You should drink three pints of water over the course of a sauna session. The best way to hydrate is to begin drinking water before the session begins, continue while in the sauna, and drink more water once you get out.
As a general rule sauna users should drink three pints of water over a sauna session. The amount of water needed varies from person-to-person and is dependent on the amount of fluid lost due to sweating.
SHOULD YOU DRINK WATER IN A SAUNA?
Yes, you should drink water in the sauna. The most important thing to remember is to avoid becoming dehydrated.
This happens when more fluids leave the body than enter it and even low levels of dehydration triggers headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and confusion.
A number of factors influence how much you sweat while in a sauna. These include the length of the session, the temperature of the sauna, and individual physiological characteristics – some people just sweat more than others.
WHY SHOULD I DRINK WATER DURING SAUNA?
It is important you stay hydrated during a sauna session. This means you should be sipping water throughout the session to avoid becoming dehydrated.
As your core temperature rises your body will begin to sweat to try and cool down. Fluids lost as sweat must be replaced to prevent you from becoming dehydrated.
Dehydration is the most common problem encountered by people using saunas. The condition is particularly serious for young children and older adults. So make sure you drink plenty of fluids to stay safely hydrated.
WHAT SHOULD I DRINK BEFORE A SAUNA?
You should drink at least one full glass of water before entering the sauna. Consider this as part of the three pints you need to drink over the course of the session.
If you have just completed a workout you will need to drink more. If you plan to enter the sauna after exercising you should drink up to 32 oz of water before you begin your session.
You must be well hydrated before entering the sauna so your body can safely generate sweat. It is during the sweating process that your body experiences the greatest health benefits of a sauna session.
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WHEN SHOULD I DRINK MORE WATER?
The three-pint rule is a good guideline and will be the best amount for most people. There are several factors that could mean you need to drink some extra water.
SAUNA TEMPERATURE
Most traditional saunas run at temperatures of 150-190°F, while infrared saunas run at between 110-120°F. The hotter the sauna, the more you are going to sweat.
Therefore if the temperatures are at the higher end of these scales you need to drink more water.
DURATION OF SESSION
Longer sessions mean more sweating. If you are spending long periods of time in the sauna you are going to have to drink more water.
Most sessions last somewhere between 10-30 minutes. If you are closer to the 30-minute end, then you should get more fluids on board.
BIOLOGICAL MAKE-UP
Some people just sweat more than others. If you are one of these people you will lose more fluids during a sauna session compared to the average person.
If you are in this group – drink more water. You can check your hydration levels by assessing the color of your urine – see below.
HYDRATION LEVELS BEFORE SAUNA
Were you properly hydrated before you entered the sauna? If you were not properly hydrated, to begin with, then you will need to take on some extra fluids.
IS WATER THE BEST DRINK FOR RE-HYDRATION?
Drinking water is the best and easiest way to re-hydrate after a good sauna session. It’s cheap, effective, contains zero calories, and gets to work quickly.
Other options include skimmed milk, re-hydration solutions, fruit juice, and tea. A recent study by St. Andrews University in Scotland found that skimmed milk and re-hydration solutions are great alternatives.
When we sweat we lose nutrients as well as water. In particular, we excrete high levels of sodium during a sauna session. And, this needs to be replaced.
Luckily, sodium is easily replaced as part of a balanced diet and rarely requires any specialist re-hydration solution.
Although fluids that contain nutrients such as sodium, sugar, and electrolytes can speed up the recovery process, water is the best option for replacing the fluid lost in a sauna. Just remember to drink water in sauna.
HOW DO YOU HYDRATE AFTER A SAUNA?
Keep drinking fluids. You shouldn’t stop drinking water when you step out of the sauna. You need to continue taking on fluids to make sure you stay hydrated.
All fluids lost during a sweat session need to be replaced and this means you need to continue to hydrate after stepping out of the sauna.
In general, you should aim to drink a pint of water after your sauna session. But if you continue to feel thirsty, or have generated a lot of sweat, you should keep hydrating until you feel fully recovered.
You should avoid alcohol before and after a sauna. Alcohol is a diuretic – meaning it removes fluids from your body.
This can cause dehydration problems when combined with a sauna. Other diuretic drinks include coffee and tea – and they should be avoided while trying to hydrate. Check out our guide to the Health Benefits of Sauna – click here.
STAYING HYDRATED
The best way to stay hydrated is to drink water before you feel thirsty. Once you begin to feel thirsty your body is already experiencing dehydration. Even mild levels of dehydration cause tiredness and loss of energy.
Our bodies are made up of about 70% water and they need to stay well hydrated to survive. Every cell in the body needs water to function as it is designed to do.
Dehydration happens when you don’t have enough water in your body for it to function properly.
A simple way to check if you are dehydrated is to look at the color of your urine. If it is clear with no color in it you are fine.
A hint of yellow means you are a little dehydrated and should drink some water. And, if it’s a darker shade of yellow you are more seriously dehydrated!
Discover your Dream Home Sauna today! Check out our guides to affordable and convenient home sauna – the best infrared sauna blankets, infrared heating mats, and portable steam saunas.
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About the Author
ELLIE COLE
• Health & Wellness Consultant
Ellie is a fully trained and highly skilled massage therapist. Hailing from sunny Florida, she brings a wealth of expertise to the health and wellness realm. She holds a LST qualification in Massage from the esteemed Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences and specializes in techniques that promote relaxation and healing.
Her experience extends beyond massage and encompasses a diverse range of therapies including infrared sauna. She developed her expertise at the Equinox Sports Club in San Francisco and has led sessions in pilates fusion, outdoor run clubs, and vinyasa yoga. Ellie is highly regarded for her ability to tailor treatments to individual needs.
When not immersed in the world of holistic wellness and local sports and fitness clubs she enjoys exploring Florida’s natural beauty and participating in outdoor activities. With her unique blend of expertise, experience, and passion for wellness Ellie looks forward to helping you discover the benefits of sauna and sauna therapy.
I usually just drink water after I get out of the sauna. If you take water in with you it can get very warm.
It’s good to have an idea of what to be aiming for. If you don’t drink enough at the time it cn really hit you hard later in the day. Good advice, thank you.
We sweat a lot in the heat. Be sure to drink, drink, drink. Do not get dehydrated in the sauna.
Can you drink fruit juice as well? Like cranberry or would it be too much sugar?
And what about coconut water. Is it good for rehydration?
I need to find something on coconut water and if it is good for rehydration.
It has zero calories or fat and contains minerals that can be lost in sweating.
But can you drink a lot of it or is it better to just drink a lot of regular water?
There’s not a lot about it in this.
Can you drink soda water or sprakling water?
It is more refreshing than normal still water and is good when you just need to take the thirst away.
Hi Eddie, Yes!
You can drink sparkling water absolutely. It will have the same hydrating effect as regular water.
But what about all the bubbles? That’s a lot of bubbly water in the sauna.
Thank you! Thank you!!
Finally a simple amswer to this question.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Yeah milk is really effective for rehydrating and replacing fluids. Most people don’t know that.
Milk is not needed for most adults. After Mom it should stop.
The absolute best to drink in the sauna is pure clean unchlorinated water. I add powdered electrolytes for extra replacement value. Good quality no sugar at your health food store.
Happy sweating and good health.
Good advice John. We like to use regular water too.
And the electrolyte replacement is a great tip! Something that can really speed up recovery and rehydration.
🙂
☺☺
What if the spa forbids drinking in the sauna?
Maybe you should point out that staying hydrated is an important safety consideration.
🙂
You should drink cranberry juice to stay hydrated in a sauna
Drinking water in sauna is very important. Don’t get thirsty as you’ll sweat so much when in there. When I first used a sauna I didn’t know should i drink water in the sauna. But then I learned soon. Yes, it is very important.