Don’t Sweat It. No, Really—It’s Dangerous.
photo by thomas wanhoff
Ever read one of those articles promising a svelte body from sweat? You know, the ones that say soaking up heat in a sauna can cleanse your body of some horrible toxins? They talk about visiting a glamorous spa where everyone looks like Bar Refaeli, zoning out in a sauna, and buying a pair of skinny jeans on the way out. And if you don’t do it? You’ll be bloated, boring, and acne-ridden for the rest of your life.
Well, they fooled ya.
I read an article recently that said the idea of detoxing in a sauna is a whole lotta baloney. Rachel Vreeman, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and coauthor of Don’t Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health
Should your liver, kidneys, and colon stop doing their jobs, don’t look to your sweat glands. (Really, how would that work?) Vreeman says that’s not the way our body does its thing. Instead, we sweat to regulate body temperature. As in: hot → sweat → cool.
photo by muffet
If you’re going to sweat it out, you’ll need tons of H20
So, why do we lose weight after a long, sweaty sauna session? The same reason we lose weight when we go on a juice fast—we drop water pounds. They seem nice at first when the scale is all smiles and rainbows, but the water always returns. (Something our bodies need to survive apparently.)
No harm, no foul, right? Not really. Even though sitting in a sauna may help certain health conditions (high blood pressure and chronic pain, for instance), doing so for long periods of time to detox isn’t the best idea. The article mentioned an incident last fall in Arizona in which three people died (others became deathly sick) during a sweat lodge ceremony.
Of course, it feels pretty darn good to chill out (get it?) in a sauna after a workout. But be careful. Dehydration is a major risk, so stay hydrated and be smart. Symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion are vomiting, thirst, dizziness, uncoordination, and extreme tiredness.
I’m not one to sit around and soak in the heat—I’d love to be, really, since I’m always freezing. But I don’t have easy (read: free) access to a sauna, so this study doesn’t really apply to me. That said, when I’m at a spa I most definitely take advantage of the sweat room, though not with hopes of becoming as twiggy as Kate Bosworth in a matter of hours. Instead, it’s a nice hot place to relax. And after these blizzards, that doesn’t sound half bad.
Have you ever done a detox induced by sweating? Do you frequent the sauna or steam room? If so, why?
20 comments
I belong to a gym with a sauna, steam room, and a hot tub…and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve used any of these amenities. I think part of the problem is that like you, I’m always cold and as soon as I hop out I get a chill that’s hard to lose.
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I’ve never sat in a sauna intentionally to detox. But, despite this study, I think there probably is some naturally cleansing that may be un-measurable through sweating.
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I have never been in a sauna. I don’t mind sweating but I hate humidity and a sauna just kind of grosses me out. It seems dirty…is that weird?
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Tracey Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:55 am
Kelly–That’s not weird at all. Though saunas generally are dry. Steam rooms are wet humid.
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Mmm I love saunas. But I would never use them as a way to lose a few! Interesting post. I know some people who legitimately think that the water loss through sweat is real. I’m not going to break the news to them
Have a great Tuesday!
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I do Bikram Yoga and the room can get insanely hot. I’ve weighed up to 7 lbs lighter after a class. I need to make sure I’m properly hydrated before class, and after class. I’ve made the mistake of not hydrating properly and the result was horrible. I felt so incredibly ill… Lesson Learned!
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I have tried both saunas and steam rooms but after a few minutes I start to feel claustrophic and have to get out ASAP. I hear they are so good for your skin but as much as I want to I just can’t stand the heat!!
Love your comment today…husbands throwing their stuff on the floor next to the laundry basket? TOTALLY overrated!!
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Great post. Sweating is over-rated. People mistakenly believe it’s THE answer to weight-loss and “detoxing” . I am a fan of yoga (doesn’t mean I’m any good
) – but hate the crazy use of “Detox” thrown around with it —-HELLO??! Being in a hot room and sweating doesn’t mean you’ve got a “great workout” or something – it simply means it was friggin’ hot – you can do the same by sitting out on a humid day….but yeah, there are benefits of course!! just don’t “over-exaggerate” them , that’s all !
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wow great post!! i dont even sweat that much when i workout..unless its SUPER hot outside!
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I couldn’t do it. I freeze when I get out of the shower, I can’t imagine a steam bath or a sauna. Thanks for the great information!
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Boy oh boy…u write well. Do you write freelance and articles only? Or anything else?
Great post. Everytime I hear about a sauna I picture a Seinfeld episode
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Tracey Reply:
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Thanks empty nut jar! I only write articles, but maybe just maybe one day my childhood dream will come true and I’ll publish a novel.
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i’ve def done my fair share of bikram yoga, but i consider that to be safe. i am NOT one to sit around in a sauna though, i agree the whole detoxifying thing is bs, our internal organs do that, sweating is meant to cool us down!
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Tracey Reply:
February 24th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Estella and Stef: I didn’t even think of Bikram yoga. I did it once and I have to be honest: It’s a killer workout. But I think people do that less to detox and more to challenge their bodies during the moves. The high temps, as I understand it, are to make your muscles more flexible.
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Saunas make me feel like I’m suffocating so this is good news to me. Gotta read that book now – sounds hilarious!
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This is great information. I can’t believe that people still do these types of things to “detox”. We have a sauna at our gym and I’ll go in occasionally just to warm up for a minute or two. I did once go to a Russian Spa in Bay Ridge just to see what all the hype was about and to laugh. It was quiet the experience.
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Thank you for addressing the myths surrounding detox methods! People need to know they’re bologna!
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Dang! Is that you in the sauna? I wouldn’t worry about your bum knees so much, you are gorgeous!!
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Tracey Reply:
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:34 am
Andy–Ha! Nope, that’s a model. But I think she says thank you for your comment!
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