According to the Endocrine Society, menopause speeds up bone loss and the risk of osteoporosis1. Research published in Cell Metabolism states that one third of postmenopausal women are affected by osteoporosis2, which increases risk of fractures and decreases mobility.
Movement is important not only for physical health, but mental health too. Osteoporosis can impact how much you’re able to move during the day. This can set off a domino effect of poor health over time.
Researchers from the University of Geneva found there’s a way to improve bone strength through heat3. Read on to learn how warm ambient temperatures can offset the side effects and provide some natural menopause relief.
Animals that live in warm climates have a larger surface area in relation to their volume. Because of this, these animals are often smaller in size. This causes them to lose heat quickly compared to animals that live in cooler temperatures, who tend to be larger.
The research team from the University of Geneva placed newborn mice in a temperature of 93°F to minimize the shock of birth. Doing this caused the newborn mice’s bones to become longer and stronger. This supports the theory that warm temperature promotes bone growth.
When looking at adult mice in warm temperatures, bone size did not change but strength and density improved. The researchers then looked at mice with exposure to the same warm temperatures after removing their ovaries (and thus, triggering a menopausal reaction). They found that warm temperatures protected this set of menopausal mice from osteoporosis.
While the results for mice with warm temperature exposure were positive in the study, what about humans? By examining epidemiological data, researchers noticed that those who live in warm temperatures experienced fewer hip fractures.
As for why our bones respond positively to warm temperatures, the researchers state that heat disrupts the degradation of polyamines – molecules that play a role in cell growth, aging, and bone health. In fact, heat helps the production of these polyamines, which prevents the side effects of bone loss that come with osteoporosis and general aging.
If you don’t live in a year-round warm climate, you can still get the benefits of heat through a Sunlighten infrared sauna. Sitting in a sauna for 30 to 45 minutes three to four days a week will deliver similar effects to living in a warm climate when it comes to preventing bone loss from osteoporosis.
Infrared sauna heat can also combat joint pain and reduced mobility that can come with osteoporosis and aging. An Auburn University study using the Sunlighten mPulse found that stretching in a sauna with infrared heat increased flexibility and range of motion. This can help provide more joint mobility, improved overall function, and less stiffness.
When it comes to treating osteoporosis from menopause or aging, it’s never too late to take preventative steps to offset bone loss and density. Whether you are perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopausal, taking time to sit in an infrared sauna will reverse bone loss. As a result, you’ll improve your mobility and protect the things you love to do like walking, jogging, cycling, playing tennis and more.
Movement is key to anti-aging and living fully. Protect the way you move and see which Sunlighten sauna is right for your lifestyle.
