 |
Weight Loss Options -- Infrared Radiant Heat Saunas (IR Saunas)
Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that penetrates the outer surface of objects, including human skin. Heat is generated as the infrared energy interacts with and penetrates the skin surface.
The depth of penetration is estimated to be 2-3 inches. The IRRH reaction is exothermic. The release of heat, if localized, is believed to be therapeutic by some health experts.
Today, a number of businesses sell saunas equipped with infrared radiant heat (IR Saunas). They claim that at 2-3 inches deep, the release of heat is beneficial in many ways. For instance, chronic wounds tend to heal.
How? No one knows for sure, but most likely it's related to improved blood flow and oxygenation of the wound. I have no problem with the theory behind IRRH and the healing of chronic wounds.
But what about weight loss? Can infrared heat cause significant weight loss? More importantly, can it lead to Healthy Weight Loss? The business owners selling IR Saunas seem to think so.
So the question is, can IR Saunas lead to Healthy Weight Loss?
Infrared Radiant Heat Saunas (IR Saunas)
Unlike older steel counterparts, IR Saunas are ceramic-coated and tend to be more efficient, producing the same amount of heat in a shorter time period when compared to the steel based saunas.
According to supporters of IR Saunas, this efficiency translates into longer exposure times, up-regulation of your body's thermoregulatory system, and weight loss.
A local Dallas newspaper printed an ad for an infrared sauna that stated , "Perspiring is part of the complex thermoregulatory process of the body that increases the heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. The process requires a large amount of energy and reduces excess moisture, salt and subcutaneous fat. Fat becomes water soluble at 110 degrees (F) leading to fat loss." -- Dallas Voice, February 12th, 2005
There is no doubt that we could pick apart the ad and question it's validity. But, I decided to keep things simple and focus on one aspect of infrared weight loss...the thermoregulatory process.
According to the advertisement, infrared heat penetrates deeply into tissue and up-regulates the thermoregulatory process. Is this up-regulation enough to cause significant healthy weight loss?
For our purposes, healthy weight loss is defined as fat loss. Remember, a healthy diet program promotes weight loss in short increments, never losing more than 2 pounds per week. The drop in weight is from a loss of fat and nothing else. Weight loss by any other means isn't healthy and should not be considered as an option for losing weight.
The Thermoregulatory Process
This is a very complex topic. Many factors are involved in keeping your body temperature constant. In the human brain, the hypothalamus regulates the entire thermoregulatory process with the exception of early responses to high temperature. Things like sweating, rapid breathing, and increased blood flow to the arms and legs are examples of the early responses not regulated by the central nervous system.
The question is can these mechanisms cause weight loss by "burning" fat. Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise, says no.
"The amount you sweat is indicative of your body's ability to maintain its normal body temperature. You sweat when your body starts to store heat so you can experience cooling via evaporation of that sweat. So it doesn't correlate to how much energy, or calories, is being expended. You are not going to utilize stored fat simply by raising body temperature...it's not going to happen."
It makes sense too. Your body loves to store fat for future emergencies and it won't give up the fat very easily. You are well protected from starvation.
Joe King, editor for the Journal of Hyperplasia Research said, "Evaporation accounts for increases in total oxygen uptake, which causes the working muscles to utilize more glycogen." Glycogen is the stored form of glucose, the main energy source for your body.
In short, IR Saunas do not cause weight loss through utilization of fat. Instead, the high temperatures result in glycolysis (using sugars for immediate energy needs) and the water loss accounts for the drop in weight. What does this all mean? Infrared Saunas promote unhealthy weight loss.
This reminds me of what a sales representative told me a month or so ago about IR Saunas. He said, "The heart receives a workout similar to a 6-mile run in an IR Sauna." He may be right, but it's not fat that you're losing.
Conclusion
An infrared sauna is not a good option for losing weight.
Healthy Living!
Michael A. Smith, MD
The Weight Loss Professional
Additional information on can be found at The Weight Loss Professional Website. Dr. Smith is the primary physician and consultant for the Weight Loss Professional Website. His interests include preventative medicine, the genetic etiology of obesity, and several other interests too numerous to list. Please visit his web site at http://www.weight-loss-professional.com and let him know what you think.
MORE RESOURCES:
A creamy weight-loss aidTimes of India, India - 40 minutes agoIf you think it’s too yummy to have any place in a real weight-loss diet, think again. Yoghurt – that rich and creamy stuff that’s full of calcium and ... |
Olive oil may hold the key to weight lossGlobe and Mail, Canada - 23 hours agoA"good" fat found in abundance in olive oil may provide one of the keys to appetite control and weight loss. Oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat, ... |
Cherie Blair’s Weight Loss SagaCareFair.com, Switzerland - 23 minutes agoCherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, is finding that losing weight is only the beginning of the battle. ... |
Weight loss procedure without surgery7Online.com, NY - 8 hours agoBy Dr. Jay Adlersberg October 10, 2008 (WABC) -- For the first time in this country, doctors are performing a weight loss procedure without a single ... |
Don’t forget multivitamins after weight loss surgeryOnline - International News Network, Pakistan - 12 hours agoThe case of a woman who developed a vitamin deficiency disease because she did not take multivitamins after weight-loss surgery was taken up for study by ... |
Weight-Loss - Google News
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What are Fats?
Fat is fuel. That is basically what it is.
Weight Loss: Secrets To Losing Weight Without Much Efforts
Are you overweight?Most people are afraid to admit they are.It may not be a crime to be overweight, but it can be harmful to your health and life, if you fail to take action to reduce your weight.
Weight Training for Weight Loss
Weight training combines building muscle tone and working the cardiovascular system. Weight training tones your muscles and raises your metabolism, which helps yourbody burn more calories not only when exercising, but also while you sleep.
Weight Loss and Dieting Secrets - What You DONT Want to Know!
Some of you will not like what I have to say, even though it is the truth. And that may be where the problem of American's health problems lies.
Motivation: Keeping the Fire Going in Your Fat Loss Plan
Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to weight loss endeavors because you feel strong and determined when first embarking on a fat loss plan. You're positive you'll never lose sight of your goals.
Atkins Diet Plan -- Are Low Carb Diets Doomed?
According to Veronica Atkins, the widow of Dr. Robert Atkins, the cause of his death was from falling on a slippery sidewalk with subsequent irreversible brain damage (from a CNN interview, February, 2004).
FAT LOSS: The Truth On Fat Loss And How To Achieve It!
Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine "search" on the word fat loss. "Fat Loss" and "Fat Loss Supplements", being the most popular keywords, came up with a combined 1800 links, in one search engine.
Top Thirty Weight Loss Tips and Tricks
Here are some everyday, helpful hints to get you started, keep you going, and help you stick to your diet.1.
Weight Loss Surgery May Add Years to Life
Stomach-Stapling Surgery------------There's no doubt that stomach-stapling surgery leads to dramatic weight loss. But new research shows that the procedure might also add years to life.
Body Composition And Weight Loss: They Are Related!
The world today has more obese and overweight people than any other time in history. The reasons are simple too much bad foods and not enough exercise and weight training.
Say No To Obesity
Obesity still remains one of the commonest avoidable causes of several disease conditions. Most often than not, it is a result of the wrong habits or lifestyles.
Study Finds Healthy Mouth - Healthy Body Relationship
According to a new study appearing in the American Journal of Periodontology, researchers have found a significant correlation between healthy eating and healthy gums. Specifically, those people who were not overweight, consumed a nutritious diet, and regularly exercised with moderate intensity were 40% less likely to suffer from gum disease.
When Cellulite Attacks!
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In fact, it is not a medical term at all.
Does Calorie Restriction Lead to Weight Loss?
Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and getting rid of fat to a certain extent.
Weight Loss For Beginners
Getting into a weight loss program or any type of dieting is intimidating for a beginner. Better health is something that we should all work towards, and be bold about.
The South Beach Diet
Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South Beach diet, developed by cardiologist Arthur Agatston of Miami, Florida.The South Beach diet is always confused with Atkins Diet, which is a low-carbohydrate diet.
Savoring Moments Through Mindful Eating
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every bite we take?Your mother always told you to slow down and taste your food.
How to Start Losing Weight and Keep Losing Weight
I have put off writing a motivation article because of two reasons: 1) There is a glut of articles out there already; 2) My philosophy is so simple, I didn't think it justified an entire article. I was amazed at the incredible number of articles on the net and in the news that dealt with motivation to diet and exercise.
7 Reasons Low Carb Diets are Wrong
The human body is designed to run best on a certain type and balance of fuel. Unfortunately the latest low-carbohydrate fad diets are not fuel that the human body was designed to run on.
Yes, You Can Lose Weight!
Weight loss is one of the biggest industries in the world! And for those of us that need to lose weight it is the biggest struggle of our lives! The industry takes advantage of the fact that we don't want to give up our "little pleasures" by telling us we don't have to. They also know we don't want to get all sweaty, out of breathe, and feeling pain, so they tell us we don't have to exercise.
|
