November 16, 2016
Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.
It's no secret that I am obsessed with heat therapy, infrared sauna, heat shock proteins, infrared and just about anything that has to do with sitting in a sauna…
For example, in the article “Ben Greenfield’s Sauna Workout (The Exact Sauna Workout I Do Every Morning)“, I describe my elaborate morning routine that I perform each day in my sauna.
In “Ten Scientifically Proven Reasons I Am Addicted To A Daily Sauna“, I delve into the nitty-gritty science behind sauna use for everything from increasing growth hormone to maintaining muscle to enhancing skin health and more.
Then, in “Three Ways To Biohack A Sauna For More Heat, A Better Detox & Enhanced Fitness“, I show you how I biohacked my own home sauna to maximize the effects of daily sauna.
My first guest in today's podcast, Dr. Raleigh Duncan, is a Chiropractor who recognized the health benefits of infrared saunas early on when he was using them with excellent results with his patients. In 1996, he decided to dedicate his efforts to designing, manufacturing and distributing infrared saunas, as a way to help people heal and live healthier lives. Dr. Duncan is recognized as an early pioneer in the infrared sauna industry and has numerous patents and patents pending for his unique sauna technologies. Prior to becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Duncan spent 20 years as a manufacturing consultant. He's actively involved in the day-to-day operations of Sauna Works and Clearlight Saunas and he's always discovering better ways to heal the human body through the power of infrared.
Andy Kaps is also on this show. He is the President / COO of Sauna Works, and has spent the last 25 years building and implementing management systems, networking and Internet systems to streamline businesses. Andy joined the Sauna Works team in 2004 and has worked closely with Raleigh to develop the new technologies and innovations used in Clearlight Saunas.
Together Raleigh and Andy have collaborated to take the infrared sauna to new heights of functionality and therapeutic value. Some of their firsts include combining carbon and ceramic into one ultra-powerful hybrid infrared heater, eliminating EMF and ELF exposure in the sauna, utilizing powerful 500 watt Full Spectrum heaters, and creating the world's 1st full spectrum yoga sauna.
During our discussion, you'll discover:
-How to cut through the confusion between near-infrared, mid-infrared and far-infrared…[11:20 & 17:55]
-Why your body produces infrared wavelengths…[14:45 & 16:05]
-How you can “lower EMF” in a sauna, and what happens to your body if you don't do that…[20:55 & 23:00]
-Why you keep sweating for a long time after you get out of an infrared sauna…[26:48]
-Two easy ways to accelerate the detoxification effect that occurs in a sauna…[35:30]
-How you can use a sauna to maintain muscle mass…[43:50]
-How the use of a sauna can increase heart rate variability (HRV)…[46:40]
-And much more!
Resources from this episode:
-For more information on getting yourself a Clearlight sauna, call 800.317.5070 or go to HealwithHeat.com. Use discount code “BEN” to get $450 off the regular Clearlight sauna prices for any sauna and a “Gift with Purchase” of a very cool ergonomic backrest.
–Ben Greenfield’s Sauna Workout (The Exact Sauna Workout I Do Every Morning)
–Ten Scientifically Proven Reasons I Am Addicted To A Daily Sauna.
–Three Ways To Biohack A Sauna For More Heat, A Better Detox & Enhanced Fitness
–The YoungLiving Essential Oils Ben uses in his sauna (try the blend “Clarity”!)
–The BenGreenfieldFitness Clearlight Sauna giveaway
–Niasafe by Thorne as a non-flushing form of niacin
–The Trace Liquid Minerals Ben uses in a sauna
Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Raleigh, Andy or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!
Ben,
Do you recommend Sunlighten Sauna?
Thank you.
Hi Ben,
I used Niasafe intermittently for the last couple years and enjoyed it. I went to re-order and I see the product has been discontinued. Do you have any other similar niacin products you would recommend in its place? Or should I maybe just look for a Inositol Hexaniacinate supplement since that looks like the ingredient on the niasafe label?
Thanks,
Ryan
Check this out: https://goo.gl/XYsTLr
Hi Ben,
Thanks for the plethora of info you provide us! My fiance and I are avid infrared sauna users – probably daily or every other day. I really want to start having kiddos. My partner is addicted and cannot give up sauna, which means his sperm are cooked. Is there any product or method you recommend for keeping the testicles cool during sauna use?
Thank you!
-Alexandra
Yes, check out this article: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/biohacki…
Thanks for the link, it definitely has helpful recommendations. In addition, is there anything he can use to keep the testicular temperature low during sauna use or do you think he should stop using it altogether in order to increase fertility/sperm quality? Appreciate your help!
I mitigate that with cold therapy (showers/baths, cryo, etc) He can also help by going commando, sleeping naked in cool room, sitting less to improve overall blood flow
Ben, have you seen these portable infrared saunas? They look like a reflective blanket wrapped around a frame that you sit in with an infrared light. Temperatures don’t appear to get very high, but for a person that doesn’t have a gym or spa nearby and definitely can not afford to build a giant sauna in my home, do you think these could be a viable option?
I prefer a full body sauna and would worry about being so close to EMF source, but could be viable if you absolutely have no other options.
Ben, Can you give the reference information to the study talked about in this podcast concerning 4% body fat loss when using the sauna in the late afternoon vs morning? I am just wondering the time of day, # and sex of participants and amount of time in the sauna. I have a Clearlight arriving o Friday and want to optimize my time in the sauna.
I think you’re guests hadn’t a clue about a lot of the important details you asked about. They added zero to my sauna arsenal and also made some errors regarding near infrared spectrums…truly a product pushing podcast and not an informational one.
I thought the questions asked were excellent! Get more educated people on and not business owners regarding the science and applications of all infrared light spectrum applicable to healing.
Been have you tried this product?
https://us.foursigmatic.com/
Mushroom coffee
Yep – we talk about it a lot on the podcast. You can see everything I recommend and get a discount code here: bengreenfieldfitness.com/foursigmatic
Ben, have you heard or Sunlighten? They also make full spectrum saunas, just wondering, obviously a lot of marketing but both Sunlighten and clearlight claim to be the only true full spectrum saunas.
It’s hard for everyday people to really decipher between marketing and efficacy.
How do these companies/products differ in quality and product?
The full spectrum debate centers around Sunlighten using a few 10 watt LED PC boards emitting one wavelength of near infrared (880 nm) in their mPulse saunas, while Clearlight has 2 powerful 500 watt full spectrum heaters emitting all near infrared wavelengths from 780 nanometers to 1400 nm positioned right in the front glass wall of their Sanctuary saunas. Some of the other differences are: all Clearlight saunas have a lifetime warranty on the entire sauna for the original owner, no exceptions, no exclusions. Sunlighten says their warranty is "lifetime" but in fine print at the bottom of the warranty it says "Limited Lifetime Warranty… is defined as 7 years." You can see this here – http://www.sunlighten.com/warranty Also, Clearlight was the first infrared sauna company to remove EMF exposure from their saunas (Sunlighten's top-of-the-line mPulse saunas are not low EMF) and now Clearlight is the only company to remove ELF exposure (extremely low electric fields.) After an intense amount of research and personally owning a Clearlight for over a year, Clearlight is the only infrared sauna I recommend.
Thank you for this question Tim. And Ben, thank you for answering it! I’ve been wondering the same when comparing Clearlight and Sunlighten.
Hey Ben. I forgot if there was a discount code for clear light saunas. If so can you give me a link.
Thanks. I have been just waiting to buy one of these.
Great show
Yes, the discount code is in the shownotes above!
If you only had access to a public in the gym dry sauna with municipal water would you use it?
no i wouldn't. I would save up for a barrel sauna or an infrared.
I was somewhat disappointed with this podcast. I’m a huge believer in the various significant benefits that infrared saunas provide and I also believe the EMF is a major issue for people. Given that, and everything that I’ve heard about Clearlight saunas this episode should have been one of the better ones for me.
However, I thought that Andy and Raleigh came across as not being particularly knowledgeable for almost all of the topics covered in the interview — Ben knew more than them on all of these topics. I think they would have been far better served to hire an expert rather than present this content themselves. That said, I’d still likely buy their products given all of the great reports that I’ve read about both from Ben Greenfield Fitness and other reputable sources.
I agree. I was really looking forward to this as they did an interview with Daniel Vitals on his RewiId Yourself podcast earlier this year that was really great. I listened to it several times. This one was a little flat.
Great Podcast, as usual! Ben, it would be great if you could let us know what’s the best dosage of Niasafe and time in the sauna to maximize the health benefits.
I would start here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2015/08/how-to-m… and then let me know if you have any questions.
Are infrared saunas safe for people with metal hip implants?
There's no problem with implants with infrared heat. This includes implants made of metal (stainless steel or titanium), plastics, silicone, etc. Infrared will bounce off of metal implants and most other types of implants have a melting point well over 200°F. In an infrared sauna, the core body temperature is raised just a few degrees, so it's not an issue.
Does the code work when using amazon.co.uk? because I just tried and it didn’t work for me
Did you try BFITNESS?
Ben, I know you’re a big proponent of clear light – have you heard of sauna space near infra red saunas – & your thoughts on those?
Near infrared is only one bandwidth of the infrared wavelengths available for sauna therapy. A majority of the research and studies on the benefits of infrared are done with far infrared heat. We actually emit far infrared from our bodies, not near infrared. My preference is to get the benefits of near, mid and far infrared simultaneously – the full spectrum of infrared. The sauna space has near infrared heaters only, on one side of a tent. You'll get some benefits from this, but not the same benefits as being surrounded by far infrared heat on all 4 sides.
Thoughts of using the sauna at night vs. the morning. Thanks.
It's all personal preference. Some people love to start their day with a sauna, others prefer to end their day with one. Some feel relaxed after a sauna session, others feel energized. If you're one of the ones who feels relaxed, I recommend going in the sauna in the evening before sleep. If it energizes you, sauna in the morning. You can also time it with your workouts – infrared saunas are great for warming up and increasing flexibility before a workout and afterwards to aid recovery by relaxing tight muscles and removing lactic acid.
Can you check that the HumanCharger discount code is working? (Note that humancharger.com/ben goes directly to Amazon.com.)
Finding out – stay tuned.
The Amazon part is fine, code is BFITNESS for 20% off