Let me say first off that I don't see any method (including use of saunas) as the be-all-and-end-all to belly fat loss. Having a sauna is first and foremost a great way to relax. It just happens to also have some other great side effects such as:
- An increased heart rate - This effectively "tricks" your body into thinking you're exercising and helps you burn a few calories while your just sitting there doing nothing.
- An increased circulation - Blood is sent to your extremities and helps to spread nutrients more fully around the body.
- A "flushing effect" of toxins through the skin - Sweating helps to eliminate toxins from your system (30% of which are normally passed through the skin.
- An artificial fever state is induced in your body - This effectively acts in favor of your body's overall health through the elimination of toxins.
Overall I will say that having a good sauna can definitely assist with any effort to lose stomach fat. I'll also say, however, that it is NOT a means to lose belly fat. That is, you shouldn't expect that having a sauna every day is going to let you drop the fat from your stomach. It should, however, work in conjunction with your other efforts to produce awesome results for your body.
P.S. Make sure you always replace lost fluids after a sauna by drinking heaps of water. Losing fluids in this way is not a good idea for healthy weight loss.
Image courtesy http://www.saunaabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/whati-is-sauna.jpg
Image courtesy http://www.saunaabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/whati-is-sauna.jpg
