A lot of people are looking for a way to lose weight, and some have even tried dieting or exercising. But what if there was another option that helped you lose weight without the need for any exercise?
Red light therapy is an effective treatment for helping with weight loss. It can also be used to help heal many different conditions, including skin problems like acne. In this article, we’ll look at what red light therapy is, how it works for weight loss based on studies from the Heliotherapy Research Institute, and the benefits of using this kind of treatment.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is an alternative treatment technique that uses red and near-infrared wavelengths of light to treat various health conditions. The technology was developed initially as a pain reliever but has since been shown effective for weight loss management.
The process involves shining the target wavelength (633–830 nm) on your body via illuminating lamps or wearable devices like a belt. The light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by your cells, which then produce more energy to boost metabolism and reduce inflammation.
How does Red Light Therapy Work for Weight Loss?
Red light therapy is a new and effective way to lose weight. Applying red waves of light to the top of the skin has been found to contribute to the following:
Increased Cellular Metabolism
Many studies have shown that red light therapy increases cellular metabolism, meaning it speeds up the rate at which cells burn calories to extract energy from food. This allows for faster weight loss and may help with fat burning as well.
In addition, this increase in cell turnover keeps skin clearer by getting rid of dead or aging cells more quickly than normal.
Increased Muscle Mass
Red light therapy also helps you increase muscle mass. Studies show that when red light therapy is combined with weight training, the body produces more growth hormones and testosterone. This causes a lot of benefits like increased bone density and lean muscle mass.
Thyroid Regulation
Low thyroid hormones are often associated with weight gain due to poor metabolic rate and increased appetite. Red light therapy increases thyroid hormones. This means that it is useful for weight loss and also helps to regulate metabolism.
Red light therapy also can reduce cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol resistance can be linked to obesity because this stress hormone triggers hunger cravings when blood sugar levels are low. When cortisol is reduced through red light therapy, the body becomes more sensitive to insulin and blood sugar levels become more stable.
Fat Cell Reduction
Red light therapy works by stimulating the mitochondria in cells and activating them. When these mitochondria are activated, it leads to fat cell reduction and increased metabolism of calories. This means that red light therapy has a natural effect on reducing weight without any side effects or risks associated with other methods such as dieting or exercise.
Red light therapy can produce a natural weight loss effect of up to one pound per week, which is considered safe and healthy.
Appetite Suppression
Many studies show red light therapy can help decrease hunger and feelings of appetite. One study discusses where 12 healthy men were exposed to low or moderate-intensity laser treatments on the hypothalamus area of their brains, either before or after a meal. The men who received the laser treatments experienced less hunger and reduced food intake compared to those that didn’t receive any light treatment.
Based on this, it can be argued that red light therapy can suppress appetite and limit carbohydrate cravings.
Improved Sleep
One of the main reasons that people turn to red light therapy is because it helps them sleep better. If you are sleeping much better at night, then this can have a positive impact on your weight loss efforts as being tired all the time will make it harder for you to maintain good eating habits and exercise more regularly.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy
- Red light therapy has been shown to aid weight loss by boosting metabolism and increasing the body’s core temperature.
This helps burn more calories naturally, leading to an increase in your daily energy expenditure over time as well as a decrease in appetite from increased satiety.
- Red light therapy increases mitochondrial function in cells.
Increased mitochondria levels lead to more fat burn, higher metabolic activity, and better energy production.
- The increase in body temperature caused by red light helps release dopamine from the hypothalamus gland which is found at the base of your brain.
Dopamine allows you to regulate satiety and control appetite.
- Red light therapy also reduces cortisol levels, a stress hormone that has been shown to increase belly fat storage in both men and women.
- Red light therapy also increases levels of nitric oxide in the brain which helps improve focus, concentration, memory recall, moods stabilization, as well as higher cognitive function.
This can help lead to a more productive lifestyle that is conducive to healthy eating habits and exercise for better overall body composition.
- Red light therapy has been shown to increase the production of lymphocytes which are white blood cells that fight off infection.
This can help reduce inflammation in the body, boost your immune system, and even potentially protect against cancer.
Summary
Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses low-level laser diodes to emit red and near-infrared light waves. It has been used as a holistic alternative medicine for centuries, but more recently it has become better known due to the growing popularity of LED technology in general.
Red light therapy is most commonly used for weight loss and pain relief, but it can also help with hair growth as well as some other conditions.
With red light, yo\u can lose belly fat, minimize the appearance of cellulite on the buttocks and thighs, or reduce shoulder fat while stimulating metabolism and increasing energy.
FAQ
How does red light therapy work? Red light stimulates energy production in cells which leads to increased metabolism, cell repair, and cellular detoxification. In turn, this helps the body to reduce weight and cellulite through improved circulation, reduced water retention, pain relief as well as increased collagen production How long do you have to use red light therapy for weight loss? Most treatments last around 20 minutes but you can use red light therapy for weight loss daily if desired. Treatments are non-invasive and you can resume normal activities immediately. Does red light get rid of cellulite? Cellulite is an excess of subcutaneous fat or fat that is found just under the skin. It's a stubborn, persistent problem that can't be solved with exercise and fat burning alone, but red light therapy has shown great promise in reducing it. Is red light therapy safe? As long as you follow the instructions there are no risks associated with red light therapy. It's a relatively low-intensity treatment and any discomfort felt during or after is usually mild.