If you have ever had a Russian banya experience, then you know how amazing it is – but we often get asked the question: Is Banya good for detox and weight loss?
Well, we’re not going to get technical here, but we do feel the question merits an answer, so this is what we will do here. In this article, we will explore together:
- Banya – The Detoxification Affect
- Sweating – The Body’s Natural Detoxification System
- Banya and Weight Loss
- Banya and a Healthy Lifestyle
Russian banya is an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle – and at Banya No.1 we love knowing that we are helping our customers to meet their health goals.
The banya experience is an ideal combination of relaxation, enjoyment, socialising and health – what could be better?
So let’s now take a look at some of the health benefits of Russian banya.
Banya – The Detoxification Affect
The human body builds up toxins from a variety of sources. Chemicals from personal care products and household cleaning products are absorbed through the skin, air pollution from vehicles and even processed foods – all contribute to this.
Over time, this accumulation can have a serious impact on our bodies which we may not even be aware of as it happens slowly. The consequences, however, can be serious.
Oxidative stress, caused by toxin buildup, can affect or create imbalances in the body, and these can contribute to conditions like inflammation (very common) and are even linked to a variety of other health conditions, such as heart diseases, certain cancers and even mental degeneration.
The simple solution to all this is detox. There are many detox “treatments” to remove toxins available today, but it is important to remember that the body has its own built-in detoxification system – sweating.
Sweating – The Body’s Natural Detoxification System
Sweating is the body’s natural method to remove toxins from the system.
One of the purposes of sweating is to flush out the collected toxins that have accumulated in the body – it is safe, it is natural, and it is very efficient, as that is what it is designed to do.
The effect of the banya experience is to ramp up the effects of sweating. Spending time in the steam room at Banya No.1 causes a rise in your body temperature and therefore also an increase in your sweat production.
It is worth noting that detoxification is not a cure-all for every ailment, but it is an important contribution to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Taking steps to remove toxins as part of a regular health regime is an excellent boost to the body and a great support to the immune system.
The benefits of Russian banya to your health extend beyond detoxification; the combination of heat from the steam room, plus sudden cooling by plunging, also carries its own health benefits, but they are beyond the scope of this article and are discussed elsewhere.
But at the end of the day, a visit to a Russian banya and simply sitting and sweating for a while can provide significant health benefits.
Banya and Weight Loss
Some are quick to dismiss weight loss in a sauna as “just water loss” because, yes, when you are spending time in a Russian banya you are sweating.
So the real question here, perhaps, is: Does sauna burn calories?
There have been a number of studies on the subject over the years, with one finding that 30 minutes in a sauna could help you burn anywhere from 300 to 500 calories (albeit depending on a number of factors, such as weight, metabolism, etc.). Admittedly, some of this is not coming from fat but from carbs, so a proportion of this will then be regained once you rehydrate.
But despite this, the total number of calories burned during a banya experience is akin to that of taking moderate exercise; your heart rate increases as does your metabolism, and this in turn burns extra calories.
Having got that out of the way, let’s take a more nuanced look at the subject.
A healthy lifestyle is a result of several things – including a balanced diet, reasonable exercise and proper sleeping habits. It is better to see Russian banya as a complement to these factors – and one that can even contribute to them.
A regular banya experience has been linked to improved general cardiovascular health, better sleep and even a reduced risk of hypertension. Having these elements of your health out of balance can itself contribute to weight problems.
A lack of proper sleep can even contribute to weight gain, so anything that promotes healthy, regular sleep is a benefit to you, and sauna treatments contribute to healthy and better quality sleep.
Regular visits to banya increase the effects, when compared to a one-off visit, so it is well worth making the banya experience a part of your regular health regime.
When taken together with a healthy lifestyle, the effect of a Russian banya is to enhance what you are already doing – so if weight loss is your goal, and you are taking steps to do this – adding a regular banya experience will help you to meet your target.
Banya and a Healthy Lifestyle
To summarise then, yes, banya is good for detox and weight loss and can help you keep healthy all year round.
No, you will not shed kilos and meet your weight loss goals just by sitting in a sauna – effortless weight loss is the stuff of dreams. But one of the benefits of Russian banya is that it will help you achieve your health goals – including weight loss – if you incorporate it into your lifestyle as a part of your health regime.
In addition, the banya experience is an excellent way to detox – as we have seen, sweating is nature’s own way of detoxification.
And aside from all this, the banya experience is ultimately one of social relaxation, which is also great for mental health and general well-being.
So make Banya No.1 a part of your regular health regime – enjoy the benefits of Russian banya and the benefits of a healthier you.
