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Episode 3476:
Dr. Neal Malik answers a listener’s question about whether saunas and cold showers are worth prioritizing for better health and longevity, separating popular claims from what the research actually supports. He explains why traditional steam saunas appear to offer cardiovascular and other health benefits for many people, while the current evidence for cold water immersion is much weaker and may even suggest potential downsides.
Quotes to ponder:
"When we spend time in the environments I just described or really when we're exposed to a lot of heat our bodies respond by dilating our blood vessels which means the inner lining of our blood vessels get bigger."
"Some researchers have found that regular use of saunas may decrease pain levels in those experiencing chronic pain like those that suffer from arthritis."
"The reason you hear so much about the benefits of antioxidants is because they help our bodies get rid of free radicals."
Episode references:
American College of Sports Medicine: https://www.acsm.org/
Bastyr University California: https://bastyr.edu/
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