10 Health Crazes That Will Actually Damage Your Health

What Is It?

Hot, or Bikram, is a form of yoga that is practiced in an environment heated to at least 40°C at 40% humidity. Practitioners claim that this environment is beneficial for a number of reasons, including an increase in flexibility and detoxification of the body.

So, What's So Bad About It?

The idea is that, during a 90-minute class, you will sweat and flush toxins out through your pores. Unfortunately, this is categorically untrue. In fact, most of your sweat is composed of water, and the rest is made up of electrolyte minerals such as potassium and sodium, which our body needs in order to maintain muscle and nerve function.

The claims about flexibility, whilst partially true, may not actually be all that beneficial. The increased blood flow to the muscles will slightly increase flexibility, but this will not happen in the ligaments that stabilize your joints. Repeatedly pushing the limits of the ligaments, because you feel more flexible in your muscles, may result in pushing past your safe zone and causing serious injury.

The most obvious risk, however, is the heat itself. The heavy sweating can result in dehydration, decreased blood pressure, and increased heart rate, whilst the humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, causing the body temperature to soar and eventually leading to heat exhaustion.