-Mothers who are low in Vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to children who develop autism and ADHD by age 10.
-Vitamin C lowers cortisol by up to 40%, increases oxytocin, supports cardiovascular health, increases dopamine and lowers prolactin.
-300 mg/day of ubiquinol (active CoQ10) reduces migraine frequency by up to 50–60%.
-Thiamine (B1) at high doses (up to 1.5 grams) cuts fatigue nearly in half in patients with MS.
-B1 is crucial for gut motility and stimulating digestive enzymes.
-20 g/day of creatine loading + 5 g maintenance for 8 weeks cuts pain by 50% and fatigue by 60% in several small RCTs for fibromyalgia.
-High prolactin and low thyroid hormones are common in MDD.
-300 mg/day of ubiquinol cut cardiac death by 43% and total mortality by 42% over 2 years in patients with moderate to severe heart failure.
-High doses of biotin can lower blood sugar by half in diabetics and increase testosterone quite a lot (even by 3X).
-Vitamin C therapy might in fact increase the survival rate across all types of cancers by up to 4X.
-Vitamin A improves A LOT of symptoms of autism.
-Not getting enough selenium is so problematic that people with a baseline serum selenium concentration below approximately 106 ng/mL (within the low-normal range) had significant reductions in total cancer mortality and incidence of lung, colorectal and prostate cancers when supplemented with 200 µg/day of selenium.
-Separating fats and carbs in meals can minimize the simultaneous availability of both substrates, reducing competition and potentially improving glucose clearance.
-High dose riboflavin (400mg) works for up to 70% of migraineurs within 6 weeks.
-Vitamin A is superior to steroids for masculinization before 12y.o.
-10–15 g of glycine at night can improve insulin sensitivity the next day by even up to 50%.
-Men taking 600 mg/day of CoQ10 for 12 months reported a 113.7% increase in sperm concentration and a 104.8% increase in progressive motility.
-A single 20 g dose of creatine almost completely negates the cognitive decline from 24–36 hours of sleep loss.
-I can make you insane by changing your gut microbiome.
-Morning sunlight reduces length of hospitalization in bipolar disorder.
-Religious people live longer.
-Higher vitamin B1, B6 intakes and plasma pyridoxal-phosphate are associated with lower risk of mortality up to 10 years.
-NAC + Glycine has been shown to expand lifespan in mice by more than 20%.
-Taurine has been shown to expand lifespan by 10% in male mice and 12% in female ones.
-At the end of a chromosome, there are these protective caps called telomeres and the consumption of bee products showed an increase of over 0.25kbp in just a year.
-Urolithin A is more effective than most of the supplements promoted for "anti-ageing" purposes.
-Group sports extend life expectancy and being a cardio freak (marathon maxing for no reason (run a marathon 1/year if it's for charity for example) shortens it).
-B12 supports ptp-3 and helps maintain good cognitive function in centenarians.
-There's a chance that we could achieve a COVID mortality rate pretty close to zero if everyone had a vitamin D level >50 ng/mL.
Yes, zero.
-Vitamin D, A, B9 and zinc intake were lower in regions with the highest COVID-19 incidence and mortality.
-Choline is crucial for proper brain development and gestational choline deficiency in animals leads to lifelong cognitive deficits.
-Zinc at just 25mg can reduce depression by half and lower cortisol by up to 70% at 50mg.
-Dietary vitamin B6 and vitamin E are associated with decreased odds of periodontitis.
-1–2 mg/day of elemental lithium (as lithium orotate or from mineral water) cuts suicide rates by up to 80% in high-lithium regions and reduces dementia progression in RCTs at 5 mg/day.
-Children with autism and/or ADHD seem to have impaired B6 utilization.
-High methionine, low folate and low vitamin B6/B12 (HM-LF-LV) diet causes neurodegeneration and subsequent short-term memory loss.
-Allithiamine can not only alleviate hyperglycaemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, but also reduce the level of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs).
-Niacinamide can reduce plaque buildup in the brain and NMN improves insulin resistance.
-Animals with low methionine consumption lose weight more than even a 40% calorie reduction.
-Children with autism often can not utilize folate properly due to genetic impairments.
-Not consuming enough B vitamins literally shrinks parts of the brain (especially B12).
-B1 is crucial for gut motility and stimulating digestive enzymes.
-High dose inositol (12–18 g/day) has antidepressant efficacy equal to SSRIs in multiple RCTs, with almost zero side effects.
-A copper:zinc imbalance (high Cu/low Zn) is found in A LOT of cases of postpartum depression and violent behavior in teens.
-Patients who passed away from COVID had low iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D while also having high HbA1c.
-200 mg of vitamin C and 500 µg of B12 per day improve blood pressure, blood flow and reduce arterial thickness.
-Autism spectrum disorder seems to be the outcome of mitochondrial dysfunction during neurodevelopment.
-Giving hospitalized COVID-19 patients 30,000 IU of vitamin D daily for 3 days reduced their risk of death by 67%.
-Taking ibuprofen for more than 60 days in a year makes men twice as likely to experience infertility.
-66.5% of bankruptcies in the US are due to medical bills.
-Mold exposure can lower the IQ of children by 10 points.
-Vitamin D deficiency is linked to 60% higher odds of depression.
-Nattokinase can reverse carotid artery plaque by 36% at 10,800FU (taken over a year).
-Bright night light exposure is independently associated with type 2 diabetes.
-SSRIs can suppress melatonin by almost 50% under normal light conditions.
-Extending sleep by just 1.2 hours "offsets" 300 extra calories.
-The more you increase sodium fluoride, the dumber kids become. -Exercise (aerobic) is more effective than SSRIS.
-If 15% of your daily caloric intake comes from sugar, you are 21% more likely to become depressed.
-The sauna is more effective than SSRIs and exercise for depression.
-You can become literally insane if you change your gut microbiome enough.
-Binaural beats at 20 Hz have shown a 27% improvement in word recall.
-Finasteride increases your risk of depression quite a lot.
-Stress can make you diabetic.
-Morning sickness is a sign of a healthy pregnancy.
-People with ADHD have smaller pineal glands.
-3 days of forest bathing can increase natural killer cell activity by almost 50%.
-Artificial blue light increases your blood glucose levels without you consuming a single calorie.
-Exercising 4 hours after reading something improves retention.
-Creatine is an underrated supplement for lowering triglycerides.
-Negative air ions (think being outside in nature) reduce depression by 50%.
-Thinking that depression is a response to inflammation might be correct in a lot of cases.
-Taurine deficiency causes heart failure.
-Red light might prevent skin cancer.
-ASD is probably the outcome of mitochondrial dysfunction during neurodevelopment.
-Your heart ages VERY fast if you are sedentary.
-By taking 600mg of NAC twice a day during flu season you might drop your chances of getting sick by up to 50% (note, NAC taken for weeks on end will deplete copper and harm some of the biofilms of beneficial gut bacteria)
-Licorice root extract decreases COVID mortality rate by 62% (it's a cool fact, do not start using too much licorice).
-Oral probiotics improve psoriasis.
-240mg twice daily of Fernblock may reduce the risk of sunburn by 400% and UV damage by over 300%.
-Bile treatment improves psoriasis.
-Using a smartphone for 60 minutes a day lowers fertility and testosterone quite a lot.
-Vapes can contain up to 20 times more lead than cigarettes.
-Laughter reduces cortisol levels by up to 37%.
-Vitamin K is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular, cancer, or all-cause mortality.
-Vitamin D (2000 IU/day) reduced advanced cancer risk by 17% over 5 years.
-Acetic acid in ACV can enhance insulin receptor sensitivity, reduce glucose absorption in the intestines and increase glucose uptake in muscle cells.
It can also activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) thus improving insulin signaling.
-ALA enhances insulin sensitivity by reducing oxidative stress and improving glucose uptake in cells.
-Gingerol and shogaol in ginger enhance insulin sensitivity by increasing GLUT4 expression and inhibiting intestinal glucose absorption.
-Chromium enhances insulin receptor activity by improving the binding of insulin to its receptors and supporting glucose metabolism.
-Myo-inositol acts as a second messenger in insulin signaling pathways, improving insulin receptor function and glucose uptake.
-Fiber reduces postprandial glucose spikes.
-Fasting induces FGF21.
-93% of chronic fatigue syndrome patients had mycotoxins in their urine.
-Glyphosate was found in the sperm of 60% of infertile men in France (in the US a bit over 80% of the population have traces in their bodies).
-About 90% of people with fibromyalgia show elevated levels of mold-related toxins in their blood or urine.
-The risk of developing psoriasis increases by 8% for each 1-unit increase in blood total mercury.
-BPA is present at 54% in processed foods and beverages commonly consumed.
-Children with behavioral disorders, such as ADHD, are 3 times more likely to have higher blood lead levels compared to peers without such diagnoses.
-Bisphenol A (BPA) is detectable in the urine of 95% of adults in developed countries.
-People with autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, are 3 times more likely to have higher levels of pesticides, such as DDT metabolites, in their blood.
-Aluminum is detected in the brains of 50% of Alzheimer’s patients.
-Over 70% of individuals with chronic liver disease have detectable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (chemicals banned decades ago).
-Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are 2.5 times more likely to have higher levels of microplastics in their follicular fluid.
-Aluminum is also identified in the lung tissue of 70% of people with chronic respiratory issues.
-Arsenic exposure upregulates the Nrf2 pathway.
-Parabens can be found in the breast tissue of up to 55% of women.
-The mom having hypothyroidism makes the probability of the children being attracted to the same sex very high.
-Children with autism spectrum disorder are 2.5 times more likely to have higher mercury levels in their blood compared to neurotypical children.
-Over 60% of individuals with chronic neurological symptoms, such as tremors or memory issues, show elevated mercury levels in their blood or urine.
-Microplastics are found in the breast milk of most of lactating women, they can also be incorporated into bone stem cells and they also bind with alpha-synuclein and promote amyloidosis.
-Urinary phthalate levels are linked to low levels of thyroid hormones.
-Microplastics are also now found in almost all of the atherosclerotic plaque samples.
-About 90% of fibromyalgia patients, who often have psoriasis overlap, show elevated mold-related toxins in blood or urine.
-Men exposed to organochlorine pesticides are 2 times more likely to experience androgenic alopecia.
-Phthalate metabolites are associated with a 200% increased relative risk of asthma.
-EGCG before doing cardio improves IR sensitivity by activating AMPK and reducing oxidative stress, promoting GLUT4 translocation.
-HIIT increases GLUT4 translocation.
-Light walking (15 minutes) after meals enhances GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, independent of insulin.
-The gut microbiome influences insulin sensitivity
-All of your hormones work synergistically (testosterone helps regulate glucose uptake and insulin signaling for example).
-Taurine enhances IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and reduces serine phosphorylation.
-Cold exposure activates BAT, which increases glucose uptake and fatty acid oxidation.
-Hypothyroidism can cause SIBO.
-Stress can literally kill you.
-There is a strong inverse correlation with solar UVB for 15 types of cancer
-A 25-year study of nearly 30,000 Swedish women found that avoiding sun exposure was a major risk factor for all-cause mortality (similar in magnitude to smoking).
-The first time skin cancer was induced in mice was with a lamp that emitted UVC.
-Testosterone increases punishment of unfair behavior.
-Low creatine in the prefrontal cortex is associated with depression.
-Chronic pain might be caused by the mind (by the age of 40, most (yes, most) people have some sort of spinal abnormality yet they are completely asymptomatic).
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
30-32% of adults worldwide have liver dysfunction.
That's almost 1 in 3.
Yet, decades ago, only alcoholics and people with viral hepatitis got serious liver issues.
But now, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the leading cause of liver problems worldwide and even a lot of kids have it these days.
So most people's livers are crying for help in the modern day and age.
Why is this a problem?
Because poor liver function means:
• Fatigue
• A weakened immune system
• Gut issues
• Skin issues
• Increased cancer risk
• Blood pleasure issues
• Impaired metabolic function
and much more.
So here's a roadmap for taking care of your liver (we will discuss tests you can take, lifestyle interventions, supplements and more).
Thread🧵
*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*.
Let's start with the boring but necessary basics.
The liver is the second-largest organ in your body which is located in the upper right-hand part of your abdominal cavity underneath your diaphragm, right lung and rib.
It is made up of two main lobes which are made up of thousands of tiny lobules and each is made up of numerous hepatocytes.
These line up and between each row there are small blood vessels that diffuse oxygen and nutrients called sinusoids.
We can divide liver lobules into 3 metabolic zones: zones 1, 2, and 3.
Zone I hepatocytes are specialized for functions such as cholesterol synthesis, b-oxidation of fatty acids, and gluconeogenesis.
Zone II are crucial for liver homeostasis.
Zone III are crucial for detoxifying based on cytochrome P-450, glycolysis and lipogenesis.
Now a portal triad/area/canal/tract or field, is an arrangement within lobules that consists of:
-The proper hepatic artery ( a branch of the hepatic artery) which supplies the left and right lobes of the liver (not only that but the gallbladder and a part of the stomach as well).
-The hepatic portal vein which carries blood from the pancreas, intestines, gallbladder and spleen to the liver. To the liver, not from the liver, the hepatic vein does this, not the hepatic portal vein.
-Bile ducts which are multiple thin tubes that go from the liver to the small intestine which carry bile from the liver and gallbladder, through the pancreas, and into the small intestine.
Now obviously there are more cell types that reside in the liver besides hepatocytes such as kupffer and endothelial cells.
So if you want to be healthy, you're going to need a healthy liver by default.
Some functions of the liver include:
-Detoxification.
-Synthesis of bile salts which break down fats in the small intestine (and carry away waste).
-The conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy) and to balance and make glucose as needed.
-Lipid and protein metabolism.
-Storing the fat soluble vitamins.
-Phagocytosis.
-Regulating blood clotting.
-Regulating blood levels of amino acids.
-Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content
-Conversion of ammonia to urea (urea is an end product of protein metabolism and is excreted in the urine)
-Clearance of bilirubin.
Alcohol intolerance in small amounts is a great symptom of declining health.
Here are the most common reasons behind alcohol intolerance.
*Nothing in here is sarcastic.
Thread🧵
*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*
Quick notes before we enter the causes.
Note 1: The “safest” alcoholic drink is quality tequila.
Note 2: Alcohol is a tool and low doses of alcohol (up to 2 maybe 3 tops drinks per week) can have benefits under certain conditions.
Note 3: Nowhere in this thread i suggest getting shit faced.
I personally have a drink like once a month.
Number 1: Thiamine deficiency / harmed slufur metabolism (low molybdenum intake for example + pathogen overgrowths).
Sulfites for example cleave thiamine at its methylene bridge.
How to address this is quite simple: if you experience issues such as chronic fatigue, carbohydrate intolerance no matter if it's a piece of organic apple or white sugar, consider trying thiamine.
If thiamine does not help after 1 month, consider further looking into sulfur intolerance (use the search function in my profile).
Most people trying to improve their health waste money on the wrong things.
So before you spend any money on your health journey, make sure that you're applying these free or quite cheap tools.
Thread🧵
*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*
It's George.
This thread will basically try to:
-Prevent people from wasting money on fancy tools that don't really work simply because they have the wrong priorities
-Showcase that even if you don't have a lot of money, you can still improve your health.
Let's get into it/the tools.
Number 1: Assess your starting point through the following metrics.
-Measure your resting heart rate.
-Measure your temperature.
-Cooper test (basically a running test for VO2 Max).
-Measure your blood pressure.
-Waist to height ratio.
-Orthostatic test.
-BOLT score.
-Write down symptoms you have that indicate dysfunction in very key functions of the human body (libido, energy levels, gut issues etc).
In fact, some of these might provide more insights compared to an isolated blood marker.
If you will never fix your brain unless you fix your mitochondria.
Just a single cortical neuron utilizes approximately 4.7 billion ATPs per second in a resting human brain.
Here are some basic steps you can take to support the function of your mitochondria.
Thread 🧵
*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*
Now first and foremost, mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a host of health conditions ranging from chronic fatigue, low testosterone, depression, bipolar disorders, low testosterone and neurodegenerative diseases all the way to cardiovascular issues, diabetes and even sleep apnea.
Now, what are mitochondria?
Mitochondria are subcellular organelles that likely originated from ancient α-proteobacteria engulfed by eukaryotic cells.
These organelles produce the vast majority of cellular energy through adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is needed to power every cell's biochemical reactions.
They also modulate processes like cell signaling, calcium homeostasis and apoptosis.
So it’s really no wonder that mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a host of health conditions.
When it comes to the structure of these double-membrane organelles, it’s a good idea to be aware of the following.
We have the:
-Outer membrane that is highly permeable due to porins such as voltage-dependent anion channels that allow small molecules and ions to pass freely.
-Inner membrane that is less permeable, with selective transporters, that houses the electron transport chain (ETC) and ATP synthase.
-Intermembrane space that is the region between the membranes.
This one is enriched with protons during ATP synthesis, creating a gradient essential for energy production through chemiosmosis.
-Mitochondrial matrix that is the innermost compartment, containing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), 70S ribosomes and enzymes for metabolic pathways like the Krebs cycle.
Now let’s dive a bit deeper into their main functions.
Let's start with ATP production.
Our cells require, well, energy in order to run properly.
Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation in the ETC.
How?
In a nutshell, electrons from NADH (complex I) and FADH₂ (complex II) pass through complexes III and IV, pumping protons into the intermembrane space. The resulting proton gradient drives ATP synthase to convert ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) into ATP.
If you have no idea what these are, ATP production happens primarily through three stages:
-Glycolysis (happens in the cytoplasm)
-The citric acid cycle (or the Krebs cycle (happens in the mitochondrial matrix))
-Oxidative phosphorylation (happens across the mitochondrial inner membrane)
Glycolysis is anaerobic (no oxygen needed) and takes one glucose molecule breaks it into two 3-carbon pyruvate molecules through a 10-step enzymatic process (glucose gets two phosphates added whcich uses 2 ATP and gives us fructose-1,6-bisphosphate which splits into dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, then the former also converts to G3P, so we get two G3Ps and each one is then oxidized (loses electrons to NAD⁺ and forms 2 NADH (these basically “carry” energy)).
Finally phosphates are transferred to ADP making 4 ATP total (only 2 were used). After some shuffling, you’re left with 2 pyruvate.
Now, we take these 2 pyruvate molecules and each one is converted to acetyl-CoA by pyruvate dehydrogenase. This process releases CO₂ and generates 2 NADH.
For each acetyl-CoA, the following happens: Acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate get together to form citrate which reshuffles into isocitrate, then isocitrate loses CO₂ and electrons, forming α-ketoglutarate and 1 NADH.
Now that the first oxidation is done, we move to the second one were α-Ketoglutarate drops another CO₂, yielding succinyl-CoA and 1 NADH. Now in this critical step, succinyl-CoA transfers a phosphate to GDP (making GTP, which converts to 1 ATP).
The oxidations don’t stop here and succinate becomes fumarate (1 FADH₂), then malate, then oxaloacetate (1 NADH), completing the loop.
And we can finally talk about oxidative phosphorylation and its two parts, the electron transport chain (ETC) and chemiosmosis. The first one is a series of protein complexes (I-IV) and carriers (ubiquinone, cytochrome c) embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Here's the list of nutrients most people don't get enough of and experience:
-Fatigue
-High blood pressure
-Skin issues
-Low libido
-Brain fog
-High blood sugar
-Hair loss
-A compromised immune system
and more, as a result.
Thread🧵
*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*
Before we even get into the nutrients, you must be aware of two things.
Number 1: Each macronutrient (protein, carbs, fats) relies on specific metabolic pathways that require distinct vitamins, minerals and cofactors for optimal function.
So basically, our micronutrient needs are influenced by our macronutrient intake.
Now, here are some micronutrient adjustments you can make for certain macronutrient splits.
-High-protein diets
B6: Cofactor for transaminases and decarboxylases in amino acid metabolism.
B9: Aids in methionine metabolism.
B7: Supports amino acid catabolism and energy production from branched-chain amino acids.
B12: Essential for methionine synthesis.
Magnesium: Facilitates protein synthesis.
Molybdenum: Cofactor in the urea cycle (via xanthine oxidase), helping detoxify nitrogen waste from protein breakdown.
-High-carb diets
B1: Essential for pyruvate dehydrogenase.
B3: Needed for NAD+ synthesis in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.
Magnesium: Cofactor for enzymes in glucose metabolism.
Zinc: Supports insulin signaling and glucose uptake.
Potassium: Supports insulin signaling and glucose uptake.
B5 : Precursor to coenzyme A, vital for metabolizing carbs into energy via the Krebs cycle.
Chromium: Enhances insulin sensitivity, improving glucose uptake in high-carb diets.
-High-fat diets
Choline: Critical for fat transport (via lipoproteins).
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium): Low-carb intake = can't hold onto enough electrolytes in the long run.
L-Carnitine: Transports fatty acids into mitochondria for energy.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Supports mitochondrial energy production from fats, reducing fatigue in depression.
Glycine and taurine (for bile)
Number 2: The main things that deplete us of various micronutrients, interfere with their absorption or increase the need for certain micronutrients:
1. Sweating
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Electrolytes but especially potassium
2.Alcohol
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-B vitamins
-Electrolytes
-Vitamin K
3. Sodium fluoride, bromine etc
Nutrients they mainly interfere with:
-Minerals and especially trace minerals
4. Smoking
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Retinol
-Vitamin C
-Taurine
5. Phytic acid
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Minerals and especially zinc
6. Stimulants
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-Vitamin C
-Electrolytes
-B1
-B2
-B5
7. Statins
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-CoQ10
-Vitamin D
-Vitamin A, K and E depending on the dosage
8. Birth control pills
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-Everything, just stop using them
9. Antidepressants
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-B vitamins
-Vitamin K
-Vitamin D
11. Stress
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Minerals
-B vitamins
12. Heavy metals
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-Minerals
13. Herbicides and pesticides.
These terms are too broad, but most of the trouble makers deplete/interfere with:
-Minerals
-Glycine
-Vitamin K
14. NAC/glutathione
Now don't freak out, NAC can be a useful supplement but it will mess up copper status and even zinc if it's used for months on end.
Same with things such as NAD+, niacin or NMN for example.
If you're going to use them for a long time you should encounter for their side effects and in this case add some TMG for example.
15. Binders such as activated charcoal.
Nutrients it mainly depletes/interferes with:
-Minerals
16. Elevated PTH
Nutrients it mainly interferes with:
-Calcium
-Magnesium
Proper sauna use is one of the best things you can do for your health during this winter.
Overall, it is shown to:
-Protect against neurodegenerative diseases
-Rapidly alleviate depression (faster than antidepressants)
-Be one of the best tools for detoxing from industrial toxins
-Support the immune system
-Enhance physical performance
-Promote myelination
-Improve cardiovascular health
-Alleviate chronic pain
-Reduce fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
-Be quite effective for resolving insomnia
and more.
Here's a short guide on the benefits of the sauna.
Thread🧵
*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*
For the few of you who might be unaware, sauna therapy involves controlled exposure to heat, typically in a traditional (hot rock/steam) sauna (160-200°F, 70-100°C) or an infrared sauna (120-140°F, 49-60°C), inducing hyperthermia and sweating.
This triggers a cascade of physiological responses, including activation of the HPA axis, sympathetic nervous system and heat shock protein (HSP) pathways.
These responses drive adaptations in neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, immune and integumentary systems, contributing to the following benefits.
But besides these, saunas have been a cornerstone of wellness practices for centuries, from the sweat lodges of indigenous cultures to the Finnish saunas embedded in modern spa culture.
So let's see some benefits (some of which we've known for 30+ years).
Number 1: Mood enhancement and depression reduction.
In one study, a single infrared sauna session (at 135-140°F for 30 min) reduced depression symptoms by ~50% in patients with major depressive disorder.
Not only that, but the effects persisted for six weeks.
This outperformed SSRIs (3-4x effect size) and exercise (2x effect size).
Another study on mildly depressed patients with fatigue and appetite loss reported significant improvements in appetite and mental complaints after infrared sauna therapy.