Sauna Suits: Are They Helpful or Harmful?
A Bite-Size Read for Your Health and Waistline
Do you remember the 90’s tracksuits? Picture them in a shiny, nylon, unbreathable material, the top is a crew neck sweatshirt, the arms and legs have banded cuffs. This is a sauna suit. Maybe you’ve seen someone at your gym wearing one? Or perhaps you remember people wearing them decades ago? As a health coach, someone asked me about them recently and I figured this may be helpful for more of you. In fact, a lot of you! “#saunasuit” had over 222 million views as of a couple months ago! Here are my answers to your burning questions about what sauna suits are, why people wear them, and whether or not they’re something I’d recommend trying.
What is a sauna suit? It’s basically a waterproof tracksuit that retains heat. By wearing one while you exercise, it traps your body heat and traps your sweat, preventing it from evaporating. Since this moisture remains on the skin, it further raises your body temperature, causing you to sweat more and, some believe, have a “better” workout.
There’s limited research on sauna suits, however, a study published in 2018 showed some possible benefits. The researchers concluded that wearing one may increase the physiological strain — meaning it makes the workout more intense. Still, this study did not conclude whether that translated into improved…
