, ensuring a rapid transition to relaxation and wellness. The low EMF levels (between 6–10 MG) ensure a safer experience, minimizing exposure to electromagnetic fields. The interior is spacious enough for two people, allowing for a shared experience or ample room for individual use.

The sauna also features an FM Radio with Bluetooth and MP3 auxiliary connection, allowing users to enjoy their favorite tunes or radio stations while unwinding. The LED control panel, both inside and outside, provides convenient control over the sauna's settings. The chromotherapy lighting system also offers a therapeutic ambiance that enhances the overall experience.

Sun Home Luminar Outdoor 5-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna

The Sun Home Luminar Outdoor 5-Person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna is a standout product for those seeking a premium outdoor sauna experience. This sauna provides a full range of infrared wavelengths, ensuring a deep and thorough sauna experience.

Constructed with carbonized red cedar wood, it's built to withstand various weather conditions without warping or cracking. With minimal tools required for assembly, the Sun Home Luminar is designed for a hassle-free setup.

Although it's marketed as a five-person sauna, it's more comfortably suited for four, offering ample relaxing space. The panoramic glass windows provide a serene view of the outdoors, enhancing the relaxation experience.

The sauna also has Bluetooth and MP3 auxiliary connections, allowing for a personalized audio experience during sauna sessions. Remember, it's a relatively heavy unit, so you must plan for its placement and installation. It also requires a 240V outlet, which may necessitate electrical upgrades for some homes.