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Sweat Your Way to Radiant Health
Excerpted from: Sick and Tired? Robert O. Young , PhD. DSc. 1999
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Because of the level of pollution we are exposed to and its many
sources, as well as poor dietary and exercise habits, the therapeutic value
of regular sweating
has become immense. It has benefits for both body and mind and, in fact, is the
primary benefit of exercise.
One of the best passive exercises is the radiant
heat of an infrared sauna which, causes a profound deep sweat. After about 30 minutes of
exposure, the blood vessels of the skin dilate to allow more blood to
flow to the surface to support the cooling process. The millions of sweat
glands covering the body are infused with fluid from the blood. In turn,
they empty to the skin's surface, thereby flushing large amounts of toxins,
including toxic acids and heavy metals, from the body.
My research over the last two years shows that a radiant heat [infrared] sauna
provides the following benefits:
1. Speeds up metabolic processes of vital organs and glands, including
endocrine glands.
2. Inhibits the development of pleomorphic microforms [fungus, yeasts, bacteria
and molds] and creates a 'fever reaction' of rising temperature that neutralizes
them.
3. Increases the number of leukocytes in the blood.
4. Places demand on the heart to work harder thus, exercising it and also producing
a drop in diastolic blood pressure (the low side).
5. Stimulates dilation of peripheral blood vessels thus, relieving pain (including
muscle pain) and speeding the healing of sprain, strain, bursitus, arthritis,
and peripheral vascular disease symptoms.
6. Promotes relaxation thereby creating a feeling of well-being.
7. For those who are unable to exercise sufficiently, for whatever reason,
the radiant heat infrared sauna is an excellent way to get the benefits of
exercise without undue stress on the skeleton, muscles, and associated tissues.
Such people have an even greater need for exercise and the sauna fills the
bill.