Although February is traditionally one of the coldest, snowiest months of the year here in the Midwest, it’s one of our favorites months here at Sunlighten! That’s because February is Heart Month. Sunlighten is a longtime supporter of the American Heart Association. We donate a portion of our sales each February to the AHA, we participate in a number of local AHA – Kansas City fundraisers each year and our owners Aaron and Connie Zack have served on the board of directors for our local AHA chapter.

Why are we at Sunlighten such big supporters of the American Heart Association? Because cardiovascular disease is our nation’s number one killer. In the U.S. alone, one in three adults suffers from heart disease, stroke or some other form of cardiovascular disease in their lifetime. And clinical studies show that our infrared saunas help in keeping your heart healthy.

High blood pressure increases your risk of getting heart disease, kidney disease or serious stroke. Only Sunlighten saunas are backed by clinical research that shows a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

In a 2005 clinical study by the University of Missouri Kansas City, Sunlighten’s Solocarbon heaters were shown to lower blood pressure through a program of 30 minute infrared sauna session 3 times per week. The study concluded that Sunlighten infrared sauna therapy dilated blood vessels and reduced the volume of their inner lining, thus increasing circulation to promote healthy blood pressure.

Additional studies have regularly shown the positive impact that regular infrared sauna use has on hearth health. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2001 showed that infrared saunas help improve the function of impaired vascular endothelial cells in patients who are at risk for coronary artery disease. The infrared heat of the sauna opens capillaries to improve blood flow. 15 minutes in an infrared sauna each day for 14 days improved the function of the endothelial cells lining the arteries by 40%.¹ The results of this study suggest a preventive role for infrared sauna use for arteriosclerosis.

As they say on TV “but wait, there’s more!” The elevation in body temperature from regular Sunlighten infrared sauna use also produces an increase in blood flow that mirrors the benefits of a passive cardiovascular workout. Regular infrared sauna use – especially in the mid-infrared range available in Sunlighten’s mPulse custom spectrum sauna – has been shown to significantly stimulate blood flow, even after your sauna session is completed.

For more information on infrared sauna use and heart health, contact a Sunlighten representative.

¹Imamura, M, et al. Repeated thermal therapy improves impaired vascular endothelial function in patients with coronary risk factors. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2001, 38 (4): 1983-88.

We recently receive these terrific photos from customer Edward Pal, who built his new mPulse custom spectrum infrared sauna from Sunlighten into a fitness room in his home. Doesn’t it look gorgeous?

Here’s what Edward had to say about his new sauna and his experience with Sunlighten:

When I made the decision to purchase a sauna for my year-round cottage, my research quickly led me to the conclusion that from a health and overall enjoyment perspective, an Infrared Sauna was the way to go. My Naturopath had previously done extensive research on the subject – the result of which was her purchase of an Infrared sauna from Sunlighten.

Sadly, and as difficult it is to believe, the shipment to me was lost twice! First in USA and then secondly in Canada. However for both losses, Sunlighten, through its representatives, did its best to try to rectify a difficult situation that was out of their control. Throughout the full time period, representatives from logistics, customer support and sales kept regularly in touch me.

The great news is the sauna arrived just prior to New Years and was easily assembled. And what a great way to bring in the New Year! It performs better than promised and I look forward to many years of healthy enjoyable use of my sauna. Thank you Amber, Gerry and Ingrid for your help.

Thanks so much to Edward for his patience and for sharing his story and photos with us!

About ten years ago, researchers and physicians from NASA and the Medical College of Wisconsin conducted research on the effects of near infrared (NIR) LED light on wound healing. The research team concluded that NIR LED light significantly promotes faster cell regeneration, wound healing and human tissue growth. Human cell growth increased by 155%-171% in some cases and wound size decreased by 36%. (fn. 1)

Introduced in 2010, Sunlighten’s advanced Solocarbon Custom Spectrum heater is the only heater on the market capable of producing near infrared (NIR) light using LED technology. This is the same technology used in the NASA/Medical College of Wisconsin research that concluded NIR therapy greatly enhances the wound healing process.

Our mPulse full custom spectrum infrared saunas employ the Solocarbon Custom Spectrum heaters, make them the only saunas available with the unique ability to heal wounds faster and minimize scarring through the use of near infrared LEDs.

While it wasn’t a scientific research project, one of our own associates tracked the healing process of two separate surgical wounds in an mPulse sauna about a year ago. The healing results of the mPulse’s NIR light were tangible. Check out photos of the process here: http://blog.sunlighten.com/2010/11/infrared-heat-wound-healing

(1) Whelan et al; Effect of NASA Light Emitting Diode Irradiation and Wound Healing. Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine & Surgery, Volume 19, Number 6, 2001, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, pp. 305-314.

With the launch of our mPulse full spectrum infrared saunas, Sunlighten also introduced a line of biofeedback accessories. If you own an mPulse sauna – our “smart” infrared sauna – these accessories will wirelessly communicate with the interior control panel of your sauna. If you own one of our original far infrared saunas, these biofeedback accessories can still help you better utilize your sauna as an integral part of your health and fitness program.

Along with our biofeedback accessories, we offer the MySunlighten.com website and community. The Intelli-Watch and accessories allow you to track your biofeedback information, which wirelessly displays on your watch (and interior control panel of your mPulse infrared sauna). This data is then wirelessly updated and tracked on MySunlighten.com.

Each biofeedback package comes with an Intelli-Watch and a Data Drive. Similar to a thumb drive, the data drive plugs into your computer and wirelessly receives heart rate & calorie expenditure from your sauna and exercise sessions. The Intelli-Watch calculates heart rate, calories burned, length of session, and can be used inside the sauna to communicate with the built-in LCD interface (mPulse models only).

Most of our biofeedback packages also come with a Heart-Rate Monitor, which comfortably straps around your chest to track your heart rate increase while you relax in your Sunlighten sauna. Finally, some packages include a Running Sensor, a digital pedometer that affixes to your shoe and tracks speed and distance when walking or running.

Access to the MySunlighten.com site comes standard with all bio-feedback accessory packages, and provides you with ongoing tracking of your health goal progress along with health tips and advice. On the site, you can track your daily progress including heart rate and calorie tracking. There is a terrific education center with exercise and nutrition advice in addition to meal planning and wellness tips. You can use the community features to communicate with other MySunlighten users for advice and support in your health and fitness efforts.

We especially like the videos included on MySunlighten.com – great exercise demonstrations!

If you’re considering one of our biofeedback accessories for yourself or a friend or family member, we highly recommend one of the multi-user packages – allowing more than one user to benefit. The more, the merrier!

Hot on the heels of last week’s terrific Sunlighten customer review, we received this amazing testimonial from a customer with a rare form of cancer:

Dear Sunlighten,

I LOVE my Solo Spa!!! The Solo Spa I purchased from you has been a very powerful treatment protocol for me in treating my cancer. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Lipo Sarcoma. This cancer is medically treatable only with surgery. There are no other medical treatments recommended.

I am very much into Alternative and Integrative medicine so as I began my research it led me to many great options. One of the options I found is Hyperthermia Therapy. This involves the heating of the body core or local area to a point that is detrimental to cancer cells. [Ed. note: see this post on hyperthermia in the treatment of Lyme disease for more on a similar medical theory] After researching a lot of different sauna’s and looking at the suggestions of others, I decided that the Sunlighten, Solo Spa was the one I would choose. The features were everything I needed, Compact, lightweight and powerful.

I ordered it and for the first 50 days I used it every day and thereafter, even continuing now, I use it almost every other day. I am very happy to report that my cancer is under control with the doctor allowing me to use the word “REMISSION”!

The reasons that the Solo has been so successful for me are:

1. Proper use of the Solo Sauna is very detoxing to the body.

2. The Solo Sauna is one of the very few saunas’ that will raise the bodies’ core temperature high enough necessary to be effective against cancer cells.

3. Private relaxing, “no stress” time is very important in the treatment of any disease especially cancer.

My wife and I use the Sauna to promote our general health and we absolutely love it!! I have recommended it to 3 other cancer survivors as well. It is so beneficial to the joints and provides a great cardio workout even while I sleep! I believe it was a major factor in helping me run a successful half marathon earlier this year.

Congrats to you on having such a superior product to offer. It is without a doubt the best on the market!

Sincerely,
Neil S.
See also:

• Sunlighten Solo System: Industry Leading Portable Infrared Sauna