10 Health Benefits of Sauna and Cold Plunge
Ever feel like your body needs a reset button? Like you're stuck in a rut, feeling sluggish, achy, or just plain stressed out? Well, get ready to discover a dynamic duo that can revitalize your body and mind like never before: the sauna and cold plunge combo!
This ancient practice of alternating between hot and cold temperatures isn't just a trendy wellness fad – it's backed by centuries of tradition and a growing body of scientific research.
From boosting your heart health to melting away stress and even improving your skin, the benefits of sauna and cold plunge are truly remarkable.
This is a practice that I have been doing for years, and I am so happy to have it available now for our Maximized Family to experience!
1. Help Your Heart
Sauna and cold plunge sessions give your heart a workout, boosting circulation and strengthening your cardiovascular system. You can really feel this happening during sessions. This is part of the euphoria that most people feel during sessions.
Sauna: The heat causes your blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow and giving your heart a gentle workout.
Cold Plunge: The icy shock causes your blood vessels to constrict, forcing your heart to pump harder and improving its efficiency.
This hot-cold contrast creates a "vascular pump" effect, enhancing circulation and potentially lowering your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. This can even make you more comfortable in everyday life when others feel “hot” or “cold” you are more likely to feel just right! Living in North Dakota where the weather changes every 17 seconds, this is pretty nice. You can often find me grilling outside when it is -10 degrees in my shorts (or less).
2. Reduce Your Stress
Stress? What’s that?! This one needs no explanation, we’re all stressed too much and it’s killing us. Sauna and cold plunge sessions are like a spa day for your nervous system, helping you relax, unwind, and find your inner zen. Combine that with chiropractic and you will be living the stress-free life.
Sauna: The warmth penetrates your muscles and relaxes them very well. Tight muscles are stressed muscles. When you leave our Sanctuary, you will feel relaxed like never before.
Cold Plunge: The initial shock of cold water might sound intense, but it actually triggers the release of endorphins, your body's natural feel-good chemicals. It's a quick and invigorating way to shake off stress and boost your mood. “But I hate being cold!” Yeah, I hear that all the time. So do I! When you do this regularly, it creates a “fire” in you and you won’t feel cold in everyday life so much. The confidence you gain from conquering the challenge helps overcome obstacles in everyday life also!
3. Relax Your Muscles
We all get sore muscles. Now that I am approaching 40, post-workout days are a little harder to put on my socks. Sauna and cold plunge sessions are my way to help ease muscle soreness and speed up recovery. This is a great option for you to get back to doing what you love.
Sauna: The heat increases blood flow to your muscles, delivering oxygen and nutrients that promote healing. It's like a warm compress for your whole body!
Cold Plunge: The cold helps reduce inflammation and numbs nerve endings, providing temporary pain relief. When you use both sauna and cold together, it creates a pumping effect on your muscles that does a great job draining them of soreness and filling them with healing.
4. Minimize Your Pain
Chronic pain can be debilitating, affecting your quality of life and overall well-being. Sauna and cold plunge therapy can offer a natural, drug-free way to manage chronic pain and find relief. Combine this with regular chiropractic, and you will be a whole new person.
Sauna: The heat can help relax muscles, improve joint mobility, and reduce inflammation, which can all contribute to pain relief.
Cold Plunge: The cold can numb pain signals and reduce inflammation, providing temporary relief from chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain.
5. Make Your Skin Glow
Sauna: The heat promotes sweating, which helps flush out toxins and impurities from your skin. It's like a deep cleanse for your pores! This is one thing I noticed that I wasn’t expecting. It really helps smooth out my skin tone. Think of all the stuff that is stuck in your pores! Regular sauna use will sweat out all the junk and leave your skin looking fresh and glowing.
Cold Plunge: The cold helps tighten pores and improve blood flow to your skin, giving it a healthy glow.
6. Detox Your Body
Your body is constantly trying to get rid of all the toxic chemicals and junk that we breathe, eat, and are exposed to. Sweat is a very large source of getting rid of these chemicals. Most of us don’t sweat enough. The sauna will make sure that your body is getting rid of as many of those chemicals as possible.
7. Sleep Like a Baby (well, at least a baby who sleeps well)
Tossing and turning all night? Sauna and cold plunge sessions can help regulate your sleep-wake cycle and promote deeper, more restful sleep. People tell me all the time that they slept so well after a session.
Sauna: The heat can help relax your body and mind, preparing you for a good night's sleep. Your relaxed muscles and calmer state of mind will help you fall asleep and stay asleep.
Cold Plunge: The cold can help reset your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality. It's like hitting the reset button on your internal clock!
8. Fire Up Your Metabolism
Looking to boost your metabolism and burn more calories the lazy way? Sauna and cold plunge sessions can help rev up your metabolism.
Sauna: The heat can increase your heart rate and metabolic rate, similar to moderate exercise.
Cold Plunge: The cold can stimulate the production of brown fat, a type of fat that burns calories to generate heat. It's like turning your body into a calorie-burning furnace! Your metabolism has to burn energy after your session, especially if you end on cold, to warm yourself back up.
9. Boost Your Immune System
Your immune system is your body's defense against getting sick. Sauna and cold plunge sessions can help strengthen your immune system and boost your resilience.
Sauna: The heat can stimulate the production of white blood cells, which fight off infections.
Cold Plunge: The cold can also boost your immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells and other immune-boosting factors.
10. Decrease Your Brain Fog
Feeling foggy or forgetful? Sauna and cold plunge sessions can help improve your cognitive function and mental clarity.
Sauna: The heat can increase blood flow to your brain, delivering oxygen and nutrients that support cognitive function.
Cold Plunge: The cold can help improve alertness and focus.
After seeing this list all in a row, I realized how similar the benefits of sauna and cold plunge are to regular chiropractic care. Getting adjusted regularly and using a sauna and cold plunge regularly are a huge part of my wellness routine. If you have been curious about how either can change your life, please reach out to us. I am happy to be on this journey with you!
