The Perfect Trio: Nutrition, Fitness and Infrared

Health, comfort and happiness contribute to the quality of life that we experience each day. Although everyone is different and the definition of “quality” may vary from person to person, it’s clear that fitness and nutrition are the building blocks of wellness.

But there’s one more! Clinical studies have found that when infrared heat is paired with the dynamic duo of nourishment and exercise that the perfect trio is created!

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition says that over the last 20 years, there has been a significant increase in obesity in the United States. Many Americans are overweight and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “About one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents (aged 2-19 years) are obese.” While these facts may be staggering they don’t mean that you are or have to become a statistic.

Incorporating healthy eating habits, some kind of workout routine and infrared heat can put you on the path towards a FIT lifestyle which can change your life for the better. You might even inspire your friends, family and co-workers in the process!

Nutrition

Food provides the body with energy and consuming a diet that is balanced will provide the essential nutrients we need to function and be well. The choices that we make today not only have an impact on us in the present, but they determine how well we will be in the future. The terrifying truth is that unhealthy diets promote unwholesome lifestyles and this increases the risk of diet-related diseases. Some of these include stroke, cancer, dementia. The health of your heart is also affected by nutrition, a diet that contains high amounts of fat and cholesterol can increase arterial plaque which is a fatty deposit. This deposit builds up in the arteries and slows the circulation of blood.

You are what you eat! So, think about that next time you’re making a decision while hangry (hungry + angry) and do your best to make nutritious choices. We have faith in you.

For those looking to lose weight, it may be helpful to understand caloric deficit. This means that you are burning more calories than you are consuming and it’s one of the most effective ways to manage body weight. This does not mean that you shouldn’t eat, the body needs adequate amounts of fuel (AKA food and water) to function properly. It’s also recommended to build up slowly, cutting the amount of calories you eat each day while increasing the amount of physical activity you participate in. Implementing slow change is key for keeping weight off. None of those yo-yo diets here!

Fitness

A steady and consistent workout routine is an imperative part of getting (or staying in) shape. Being physically fit allows us to live life the fullest. Experts say that it also increases energy, improves sleep, reduces anxiety and relieves stress. To get a little more scientific, movement gets the blood flowing and a sedentary lifestyle can have adverse effects on the health of the heart. The American Heart Association advises us to exercise regularly to lower the risk of heart disease and prevent high blood pressure. Experts say that we should hit the gym, hiking trails, yoga mat, etc. for about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Infrared

Extensive clinical research has documented a wide range of observations about the wellness benefits of infrared heat. Studies show that infrared can assist with pain relief, weight loss, detoxification, skin rejuvenation, relaxation and inducing sweat. As we discussed in the Sweating 101 blog, perspiration is necessary for overall health.

You might be thinking to yourself, “I got this, I produce a ton of perspiration while I’m exercising,” and that’s a valid point… but it’s what the sweat is made of that matters. The sweat normally produced by exercise is approximately, 95%-97% water.

On the other hand, the sweat produced while immersed in infrared heat is from 80-85% water (Cornbleet). The non-water portion that remains after spending time in IR immersion is principally cholesterol, fat (Broer), toxic heavy metals, soluble toxins, sulfuric acid, ammonia, sodium, and uric acid (Günzler & Gremlich). This means that integrating infrared sessions with your workout routine can be extremely effective. In addition, the sweat produced during an infrared session can contain up to 20% dissolved solids versus 3-5% from normal sweat (Widmaier, Raff, Strang & Vander).

Hence the reason that infrared is so effective in assisting the body with detoxification and weight loss.

Tips and Tricks

A lifestyle change may seem overwhelming which is why it’s recommended to start making small changes and working your way up to the big ones. Can’t fit in 5 days at the gym each week? Start with two. Having a hard time convincing the family that pizza isn’t the only option for dinner? Try a new recipe to get them on board.

Don’t worry if you don’t see results instantly, instead, focus on how you feel!

Sources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Obesity Trends. (2011)
• Cornbleet, T. (2008). The excretion of bromides through the skin.
• Broer, T. (2001). Maximum fat loss. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson.
• Widmaier, E. P., Raff, H., Strang, K. T., & Vander, A. J. (2011). Vander’s human physiology: The mechanisms of body function. New York: McGraw-Hill.