Sweating the details: Sauna's potential health benefits draw scientists' interest

RIGHT I NEED THIRTY SECONDS OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE LITERALLY YESTERDAY WE WERE ALL JUST ASSUMING SAUNAS WERE FOR RELAXATION BUT NOW A BUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS ARE ACTUALLY LAUNCHING A RIGOROUS STUDY ON THEM WHICH IS WILD BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME ACTUAL SCIENTIFIC LEGITIMACY! NPR IS SAYING THAT HEAT THERAPIES ARE SUDDENLY GETTING THIS MAJOR ATTENTION TO SEE IF THE HEALTH CLAIMS ARE REAL OR JUST VIBES, AND THE THING IS, I GUESS WE HAVE JUST BEEN GUESSING ABOUT THIS FOR CENTURIES? SO NOW THEY WANT PROOF BEFORE WE CALL IT MEDICINE OR WHATEVER, AND HONESTLY IT IS ABOUT TIME WE KNEW IF SWEATING IN A WOODEN BOX IS ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING FOR US OR IF IT IS JUST HOT AIR! OK I AM GOING TO GO SHOUT AT A WALL.

SO APPARENTLY, AND I AM STILL PROCESSING, SCIENCE JUST DECIDED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT SAUNAS! NPR SAYS THIS INTERNATIONAL TEAM IS PUSHING HARD TO FIND OUT IF HEAT THERAPIES ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING BEYOND MAKING YOU SWEATY AND DRINK WATER, WHICH IS WILD BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR AGES WITHOUT A LAB COAT IN SIGHT. THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO BRING SCIENTIFIC LEGITIMACY TO THESE ANCIENT PRACTICES, SO WE MIGHT FINALLY KNOW IF THERE ARE ACTUAL HEALTH BENEFITS OR IF IT IS JUST A FANCY WAY TO SIT IN A HOT ROOM, AND CONSIDERING HOW MUCH WE LOVE A GOOD STEAM, THIS IS PRETTY HUGE NEWS THAT DEFINITELY DESERVES A STUDY OR TWO SO WE ARE NOT JUST GUESSING ANYMORE. ANYWAY I HOPE SOMEBODY IS WRITING THIS DOWN.

International researchers are beginning rigorous studies to determine if sauna and heat therapy practices provide scientifically validated health benefits.

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