Summary
Ben Greenfield addresses common myths around detox therapy and infrared saunas in this deep-dive episode. He discusses the science behind infrared sauna detoxification, including thermographic imaging studies showing which body parts actually get heated by infrared emitters. Greenfield explains the differences between near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared wavelengths, their respective penetration depths, and which health conditions each wavelength best addresses. He covers water quality concerns for steam saunas, the concept of exercise with oxygen therapy (EWOT) combined with sauna use, and debunks several health scams in the detox space. The episode provides practical guidance on choosing between infrared mats, blankets, and full sauna cabins.
Key Points
- Thermographic imaging reveals which body parts are actually heated during infrared sauna sessions, showing uneven distribution
- Far-infrared (4-14 microns) generates the most heat and is best for detoxification through sweating
- Near-infrared penetrates deeper into tissue and is better for wound healing and cellular repair
- Combining infrared sauna with exercise (EWOT) can amplify cardiovascular and detox benefits
- Many detox products are scams; legitimate infrared therapy works through well-documented mechanisms of heat and circulation
- Steam from lower-boiling-point water in saunas can concentrate unwanted contaminants, making water quality important
- Infrared mats and blankets offer a more accessible and affordable alternative to full sauna cabins
- Regular infrared heat therapy supports the body's natural detoxification pathways through increased sweating and lymphatic flow
Key Moments
Sleeping on a biomat for infrared detoxification
Ben Greenfield shares that he sleeps on a biomat that emits infrared wavelengths, heating the body from the inside out to cause lipolysis and release toxins stored in fat cells for processing by the liver.
"I sleep sometimes on this infrared mat, this thing called a bio mat, and it emits these infrared wavelengths that heat you from the inside out and they have a little bit of a detoxification effect because they are literally vibrating cells."
Infrared penetrates tissue to heat from the inside out
Alex explains how infrared wavelengths pass through the body about an inch to an inch and a half deep, warming cells from the inside out rather than cooking from the outside, and how the body's own mitochondria produce infrared at about 9.4 microns.
"Yeah. That's crazy. My dad and my brother were firefighters. Is this just like pollutants that they're getting exposed to in burning buildings? No, no, no. Really related to 9-11. Oh, specifically related to 9-11. And the buildings came down, all that kind of stuff. There's just all sorts of – it was old buildings. And this actually translates into just individuals in the construction industry and those types of industries where they work. They get exposed to just all sorts of stuff. Plumbers get exposed to all sorts of toxins. But whatever the heck it was in the Twin Towers, I mean, they were sweating out neon colors. And they were using heavily different types of equipment to do that. Of course, one of the main things they were using was infrared saunas. Interesting. It was kind of after that, and then I was just kind of shocked. I then started to actually try a lot of stuff myself, starting to realize that I can't take anybody else's word for it. And I just kind of just started to experiment with different sorts of things at different local spas and found that I got good results with some stuff and honestly not a lot of good results with sometimes different brands at different spas or detox clinics we're carrying. So I got to ask you, dude, because I guess like in Spokane, Washington, where I live, there's not a lot of spas or detox clinics or at least I'm not aware of them. If there are, I would imagine maybe there's more because you're in New York City, right? For sure. Yeah. Would you just like wander into a spa or into a detox clinic and just like start using their stuff? Or how does that work exactly? I mean, is that like walking into the place of the mall and using their massage chair? That would be nice if that was the case. But unfortunately, most places have a lot of expensive equipment. They certainly want to monetize their investment. So normally different types of places, and I've actually helped them structure this, different facilities. They're usually charged by a half hour or 45 minutes or an hour or 30-minute increments for use of different types of different devices or equipment. Yeah. Interesting. I honestly don't know if I've ever been to a place where you, I've done like the float tank. I guess I've done the float tank, the cryotherapy. Those are examples of places where you go to, to rent equipment or use equipment for a certain period of time. So interesting. Okay. So, uh, you and I, like I mentioned, we first connected because I, and I'm working on a big article about this too that will be published soon at bengreenfieldfitness.com."
Thermographic imaging reveals uneven sauna heating
The episode opens with Greenfield suggesting thermographic imaging to see which body parts are actually being warmed by infrared emitters during a sauna session, revealing that heating distribution can be uneven.
"Have somebody actually take a picture of you with a thermographic imaging camera while you've spent 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes in an infrared sauna. And then you're able to actually see what parts of your body are being warmed up by the infrared rays coming off the emitters."
