The Mental Health Benefits of Saunas

We’re taking a different approach to this article’s format as it’s so near and dear to our hearts, and we believe one of the less talked about benefits of sauna use.

In today's fast-paced world, mental health challenges are escalating at an alarming rate. Recent studies by Jean Twenge & David G. Blanchflower have highlighted a significant decline in youth happiness and life satisfaction over the past decade, particularly among young women, with experts attributing this trend to factors like the rise of smartphones, social media, cyberbullying, and body shaming. Additionally, social isolation and loneliness have been linked to increased morbidity and mortality, further exacerbating mental health issues. These statistics underscore the urgent need for effective strategies to combat stress, anxiety, and depression. One such approach gaining attention is the regular use of saunas, which offer profound benefits for mental well-being. Regular sauna use has the following benefits on mental health & wellness:

1. Reduces Stress & Anxiety, Increases Mental Resilience: Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, leading to anxiety, burnout, and poor sleep. Regular sauna sessions have been shown to lower baseline cortisol levels over time, enhancing the body's ability to handle future stress. A study in Psychosomatic Medicine (2015) found that sauna bathing significantly reduces cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, while improving our capacity to manage stress.
2. Boosts Mood & Happiness: Heat exposure triggers the release of endorphins, often referred to as the "feel-good" hormones. A JAMA Psychiatry(2016) study discovered that whole-body heat therapy can have antidepressant effects, thereby enhancing overall mood and happiness.
3. Improves Sleep Quality: A Sleep Medicine Reviews (2019) study demonstrated that raising body temperature before bed, such as through sauna use, can help individuals fall asleep faster and achieve deeper sleep.
4. Enhances Brain Health & Neuroplasticity: Heat exposure increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that supports learning, memory, and neuroplasticity - critical for cognitive resilience. BDNF is essential in protecting against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. This was highlighted in a study by Mattson et al., published in Trends in Neurosciences (2008).
   

Pro Tip: If you struggle with stress or sleep, try a sauna session in the evening - it could be your new secret weapon.

Sources:
Hiltunen P et al. Psychosom Med. 2015.
Janssen CW et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016.
Harding EC et al. Sleep Med Rev. 2019.
Mattson et al., Trends in Neurosciences, 2008.
Incorporating regular sauna sessions into your routine may serve as a valuable tool in mitigating the adverse effects of today's mental health challenges.