Exposure to extreme temperatures is far from common in our modern daily lives. Mostly every building in developed countries is equipped with climate control, whether it be A/C or central heat. But it doesn’t mean that we can’t still adapt to extreme temperatures if need be.
We already know that exposure to extreme cold has many benefits to our body like reduced inflammation, improved brain function and health, and improved athletic performance. But, if cold therapy has so many benefits, shouldn’t there be some benefits to heat exposure as well?
Yes! There is actually quite a bit of evidence to suggest that regular exposure to hyperthermic (extreme heat) conditions has healthy benefits. In fact, you’ll find that heat exposure shares similar benefits to those that are seen from cold exposure.
Health Benefits of Heat Exposure
Inflammation and Pain
Activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) occurs from heat exposure which has several effects on our bodies. Several of these HSPs have anti-inflammatory properties that have been linked to increased longevity in humans. And another study showed that the frequency of sauna use is inversely related to C-reactive protein levels. This means the more frequent the sauna use, the lower the inflammation!
Brain Health
Heat exposure has also been shown to increase levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the body. This effect compounds when you pair it with regular exercise. BDNF is a powerful regulator of brain development which helps to improve learning, memory, and neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to modify and adapt both structure and function throughout life and in response to experience. Spending time in the sauna is extremely helpful for preserving the integrity of existing brain cells, promoting the development of new tissue, and regulating your mood.
Detoxification
Give your liver a helping hand! One of the most robust forms of detoxification is sweating. We all sweat when we exercise, but not always like when we go through prolonged heat exposure. With sauna use, you increase the amount of metabolic activity of your liver and kidneys. This helps detoxify your liver, kidneys, and other organs.
Performance Benefits of Heat Exposure
Aerobic System
Through the activation of heat shock proteins and their effect on inflammation, mitochondrial health is improved substantially. Not only will you be able to sustain a higher rate of exercise, but you’ll be able to recover from that exercise more efficiently. Additionally, cardiac stability and blood perfusion to the heart are improved, which allows the heart to work more efficiently during exercise.
Skeletal Muscle
The HSPs that are activated from heat exposure actually have a robust effect on net protein balance in the body. While they do not necessarily trigger muscle protein synthesis (MPS), they do inhibit protein breakdown. This effectively shifts the balance into positive net protein balance which, when training is applied, results in enhanced muscle hypertrophy. Additionally, heat exposure causes a huge increase in growth hormone (GH) release and may improve insulin sensitivity.
As you can see, heat exposure offers a wide range of benefits to our bodies! Of course, you want to make sure that you stay hydrated and replace the electrolytes that you lose in your sweat before and after sauna use.
Many of us at STAMINAPRO, along with our athletes, utilize saunas as part of our recovery and general health routine. We’ve observed a profound effect when combining our patches with sauna therapy. And since our patches are sweat-resistant, you don’t have to worry about them falling off while you’re sweating out some toxins!
