Steam rooms, once a reserve of the affluent, are now widely accessible in gyms, sports clubs, fitness centers and now in the comfort of your own home. Taking a steam bath has numerous advantages, and it is not only for the health-conscious. There is no denying that most of the gains one gets from a steam bath are linked to health. However, there is a relaxation element to spending time in a steam room.
It can ease your stress and help you clear you mind. In a world that is constantly demanding so much from us, a steam room can give you a short escape where you rejuvenate and re-energize.
Among the many steam room benefits is detoxification. There are many products and diet plans in the market today that promise to get rid of toxins in your body, but none of them can rival the effectiveness of a steam bath. Our bodies pick up a lot of toxins from the environment, the foods we eat and substances we put inside our bodies. A steam session capitalizes on the body’s ability to sweat toxins away. With the average body containing more than 2.5 million sweat glands, the cumulative effect of sweating is a 30% reduction in the toxins that have built up inside the body. It is an effortless and practical way to detox, and with a greater degree of effectiveness.
We sweat because we are exposed to a much higher room temperature than our bodies can comfortably handle. A steam bath increases our core temperature, a phenomenon that is termed as hyperthermia. In a controlled setting such as a steam room, hyperthermia does produce some desired effects. The most significant among this is the killing of harmful microorganisms that have invaded our bodies. They are not able to tolerate the raised body temperature, and therefore die. For those that don’t die, they are weakened, and the immune system is able to more efficiently get rid of them. This immune system boost is actually another benefit of taking a steam bath.
Other steam room benefits include the relaxation effects on both the mind and the body. Muscles have to deal with a lot of mechanical work, and steam baths helps sooth and relax them. If you work out on a somewhat regular basis, it’s important to have a steam bath every now and then. It will encourage a quicker recovery from early or delayed onset muscle soreness. The joints are also soothed, which explains why steam baths are recommended for those suffering from joint problems such as arthritis.
A lot of water is lost from the body during a steam bath through sweating. If you carry water weight, some of it will be lost, and hence it is sometimes indicated as one of the many steam room benefits. However, rehydration is encouraged after a steam bath to discourage dehydration.
