Can Using An Infrared Sauna Help Vitamin D Deficiency?
Author: MichelleRiley Total views: 13 Word Count: 476
It's a often-asked question, and something you yourself may have wondered about: can infrared sauna use cure vitamin D deficiency? Vitamin D is an essential nutrient to life, and a lack of it can take a serious toll on your health and well-being. Read on for the answer and the best ways to get your daily dose of D.
To begin with, here are the ways in which vitamin D affects your body:
- it's necessary for strong bones & teeth
- your body needs it to be able to absorb calcium
- it helps your immune system fight cancer
- according to studies, an adequate intake helps prevent cancer of the breast and prostate (as well as several types) diabetes, multiple sclerosis, even depression
This isn't even the entire list - vitamin D is undoubtedly an essential nutrient for our functioning. A substantial deficiency can cause rickets in children and osteoporosis in senior citizens. A milder lack might manifest as fatigue, sluggishness, and lackluster skin and hair. This shows just how important it is to make sure you're getting a good supply.
Now, back to the main question: can using an infrared sauna boost your vitamin D levels? In summary: most of your vitamin D is synthesized from sunshine - specifically, ultraviolet (UV) rays. Infrared energy is another type of radiation found in sunlight. These rays are the cause of the warmth or heat you feel while out in the sun; they are also the heat source for infrared saunas. Saunas do not contain UV rays - so while they are wonderful resource for soothing pain, detoxifying, improving skin tone, and a number of other benefits, using one won't supply you with vitamin D.
What are good sources of vitamin D? Ultraviolet light supplies 90% of your intake, so experts recommend spending about 10-15 minutes twice a week in the sunshine. But don't forget the sunscreen - UV rays have an adverse effect after too much time, and put you at risk for skin cancer and sun damage. Sunblock will protect you, but the SPF will not allow your body to absorb vitamin D - so apply it only once you've gotten enough direct exposure. Don't forget that the other 10% of your D intake comes from diet, so so stock up on supplements or shop for nutrient rich sources like mushrooms, fish, and fortified milk.
To recap: no, infrared saunas can't help cure vitamin D deficiency, since they're not meant to be a substitute for natural sunlight. To make sure you're getting your share of vitamin D, let the sunshine in and try eating the foods mentioned above. And once you've got that down, you might just want to look into infrared sauna therapy - it's a great accompaniment to a healthy lifestyle, and well worth checking out!
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