ANY SAUNA IS BETTER THAN NO SAUNA. While infrared is gaining popularity, research is lacking, and the vast majority of published research relates to traditional sauna (which itself is limited in terms of strong evidence). The closest thing we have to comparative evidence is a recent systematic review – the first to compare studies of both traditional and infrared sauna. This review concludes that all positive outcomes seen with infrared sauna simply reinforce what is already known about traditional sauna. There is much still to be explored on the health benefits of sauna. In the meantime, the take-home message is to use whatever sauna you like. Try different things, and listen to your body. Maybe you prefer the calm, private, softer nature of infrared saunas. Or maybe you prefer the fuller sensory experience of a traditional sauna, including the heat, the steam, the smell, and the people. Whatever the case, you will feel good afterwards. So get out there, and start sweating.
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