Fast Track Your Way to Health With an Infrared Sauna

When I'm being told that something can help me lose weight, detox nasty junk from my body and  reduce pain - all without me needing to change my diet or exercise-  it is usually about 3 o'clock in the morning and I'm watching a"too good to be true" infomercial.

Well, hang on to your hats, because (looking at you with a very straight face) I would like to introduce you one of my most favorite things.

It is actually everything it claims to be, the real makoy, a dream come true.. and yes... you really can lose weight, relieve pain, flush your system  without changing your diet and preferable not moving a muscle.

If you haven't heard the latest buzz word "far infrared" yet, then its time you get acquainted .

It is something that I believe- completely without exaggeration- could change your life.

What is Far-Infrared Heat?

 Anyone who's been on planet earth a while knows that the sun is our primary source of radiant energy, light and heat.

The sun produces and sends earth bound "waves".  Many "electromagnetic" waves.
The full span -there are 7 waves- of which is referred to as the electromagnetic spectrum.

The light spectrum (the light that we see) is only a small piece of the pie, and it is the only electromagnetic waves that can be seen.

However, there are still more unseen waves that come from the sun.

Perhaps, you are  familiar with the terms, gamma rays, x-rays, ultra violet rays, microwaves and radio waves?  They are some of those unseen waves.

** Learn some really cool stuff about these waves here and become a wave genius **


These  waves vary in their wavelengths---some are long and others are short.

But, of course,  not all of this energy  is beneficial.
Although life needs energy from the sun, too much sunlight can be damaging.

We are all familiar with  the warning of ultra violet rays and the damage they can cause.

There is, however, one more ray in this line up which is  getting some serious attention.
It is  the " INFRARED" ray.

Interestingly, infrared heat  accounts for 49% of heating the earth's surface and is not dangerous like Ultra Violet rays (UV) .

Infrared rays are classified in 3 different distinctions:  Near IR Rays, Medium IR Rays, FAR Infrared Rays.

Far-infrared radiant (FIR) heat is a form of naturally occurring energy that heats objects by direct light conversion (DLC).
This means  that only the object receives the heat and it does not raise the temperature of the surrounding free air.

Meet the  Far-Infrared Sauna

 Traditional steam saunas raise the temperature of the air to a very high level within the chamber to warm the body. Some people have difficulty breathing in this extremely warm air.

FIR saunas work differently. Instead of heating the air within the enclosure, FIR saunas heat the body directly. (DLC remember?)

   

A Far-infrared sauna,   warm the body in the same manner as natural sunlight.

You know that feeling when you catch a nap in the sunshine?
When you feel you are getting warmer right down into the very core of your being?
 mmm.... almost heavenly, right?

That's what FIR heat does.
This type of energy travels 2-3" deep into the body (deeper than any other surface heat) to increase circulation and nourish damaged tissue.
It provides all the healthy benefits of natural sunlight but it does it without the addition of the  damaging rays that come with the sun.

So, What are the Benefits of the  Far-Infrared Sauna?

The infrared sauna benefits include the following :

• Fat-burner :
  During your relaxing and rejuvenating infrared sauna session, your body sweats and burns calories.
  Some experts say up to 500 calories for every session-- yup, you heard me right... 500 calories.. yee ha!

•  Pain-reliever :
  Increased blood circulation improves nearly any condition. The delivery of oxygen-rich blood to all muscles and joints stimulates the healing process for all joint and muscle related ailments

• Detoxification :
  The deep penetration of the infrared rays into your body and the resonance with your body tissue cells ensure quick removal of body toxins. Your body's natural sweat reaction in the infrared sauna ensures that your skin is deeply purified and that toxins find their way out. Efficiently.

• Skin regeneration :
  Infrared energy is a natural phenomenon. The sun emits infrared energy.
  Most living creatures emit infrared rays (that is why they can be seen with infrared night viewers).
  Infrared waves penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin and assist cell replacement and deep cleansing of your skin.
  Other effects include purging clogged pores of deeply imbedded impurities and dead skin cells.
  You will be amazed by your glowing radiant skin.
  The increased blood circulation encourages a healthy flow of nutrients to your skin that helps relieve acne, eczema, psoriasis and burns. Saunas will also encourage the healing of lesions and minor cuts.

• Stress relief :
  The warm soothing effect of the radiation will provide immediate benefit to tightened and knotted muscles, leaving the user feeling refreshed and invigorated.

• Cardiovascular fitness :
  Use of the sauna enhances blood circulation, stimulating the perspiration process and in turn increasing the body's heart rate and overall cardiac output.
  This achieves a similar cardiovascular conditioning as vigorous exercise.

• Boost immune system:
  The infrared heat strengthens the body's immune response, resulting in increased resistance to disease. Recent studies show cold and flu symptoms are reduced dramatically if treated early with infrared heat. Infrared sauna benefits include strengthening of your immune system by raising your white blood cell count.

• Lower Blood Pressure:
  The University of Missouri, conducted a clinical study which concluded that infrared heat lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure

My Curiosity's Peeking!
Where Do I Find This Far Infrared Sauna?

Ah ha!!! Good news!
It just so happens that far infrared heat is finally getting the accolades it long deserves.

Because it is being recognized in the medical world,  the fitness circles and the natural health movement, they are becoming more and more available.

Many heath and exercise facilities now have their own saunas.
 I've even seen them popping up now and again in hair salons. Most likely taking over the space where the soooooo last year's tanning bed use to sit.

But if you are looking for private, unlimited and instant availability facility then a home sauna is wise investment indeed!

They can come in several shapes and sizes- from a portable, personal dome-type sauna that you slip inside;
to the traditional, beautiful wood cabinetry that we think of when we hear sauna!

Even then, the cabinet-style saunas can come in smaller sizes- not much bigger than a closet- to accommodate anyone's home!

As far as manufacturers go, there too are many.

So like any wise investment, you will need to do your homework.
Because they will not all be created equal.

You will need to ask questions about the quality of the product in entirety.

 There are several different types of infrared heaters, for instance .

Whether you choose a sauna with a carbon fibre heating element or a ceramic heating element will make a difference to your experience. ( carbon has a deeper effect)
How many heaters does a sauna have in it?   The more heaters the more heat.

Make certain you ask questions about the material the unit itself is made out of.
What sort of wood is it?
Is it the glue or finish toxic-free?
It would defeat the entire purpose of a sauna to be inhaling nasty fumes the entire time you are in it.

What about the warranty?  The shipping charges?
Does the  company web site post testimonials from previous clients?

All of these questions will give you a picture of the integrity of the company you are dealing with.

a GREAT SAUNA sauna

Is it just another product to them or do the LOVE SAUNAS!

When doing my research I found a wonderful company that immediately caught my attention.
They simply call themselves GREAT SAUNAS and they really are just that!

They have been creating saunas for 35 years, long before it was the new trendy fad, so they should definately know what they're doing!

I found their website very  informative.
I got the feeling that their first priority was to properly educate the customer and I never had the feeling they were hiding anything.

They have both a Canadian  link and an American link, which really helps (at least for those of us in Canada)
 as well as a 1-800 number with their hours of operation clearly posted... Nice....

Now, I haven't tried their product yet, but I'm hoping to shortly.
If there was a company I would feel the most comfortable with investing my money, and counting on good customer after-care, these guys would definitely be the top of the list.

So, What is Your Opinion About the Whole FIR Sauna Gig?

Have you used a FIR sauna before?
Have you used it on a regular basis, or for theratupic reasons?

IYHO, is it everything it is reputed to be?

Are you in the market for a home FIR?
What are some of the question you are finding to ask, or need answers to before you purchase?

Share you thoughts and comments with us here.
It would sure help me narrow down my decision -and help me with a follow-up post  :-)

How to Shop for Supplements

Picking your Powders Part 2 ~ Selecting Supplements

 

Rebuilding and retaining your health can become a confusing path after you 
step out of your kitchen into the grocery or health food store.
The market is flooded with "good-for-you" products.

Where to start? What to buy? How to know?

Todays article is the second in a series on learning to pick your powders.

The right powdered drink or shake is a fabulous addition to any lifestyle;

easy, fast, and nutritionally dense.

Once you understand the differences inside the packages and what to look

for, you will have an added edge to your diet.
Last time we digested the contents in the "protein drink", and why you
should or should not be using protein powders.

Now, we look at the bonuses that come with downing a nutritional
supplement drink.

Do We Even Need a Nutritional Supplement?

One definition of suppliment is "a nutrient or phytochemical supplied in
addition to that which is obtained in the diet."
The unfortunate truth is a "balanced diet" will not provide all you need
for a happy healthy you, any longer.

The combination of soil depletion, genetically modified produce, hormones,

antibiotics, pesticides and other chemicals has reduced our food to a
shadow of itself only a generation ago.
According to a Rutgers University study, it now takes 19 ears of corn to
equal the nutritional value of just one ear of corn grown in 1940; 80 cups
of today's supermarket spinach to give you the same iron you'd get from a

cup of spinach grown 50 years ago.

There is less than half the protein in today's wheat as in the wheat our
grandparents ate.

Do we need a supplement? Absolutely.

You body is working harder to ward of more contaminants and disease now
than ever. It needs all it can to run as it should.

Pill Popping

So why should we drink our nutritional supplements instead of popping a
once-a-day pill?

In nature, nutrients do not exist alone, they are found bound with other
nutrients and vital molecules. Many work together, and need each other.

When using a supplement, the closer the supplement is to its natural

form, the better off you will be.
Nature knows exactly how to package things up precisely.


Most pill supplements are now made from synthetics.
At their best, they are only 50% as effective as vitamins in their natural
forms.
At their worst, they actually may carry harmful side effects.

It is possible to find higher quality vitamin/mineral supplements that use
vitamins derived from natural sources and not synthetics.

However they still will not be complete. Science will never perfectly

replicate the beautiful rhytm and relationship that nutrients in their

natural enviroment have.
Your body absorbs liquid vitamins better than its pill counterparts.
Actually, approximately 98 percent of the vitamins and minerals presented
to itself in a liquid form will be absorbed, while only 3 to 20 percent of
the vitamins in a pill is properly absorbed.

Moreover, liquid vitamins bypass digestive processing and go directly
into the bloodstream within minutes.

All the more reason to be drinking your nutrients.
So, what is the best nutrient drink to be stirring up?

Chug a Mug of Green

When you go shopping, look for "green" drinks or "superfood" drinks.
They are easily found in any health food store.

These will be different from the protein powders, although many supplement
drinks will have protein included.

Nearly every major health organization recommends eating five to nine
servings of fruits and vegetables per day to protect your health. But
statistically, less than 9% of North American adults do.

Green drinks are concentrated whole food formulas, which use dehydrated or

"flash dried" fruits and vegetables as their main ingredients.

The plants used have detoxifying and cleansing properties, and are optimum
sources vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, essential fatty acids,
chlorophyll, fibre, enzymes, antioxidants and other important nutrients.

You will drink a variety much larger than any you would ever put on your
plate, with one scoop of a greens drink,on average, equivalent to five
servings of veggies.


By letting "green" supplement drinks become part of your daily diet, you
consume your veggie benefits and get all those nutrients in a form that is
easy and quick for your body to use.


If this is your first experience drinking vegetables, start slow.
Although, there is a large selection of flavors available, these drinks
have a unique taste all to themselves, and may take some time and courage
to get use to.

Believe it or not, you can learn to love them and how they make you feel.
I have and I can notice a difference in my day, if I skip my daily drink.

Green drinks feel just like life in a glass.

The do's and don'ts for green supplement shopping are the same as for the
protein powders.

Make sure you choose the label that claim "organic only" and "no GMO"
produce.

Also avoid the ingredient list that includes artificial sweeteners,
including Splenda, and fillers such as, non-stabilized rice bran and
lecithin.

Dry Skin Brushing~ Crazy Cheap, Effective, Fast Detox

I'm working my way thru my WILD AND GLORIOUS FORTYISH Makeover!

Basically, I challenged myself, 40 days before my Fortieth Birthday. I wanted to hunker down, put all the tricks, tweeks, and simple solutions that I have discovered over my years of walking into God's wonderful, natural health and jump start my new decade.
A fresh start, a fresh me, for a fresh era

. But even cooler still, I'm dumping out my simple toolbox, and letting you play along side of me.

Today is trick number 2~ Dry Skin Brushing.

If I'm neeked, then I'm dry skin brushing.
It is so simple and all you need is a natural fiber skin brush.
But if you don't have that, even a towel will work

. When perfectly disciplined, I brush when I get up, just before bed, and before my detox bath.

Remember, your skin is your not only your biggest organ, but your biggest elimination organ.
It is known to be responsible for 10 to 15% of total body elimination, and is sometimes referred to as the third kidney.

So, if we want to eliminate crud from our bod, we best not forget to love on our skin.
Dry Skin Brushing removes dead skin cells, so your body can remove waste.
It also stimulates new skin to regenerate.
It also enhances blood circulation, the lymphatic system, and toxin elimination.

And after you are use to it, it really does feel wonderful. It is a quick picker-upper, when you are starting to drag your feet.
Kind of like your own personal and private "on switch".
Many, many times, I'll take 3-5 minutes just to brush, and afterward I feel completely invigorated.

I had often wondered if it was just my crazy me imagining it brush away my worries , the power of suggestion and all, but after I read this wonderful article on chronic fatigue I have no doubt.

I LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT! And you should DO IT! DO IT! DO IT TOO!

This is the most thorough step-by-step to dry skin brushing I know of.
You are welcome to follow it to the tee, if you like, when I do, I can tell a difference, but, life being life, more times than not, I'm on the run.

I've found a quicker brush to be just as glorious.
I've even began to notice that, making myself take the time for this ancient remedy, is possibly more powerful, when I feel I have even less time.

Strange perhaps, but there is untapped healing and freedom in the choice.
There is power when you choose to stop the whirlwind, saying "I may not have the 5 minutes but I CHOOSE to find the two"

It is a wee way of reminding yourself that yes; I am valuable, and I choose to invest in me.

Dry Skin Brushing is one of my most favorite treats, and definitely the one that gets the craziest looks from people I share with.

Is the age-old practice of Dry Skin Brushing too simple and primitive for our complex generation? Maybe.
But absolutely effective, invigorating and addictive in all the best ways.