The use of sauna for the human body. Sauna after fitness: benefit or harm

The benefits of sauna have been repeatedly proven by scientists. Such a useful pastime has almost completely replaced the traditional Russian bath. However, many people, especially athletes, doubt whether it is worth visiting the sauna after training. To begin with, we will analyze the general effect of such a procedure on the body.

Sauna: benefit and harm

Sauna, of course, strengthens the body. Differences in temperature contribute to increased immunity, hardening and improving overall health. Man simply becomes resistant to various infectious diseases.

A trip to the sauna is often accompanied by application of essential oils, massage sessions and aromatherapy. Active components of various substances easily penetrate through the expanded pores and positively affect the skin and the body as a whole. So, the benefits of sauna for health:

• Infections are being destroyed.
• The immune system is strengthened.
• Regular sauna visits significantly reduce the risk of cancer.
• Outside the body all kinds of toxins are released.
• Kidney work is stabilized.
• Saline metabolism is stabilized.
• The skin becomes clean, soft, supple and supple.
• Blood pressure is normalized due to the fact that the vessels and capillaries expand.
• Significantly reduces the degree of stress.
• Irritability and nervousness disappear.
• Fatigue disappears.
• Person returns vigor and clarity of thought.
• The work of the brain is stimulated, resulting in the development of mental abilities.
• There is a rush of energy.
• Improves overall health and body health.
• After playing sports, lactic acid often accumulates in the muscles, which leads to the development of painful sensations. Sauna dissolves this substance and eliminates discomfort.
• The sauna accelerates the exchange of proteins, which makes the body faster and better digest useful substances.
• Sauna is an excellent prevention of bone disease.
• Coryza, bronchitis, tonsillitis, and similar diseases will disappear without a trace after several procedures.

This is indeed an impressive effect on the human body. However, sometimes a sauna does not only benefit.

Harm to the sauna for the human body

If the rules for visiting the sauna are not met, the body is seriously damaged. So, the harm of the procedure:

• If you are in a sauna in a state of intoxication, you can give an unbearable strain on the heart.
• Unprotected hair risks becoming dry and brittle after the first procedure.
• If you do not treat the skin before visiting the sauna, you risk drying it.
• If you go into the steam room barefoot, you can pick up the fungus, because not all visitors to the sauna are healthy, and the temperature in it is favorable for the development of parasites.
• Sauna at any time of pregnancy can adversely affect the health of the child.
• You can not visit the sauna at increased pressure, because there is a huge chance of losing consciousness.
• Acute infections can develop even more after visiting the sauna.

To avoid such consequences, you must follow the rules of visiting the sauna.

Rules for visiting the sauna

The benefits of sauna for women and men will be obvious if you follow such rules:

• Do not eat directly before the procedure. It is better to do this a few hours before visiting the sauna.
• Any alcoholic drinks before the sauna and after it will negate the entire positive effect.
• Wrap the hair in a towel so that it does not become dry and brittle.
• Apply natural oil to the skin to protect it from the effects of high temperatures.
• If your body is sensitive to fever, stay in the steam room for a minimum amount of time.
• If you are sick and you have a fever, refrain from going to the sauna, set it aside at a more appropriate moment.

Compliance with these rules will allow you to spend time in the sauna with maximum benefit. However, there are several categories of people who are categorically contraindicated in this procedure.

Contraindications to sauna

Very often people are attracted by a Finnish sauna. The benefits and harms of such pastime do not particularly concern them. However, some people can not visit the sauna. These include:

• Pregnant women.
• People with diabetes, tuberculosis, diseases of the nervous system.
• People with high blood pressure.
• Women in menstruation.

Contraindications to visiting the sauna is not so much. So you need to pay attention to them. If you disregard contraindications, you can cause irreparable damage to your health.

With the benefit and harm of the sauna, we figured out, now let's talk about this procedure immediately after training.

Sauna after the gym: good or bad?

Visitors to gyms and fitness classes are often offered to go to the sauna immediately after training. This is due to the fact that there is an opinion on the undeniable benefits of this procedure after sports.

However, everyone should make their own choices. Scientists have proved that the sauna has a negative effect on muscle growth. The increased temperature simply does not allow them to develop at full strength. But this does not mean that visiting a sauna will harm the body. Under certain conditions, it will facilitate such processes:

• Thanks to a strong influx of blood, muscles are updated more quickly.
• Significantly reduced pain in the muscles.
• Detoxified.
• Sauna removes from the body the products of natural metabolism.
• The sauna helps to relax and relieve tension in the muscles.
• Burn calories, and in significant quantities.
• A natural influx of oxygen into the body is created.

The use of sauna after training will be noticeable only if certain rules are observed.

How to train before going to the sauna

Some athletes are not as happy as a sauna after fitness. The benefit or harm will be from the procedure, nobody cares. However, a possible negative impact on health can lead to serious consequences. And if you follow these recommendations during training and stay in the sauna, then you will spend time with benefit:

• Do not overwork the body, the occupation should be moderate in intensity.
• Do not exercise for more than 45 minutes.
• Periodically, drink clean water during classes.
• After training and before visiting the sauna, also drink a little clean water.
• One session in the sauna should not last more than 20 minutes.
• After leaving the steam room, take a dip in the cool pool or take a shower.
• Immediately after the sauna, eat something carbohydrate-protein.
• If you have the opportunity to visit the sauna on the day you do not exercise, then do it.

The effect of the sauna on the body after training we figured out. But sometimes people want to visit this place just before the occupation. It has its positive and negative sides.

Hike before training

Many athletes like to go to the sauna before training, arguing that the procedure significantly warms up the body and regulates the optimal temperature regime.

There is some truth in this, as the sauna really warms up the body and prepares it for sports. During training, your muscles will no longer need a strong workout. But not only the positive side of this procedure. The benefits of a sauna before training depend on the planned load in the class.

Harm to the sauna before training

The use of the steam room before going in for sports will be obvious only if you visit it quickly and do not sweat for longer than 10 minutes. This is due to the fact that the body is at risk of becoming dehydrated.

In addition, the body temperature will increase significantly, which means that the temperature regime during training will not be optimal. In this state of playing sports are simply ineffective.

Alternative to visiting the sauna after a workout

The perfect procedure after training is washing your face with cold water or taking a cool shower. This normalizes the temperature regime, accelerates metabolism, slows down the heartbeat, prepares the body for the reception of a protein cocktail and promotes the synthesis of glycogen in the body.

In addition, oxygen is much faster in the muscles, which is good for their work and growth.

Unlike the sauna, washing does not adversely affect the growth of muscles, which is important for athletes who are engaged in the gym. A cool shower also helps to strengthen immunity and hardening.

A little about the infrared sauna

Today, infrared sauna is gaining popularity. This procedure is used both on the day of training, and as a separate full service in various beauty salons.

Infrared sauna differs from the usual one in that it contributes to warming the body of a person from within. This means that the body is updated at the tissue level. The skin becomes elastic and elastic, and the excess fluid is completely eliminated from the body.

What kind of sauna to choose, each person decides independently. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding to introduce your body into a kind of stressful situation.

If you do not want to study at all

Sometimes it happens that a person does not want to not only go to the sauna, but also play sports. In this case, the following manipulations will help:

• Change the training program.
• Several times you go to another gym.
• Do a few sessions with the participation of a personal trainer.
• Review several motivational films.
• Go to a workout with a friend, try yourself as a coach.
• Arrange for yourself a full-fledged day off, in which you will neither work nor play sports.

If you train too often, sooner or later the body will resist it, so your desire will be lost.

Thus, the sauna after a workout is a great way to relax and relieve tension. But sometimes it has quite the opposite effect. Therefore, it is important to know how the steam room acts on the body, how the state of health varies under the influence of high temperatures. Sometimes it is better to refrain from going to the sauna. The most optimal option for you will be to consult a doctor and trainer before deciding on a visit to the steam room.