Do you like going to sauna to relax alone or with friends and family? Many people decide to drink alcohol when relaxing in a sauna or just before that, but can you actually do that? In this post, we will discuss if you can drink alcohol before you go in a sauna or during sauna and how long after sauna you can drink alcohol. We will also discuss if you can sweat out alcohol in sauna.
Can you drink alcohol before or during sauna?
No, you must not drink alcohol before you go in a sauna, or especially during sauna. First of all, drinking alcohol in sauna or having alcohol in your system can give you a false sense about how hot you are. This can then lead to you staying longer in sauna, and overheating. Drinking in a sauna is even worse, and it can put you to sleep, also leading to overheating, burns and other possible dangerous consequences.
As you might already know, alcohol reduces functions of your nervous system (it is a depressant), as well as dilates your blood vessels. Worst thing is, a unit of alcohol has a much more serious impact (up to 4x) on you in a sauna, so drinking before and during sauna is a bad idea. And if a person has cardiovascular issues, such as heart problems or high blood pressure, that’s a recipe for disaster. Possible effects of alcohol + sauna include irregular heart rhythm and others, and rarely – cardiac arrest and even sudden death.
This is not to mention other accidents that happen due to drinking and visiting spa places. These are drowning in pools, slipping, falling and sustaining injuries due to alcohol consumption. If intoxicated, there are higher chances of burns, too. Some people might feel nauseous because of increased sweating, plus alcohol putting a strain liver for detoxification.
Alcohol is also a diuretic, which means that it makes you pee out more water and salts from your body than other liquids in general. Coupled with high temperatures in a sauna and loss of water and minerals, this is definitely a bad combination. Loss of too much water and electrolytes can lead to many negative effects, such as dehydration, dizziness, headaches and more. So instead, you should concentrate on replenishing your lost liquids from sauna use. Drinking water in a sauna is a much better decision.
And if you are drinking when in sauna, it’s even worse. Due to increased sweating, kidneys have more work to do and can slow down in their function. And if you are drinking alcohol in a sauna, processing ethyl alcohol by kidneys can slow down, leading to its accumulation in blood and leading to negative toxicity symptoms such as dizziness and headache.
Considering all these possible consequences and negative reactions, do you think it’s really worth drinking before or during sauna?
How long after sauna can you drink alcohol?
Generally speaking, healthy people often enjoy low alcohol content drinks (cider, beer), 2-3 hours after leaving sauna. However, always make sure to drink water first, as any alcohol can be further dehydrating to your body.
But if you visit sauna to improve your health, please note that drinking alcohol the same day as visiting sauna will wipe out all good effects you could benefit from. For example, sauna helps with production of growth hormone, which aids in cell regeneration and production. If you want to maximize these benefits, do not drink alcohol until at least the next day.
How long after drinking can you use sauna?
In general however, it is much more dangerous to drink before and during sauna, rather than some time after it. You should avoid using sauna if you had a drink that day and even a day before. Studies show that using sauna when you are hangover also has negative effects on a cardiovascular system and body in general.
Can you detox alcohol in sauna?
There are different protocols and approaches to detoxing alcohol and heavy metals using sauna, sometimes in conjunction with vitamins and exercise.
For example, L. Ron Hubbard created a detoxification method where people use sauna for up to 3-5 hours a day (in sessions of 30 minutes each) for a few weeks. Sauna use is also coupled with using niacin (vitamin B3), polyunsaturated oils (to help with toxin excretion with bile) and adding exercise. This approach has been used for people and workers exposed to serious chemicals, or those who abused substances and alcohol.
Results showed reduction of toxins in people’s fat reserves (toxins accumulate in fat tissues, so adding sauna to a weight loss regime is also important). Particularly, a study done in 1984 showed decrease from 10.1 to 65.9 percent for 16 fat-stored compounds. While intensive, this protocol has been used for many years with positive results.
So, to conclude, it’s a bad idea to drink before or when in sauna. And to maximize benefits of sauna use, it’s also better to wait at least a day before drinking alcohol.
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