Rhonda Patrick on the Crazy Brain Benefits of Saunas
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This episode will make a great companion for a long drive.
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Sure, the sauna FEELS good, but don't forget about the brain benefits: observational trials have shown reductions in Alzheimer's & dementia risk, and emerging research suggests that a sauna protocol may even have anti-depressive effects that last up to 6 weeks from a single session!
In this video, expect to learn:
- How heat shock proteins seem to reduce Alzheimer's disease risk — at least based on observational evidence.
- How long heat shock proteins are elevated after a sauna session
- How the sauna boosted Rhonda's stress tolerance in grad school
- How the sauna boosts mood via increased sensitivity to endorphins
- How a single sauna session could created anti-depressive effects that last up to 6 weeks in a small pilot trail
- How a sauna habit may reduce chronic inflammation
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Sauna News
- Regular infrared sauna use increases blood vessel density in aged muscles by 33%, though muscle size, strength, and protein synthesis remain unchanged.
- Post-exercise hot tubs and saunas show minimal, inconsistent benefits in exercise performance enhancement, despite potential physiological effects.
- Post-exercise infrared sauna use contributes to a 25% increase in jump height and a 6.8% peak power boost in female athletes—a potential tool for enhancing power production.
- More than 3,600 food-contact chemicals used in packaging and storage detected in humans, including several toxic substances associated with cancer, fertility issues, and hormone disruption.
- Warming muscles prior to high-intensity exercise boosts power and performance by 11%, suggests a small study on cyclists.
