When I used the infrared sauna a lot last year, I definitely made sure to have a healthy breakfast and drink plenty of water before my sessions. For me, the sauna helped lower the pain of a collapsed, damaged hip joint and torn pelvic cartilage. Getting that little bit of pain relief and gaining a little bit more movement was definitely worth driving to the spa, getting changed, and stepping into that hot, wooden room to sweat.
You lose fluids when you sweat in the heat
Being in a hot temperature causes your body to lose fluid, which is why it’s important, before working out in a hot climate or before stepping into the sauna, you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. As the researchers in this study pointed out, your body depends heavily on water to function, and even small losses of as little as 1% of your body weight can hamper your performance.
Your body sweats to cool down, and the hotter it is, the more you’ll sweat. In extreme heat, people can lose up to 10 liters of sweat per day. The researchers also point out that water loss varies depending on several factors, such as the temperature, the humidity, fitness level, and heat acclimation.
Drinking water pre-sauna: Expert advice
Dr. Rachelle Reed, PhD, MS, is the scientific advisor for Perspire Sauna Studios, and she has in-depth knowledge in this area. Dr Reed shares that “staying hydrated before a sauna session (and all of the time) is important. During whole body heat therapy, you’ll lose both water and electrolytes through sweat, and going in already underhydrated can make it harder for your body to regulate temperature and recover afterward. I usually recommend drinking water leading up to your session, and then continuing to sip during and after. Think of it the same way you would before exercise: starting well hydrated helps you feel better during the session and supports your body’s natural cooling and recovery processes.”
