89:: It's getting hot in here! (The science behind saunas for women!)

Saunas are everywhere in wellness culture—but are they actually worth your time, especially as a woman? In this episode, we strip away the biohacking hype and ground the sauna conversation in physiology, research, and foundations-first health. We break down the differences between traditional Finnish saunas, infrared saunas, steam rooms, and hybrid systems, then dive into what the science actually shows for women’s metabolism, hormones, menstrual health, cardiovascular function, recovery, and stress regulation.Drawing inspiration from Dr. Stacy Sims’ work on female physiology and heat adaptation, we explore why women respond differently to heat than men, how heat shock proteins support glucose control and cellular repair, and why sauna therapy may benefit women with PCOS, irregular cycles, menopause symptoms, and high stress. We also cover cardiovascular outcomes, pain management, recovery, sleep, and mental health—plus important precautions, research gaps, and misleading claims often used in at-home sauna marketing.Episode with Dr. Felice Chan: https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/dr-felice-chan/ loving the pod? click the follow button, & we'd love if you could leave a review! thank you x 1000 :)sign up for the free Smart Girl Newspaper!Want a peak into what it is like building this business, the podcast interviews, and all things female founder BTS? sign up for the free Firstborn Daughter Diaryinsta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodyoutube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpttiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodsign up for our patreon for exclusive content & workouts!00:00- 00:17 Intro00:18- 01:12 Introduction to Sauna Benefits for Women01:13- 01:32 Types of Saunas Explained01:33- 02:50 Upcoming Podcast Festival02:51- 04:35 Foundations of Health and Biohacking04:36- 08:05 Sauna Basics and Research08:06- 21:34 Sauna Benefits for Women21:35- 24:25 Investigative Journalism on Sauna Studies24:26- 26:29 Eastern Medicine Perspective on Heat Therapy26:30- 31:28 Cultural Insights on Sauna Use in Finland31:29- 32:14 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes