A heated sauna blanket is designed with far infrared heat technology to deliver warmth and therapy to the user, similar to a relaxing sauna, except in the form of a sleeping bag-like contraption for at-home use. But what are the benefits of a heated sauna blanket?
A heated sauna blanket has been shown to provide various health benefits when in use, including help with pain relief, detoxification, weight loss, boosts the immune system, promotes a better mood, and more, which makes it a worthwhile investment.
Are Sauna Blankets Good For You?
Heated blankets mimic the sun’s far-infrared rays, which gently soak into the skin and slightly increases the body’s temperature, thus revving up its internal system and performance, which makes them good for you.
In fact, according to the experts at the University of Michigan, one of the main benefits of sauna heat is that it makes you sweat, which helps release toxins.
However, regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate hydration, along with sauna blanket use, helps promote a healthy liver and kidneys for maximum detoxification effects.
Detoxification also helps strengthen the immune system, which enables the body to better absorb oxygen and nutrients, thus providing you with more energy and focus for accomplishing everyday tasks.
There is also some evidence that far infrared heat helps burn calories by boosting circulation, which also increases the heart rate and, thus, the metabolic rate, causing the body to burn calories the same as a light workout.
The warm, relaxing heat emitted from the blanket has also been shown to help soothe and alleviate inflammation, which is often responsible for chronic muscle pain and joint pain, for speedy relief and recovery, especially the more you use the blanket.
It also helps ease muscle tension associated with moderate to intense exercise.
Studies show that sauna blankets also help heighten the disposition due to the blissful effects they provide, similar to a stimulating spa experience.
Not to mention, the increased circulation and heart rate it generates also help enhance the mood similar to working out, so you feel content and healthier overall.
It may even help improve your sleep.
A sauna blanket can also even be used during the colder months to help keep you warm, so you save on energy costs.
How Do Heated Sauna Blankets Work?
Like all infrared products, heated sauna blankets are engineered to mimic the far= infrared rays emitted from the sun, which have been shown to provide various health benefits to humans, including improves blood circulation in the skin and organs and activates many of the body’s natural healing effects.
Far infrared rays are also the farthest away on the sun’s light spectrum, so they don’t penetrate the skin as deep as UV rays, which have been shown to be damaging to the skin after overexposure.
In fact, far infrared rays only penetrate about 1 1/2″ to 4″ deep into the skin, so they don’t heat you up too much while still providing healing.
Additionally, heat therapy products only harness the power of infrared rays, which means the UV rays are filtered out, so they don’t damage the skin.
Hence, infrared heat products can be used for longer periods and at any time of the day or night in the comfort of your home or a professional clinic to reap their benefits without harm.
Sauna blankets differ from other infrared heat therapy products in that they are designed similarly to a sleeping bag.
Hence, the user simply activates the device and then hops in, enclosing themselves in the blanket.
From there, they simply relax until their session is over to receive the myriad of benefits it has to offer.
What Type of Sauna Blankets are There?
Sauna blankets are available in various materials, including leather, Oxford cloth, polyurethane, and they typically also include waterproof materials, such as PVC, on the inside.
They also come in different colors, dimensions, heat settings, timer settings, and heating zones to suit the user.
Some blankets also include a remote control timer as well as other accessories, such as hand access zippers, so you can hold your mobile device or a book while using the blanket.
Many also include a security protection feature, such as an alarm or shut-off mechanism, should the unit get too hot.
Lastly, they also range in price from about $100 all the way up to about $500.
There are also near-infrared sauna blankets that use a combination of heat and light therapy that penetrate deeper into the skin, and they also emit lower levels of electromagnetic fields.
Some manufacturers also make infrared mats that enable you to reap their benefits while doing yoga and more.
How Many Calories Does a Sauna Blanket Help You Burn?
According to health experts, the increased circulation from infrared heat boosts the heart rate and metabolism, which helps you burn hundreds of calories, similar to some forms of exercise.
In fact, some studies show that just one 30-minute session can burn up to 600 calories or more, which is about the same amount of calories burned during a 5 mile per hour jog for 1 hour.
Can Heated Sauna Blankets Also Help You Burn Fat?
Research shows that the increased body temperature caused by infrared heat products also helps stimulate fat loss.
In fact, during one study, participants lost over 4% body fat after regular exposure to 110-degree infrared heat for 16 weeks. The study further concludes the higher the core body temperature reached, the greater the fat loss.
Furthermore, the increased sweating the blanket induces also helps flush stubborn heavy metals, radiation, cholesterol, and more from the fat cells, which also helps your body shed fat.
Many people also report a reduction in the appearance of cellulite after undergoing infrared therapy because the radiant heat reaches below the skin and into these uneven fatty deposits, which helps to dislodge them and flush them out, revealing smoother skin.
The results are even more profound when combined with a balanced diet and regular physical fitness.
Can I Use My Heated Sauna Blanket Every Day?
While some experts agree that it is okay to use a sauna blanket daily, in fact, many people report using their blanket for up to 40 minutes or more each day, others suggest limiting your use of the blanket to just 3-times per week, every other day, to allow your body time to rest and excrete any build-up of toxins and fatty deposits.
Furthermore, studies suggest that frequent, short sauna sessions of just 20 minutes 3 times per week over the long haul seem to be effective for gaining many of its benefits.
On the other hand, if you are new to using a sauna blanket, it is recommended you begin with just a few minutes each session because they can cause side effects in some individuals, such as mild to moderate heat discomfort and intolerance, low blood pressure, lightheadedness, and even claustrophobia.
And then, once your body becomes accustomed to heat therapy, increase your sessions to 20 minutes or more a few times a week as you get more comfortable.
However, immediately stop using the blanket if you start to feel dizzy, extremely tired, or sick, and then drink lots of water to avoid heatstroke or heat exhaustion.
How Do You Use a Sauna Blanket?
Sauna blankets are compact, portable, and easy to use for therapeutic benefits at home or on the go. In fact, its lightweight build makes it suitable for use while relaxing in a chair, in bed, or on the floor. It’s also simple to fold and store away when you’re done.
To begin, select your desired temperature on the blanket, wrap yourself in it, allow your body to work up a profuse sweat, and then it’ll beep to alert when once your session has ended.
You should also wear cotton clothes to help wick moisture away from your skin, so you become too drenched.
It also helps create a barrier between your body and the blanket to avoid irritating the skin, and the inside is also lined with plastic to prevent moisture from leaking out.
Lastly, be sure to also hydrate well both before and after your session to avoid dehydration. You should also avoid eating right before using the blanket.
What Temperature Should I Set My Sauna Blanket To?
The first time you use your sauna blanket, you want to place it on a low heat setting and then gradually increase it as your heat tolerance allows.
Most sauna blankets have 3-different sections with their own heat settings ranging from 35 degrees to 85 degrees, which enables you to create different heat zones to spot target problem areas throughout your body.
However, according to experts, the perfect temperature for an infrared sauna is between 110 and 130 Fahrenheit to help with detoxification.
Otherwise, the higher the temperature, the more it increases the heart rate and the more it causes you to sweat.
Infrared heat’s higher temperatures are still not as high as a traditional sauna, which requires more heat to produce steam.
Instead, it provides much gentler warmth of between 110 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also heats your body as opposed to the entire room, which makes it more bearable.
Who Are Sauna Blankets Not Recommended For?
Sauna blankets are generally considered safe for everyone; however, if you are pregnant or suffer from a health condition, such as multiple sclerosis, skin disorders, implants, defibrillators, and more, it is strongly advised that you consult your physician before use.
If you have a history of heart problems or you are on prescription medications, it is also important to talk with your doctor before using a sauna blanket to avoid complications.
You should also avoid using a sauna blanket if you are consuming alcohol, etc. because it can cause your blood pressure to lower and more.
What to Look For in the Best Sauna Blanket?
A sauna blanket should be made of soft, durable, and heat-resistant materials but also still flexible enough to adapt to various bodily positions while wearing it.
You should also look for a blanket with an adjustable temperature range, which will enable you to customize your infrared heat treatment according to your own comfort and tolerance.
It should also include 2 or 3 heating zones to target different spots on the body for maximum results.
A sauna blanket with a built-in timer will enable you to set the clock and relax, knowing it will automatically shut off once your time is up, so you won’t get overheated or dehydrated.
You also want to be sure to choose a blanket with the proper dimensions to fit your width and height so there won’t be sizing issues after you have already purchased it.
Lastly, sauna blankets can be a costly investment, so be sure to shop around for the one that offers you the best value. You can begin by checking out our infrared sauna blanket reviews.
You should also be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the proper way to care for your infrared blanket to help prolong your investment.
Who Else Uses Infrared Heat Therapy/Sauna Blankets?
For the longest athletes have been using infrared therapy as an effective way to help maximize downtime between workouts, as well as for its relaxing mind and body experience.
They are also used by professional spas to help detoxify the body and promote anti-aging effects, and more.
Doctors, medical practitioners, dentists, and physical therapists are also increasingly using infrared therapy to help deliver pain relief to their patients.
Best Heated Sauna Blankets
| Fulove Far Infrared Sauna Blanket | HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket | MIRAVIDA Infrared Sauna Blanket |
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| The Fulove Far Infrared Sauna Blanket has an arm out design that allows you to stay in the blanket past 30 minutes without shutting off. | The HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket is the top of the line infrared sauna blanket model on our endorsed be celebrities and worth checking out. | The MIRAVIDA Infrared Sauna Blanket is a great IR blanket to have because it comes with free body wraps you can use with the sauna blanket. |
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Final Thoughts
Sauna blankets offer a fairly safe and convenient way to burn fat and calories and more for most healthy individuals, similar to the more elaborate infrared saunas found at the spa or clinic.
Only, they enable you to do so from home, where they also take up less space and are easy to store away when not in use.
So if any of the benefits that sauna blankets offer are on your goal list, then consider investing in one, so you can start marking them off today.
