Red light therapy for weight loss gets you the body of your dreams!
Whether you’re eyeing better health, an attractive body or simply weight loss- or all three- red light therapy is the most suitable answer. Since the technology has evolved, some lovely red light therapy devices like Joovv are proving effective for the same.
Red light therapy is popularly known for its efficiency with:
- Treating chronic skin conditions,
- Scars,
- Skin damage from aging,
- Pain relief,
- Accelerating muscle recovery after injuries,
- Increasing testosterone levels.
With the advancement in research, doctors have found that red light therapy is an excellent treatment for weight loss.
It is becoming a prevalent method as a body contouring treatment.
There is no denying the fact that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to remove fat.
However, with red light therapy by your side, you can speed up the process, which will also improve your mindset and keep you motivated to stick to your weight loss routine.
Not on,y this, red light therapy also helps you on cellular levels.
Besides helping you lose weight, it also treats the conditions that cause excessive weight.
So, if you want to know the procedure and other related information regarding red light therapy for weight loss, stick to this article with us.
In this article, we’ll explore everything related to red light therapy for weight loss:
- What does it do for your body?
- How it works,
- And how it can help you lose fat and achieve your ideal weight.
So let’s get into it!
Does red light therapy work for weight loss?
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation or low-level light therapy (LLLT), refers to red and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths.
Research says that the most effective wavelengths fall in the range of 650-850 nanometers.
The range is also known as the therapeutic window.
Within this window, red light ranges between 620-700 nm and NIR light ranges from 810-850 nm.
The NIR and red wavelengths have been proven to have many therapeutic benefits for humans.
But you must be thinking, how does it even work?
The therapy uses light-emitting diode bulbs to immerse the body in light waves.
Once these light photons interconnect with your body’s cells, it triggers a chain of positive biological effects in your body.
Benefits of red light therapy for weight loss
Now that we know what red light therapy is, we must also address some benefits relating to it.
Here is what you get out of red light therapy:
Increased cellular metabolism
Do you ever notice how your efficiency drops when you’re hungry, sleep-deprived or jet lagged?
Similarly, your cells don’t work well when depleted or lacking energy.
It is when red light therapy moves its magic wand!
Red or NIR light boosts cellular energy.
The chromophores in the mitochondria (the powerhouse of cells) absorb the red and NIR photons.
The absorption then stimulates the creation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
ATP is the primary fuel for all your body cells.
A boost in cellular energy equals a boost in cell health and overall cellular performance.
So, not only will your organs work better, but you’ll also have more energy.
Many people have reported feeling more active and ready to hit the gym after the therapy session.
Reduction in fat cells
Studies have found that red light triggers the small openings in our fat cells called pores. (1)
Pores help in releasing fatty acids known as lipids.
The study conducted by Harvard researchers found that a 4-minute red light therapy at 635nm exposure caused 80 percent of lipids released from the fat cells.
Continuing the process for 6 minutes led to releasing all the fat cells.
Scientists claim that red light helps in forming temporary pores in fat cells. The pores then allow the lipid to leak out.
Not only this, but red light also boosts adipocyte apoptosis, which kills fat cells. Death of the fat cells again leads to leaking lipids.
Increased muscle mass
A study conducted in 2016 by Michael Hamblin claimed that red light therapy helps increase muscle mass. (2)
The study involved athletes exposed to the red light before and after their exercise sessions.
It was found that the therapy helped muscles recover faster and showed a substantial increase in muscle growth.
The researchers also found that NIR light, a combination of red/NIR light, helps lower oxidative stress and inflammation in the muscles.
Thyroid regulation
Low functioning thyroid or hypothyroidism is often related to excessive weight gain.
So, we can understand that red light therapy can surely benefit us in this.
Yes, it does!
Red light therapy pulls down the autoimmune activity in the thyroid.
It helps in restoring its functionality in regulating metabolism in your body.
Normal thyroid functioning helps boost the overall energy levels in your body, making it easier for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Reduced insulin resistance
Red light therapy in combination with exercise is a proven formula for reducing your insulin resistance and body fat.
It also enhances the ability of obese people to mobilize better and increase their metabolic flexibility.
So, if you aim to reduce insulin resistance, don’t just go for a workout or red light therapy alone. Do it in a combination to achieve great results.
Suppressing your appetite
Red light therapy also attacks your hunger levels.
The red light affects the count of the appetite-controlling hormones leptin and ghrelin.
Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells. When your body has extra fat, more leptin is produced, lowering your appetite.
On the other hand, ghrelin is a hormone that increases your appetite.
Our body weight fluctuates the day because the circadian clock also affects the leptin and ghrelin levels.
That is the reason why sleep-deprived adults have appetite issues.
If you’re sleep deprived, you might experience unbalanced leptin and ghrelin levels which might make you hungry more often.
Red light therapy for circadian rhythm helps a lot in balancing out these hormone levels.
Improved sleep
Sleep deprivation can be linked to various issues, one of which is weight gain.
One cause of insomnia is constant stress.
Stress even deepens weight gain by boosting cortisol production and disturbing the nervous system that balances metabolism.
Red light therapy for sleep also helps with an increase in melatonin production.
Reduced inflammation
Continual inflammation and cellular stress can lead to metabolic dysfunction related to obesity.
Chronic inflammation is also a vital symptom of a hyperactive immune system.
Therefore, obesity can be linked to being a symptom of low-grade inflammation. Reduced inflammation means cells are functioning appropriately.
Enhanced mood
Many overweight people tend to eat more while going through an emotional phase.
Continuos overeating can cause steady weight gain. Emotional overeating is often linked to anxiety and depression.
However, NIR light therapy is a promising procedure for treating anxiety, depression and other mental health issues which can cause emotional overeating.
Red light therapy boosts serotonin levels in your body, making you feel good.
Wound healing and tissue repair
It is found that light in the spectrum range of 600-1300 helps with:
- Wound healing.
- Tissue repair.
- Skin rejuvenation.
The process is carried out with different mechanisms than the usual laser resurfacing procedures.
Most laser therapies use intense pulsed light to boost skin rejuvenation by causing tissue repair.
In simple words, the laser rays cause intentional damage to the epidermis or the dermis layer to trigger inflammation, leading to healing.
Red light therapy, however, skips the destructive phase and directly jumps into the healing process in the skin.
It carries out the process by increasing cellular proliferation, adhesion and migration.
Red light therapy also positively impacts skin cells through modulation of immune cells and regeneration of immune cells, all of which are found within the skin tissue.
It also helps in pain relief like joint pain, back pain etc.
So, red light therapy for pain is also a great benefit for women with chronic pain.
Does red light therapy gets rid of cellulite?
Cellulite is the extra subcutaneous fat that resides just below our skin. It is an obstinate and persistent problem that doesn’t quickly go away with exercise and fat loss alone.
But red light therapy can be an excellent cellulite remedy and have promising results.
Also, combining the red light therapy with treadmill training gives promising results by substantially reducing the cellulite near the buttocks and the hip area.
Can you get targeted weight loss with red light therapy?
Targeted weight loss is also called body contouring or body sculpting.
It remains on the list of almost every person who wants to eliminate their extra fat.
It is a process in which the extra fat is removed from certain areas of your body while keeping the fat intact in the desired sections.
For instance, many women like to remove the fat stores from their belly but keep their breasts intact.
The ultimate desire to keep the body shape in control is the cause behind the popularity of body contouring.
Mainly you want to get away with the fat around your waist, hips, upper arms and thighs.
Years ago, targeted weight loss, body contouring, and spot fat reduction were impossible. Still, with the enhancement in technology, it has become an easy procedure to lose fat.
Targeted body contouring does wonders that years of exercise can’t achieve.
For belly fat and waist circumference
New research has backed strong support for red light therapy as an effective and safe therapy.
It is a great way to reduce the waist circumference, at least for a short period.
Some researchers even observed a difference of 2 centimeters in the waist circumference of healthy men and women after the 4-week treatment. [3]
For hip and thigh circumference
Similar results have been achieved with the studies targeting the hips and thigh areas.
The participants claim to have lost several inches from their hips and thigh sections in two weeks. [4]
Further evidence suggested that the results were not based on simply redistributing the fat or fluids to other body areas.
The therapy helped overall body fat loss and not just the targeted areas.
Does red light therapy help with loose skin after weight loss?
Losing a significant amount of fat is excellent until your skin starts to look loose and saggy.
It is widespread in older people as their skin starts to sag a bit with age and then the weight loss.
Besides being slightly embarrassing, loose skin is also tough to eliminate.
Though certain cosmetic surgeries can help you get rid of your saggy skin, we always recommend you to go for the non-invasive treatments first.
There are a lot of non-surgical options that can get you firmer skin over time like:
- Retinoid creams.
- Exercise.
- Collagen supplements.
- Massage etc.
Here is how all these options can be helpful:
- Exercise helps build mass and muscle, which gives your skin a more filled appearance.
- Retinoid creams boost the production of elastin and collagen. As skin replaces itself, it will appear more firm and stretchy with time. However, some people might have allergies towards them.
- Collagen supplements also boost collagen production. But they don’t improve or enhance elastin production.
- Massage improves blood flow to the skin. Better blood flow promotes healthy fibroblasts, which are the precursors to collagen and elastin.
Red light therapy improves your skin inside out, But you must be extremely patient with the process. Your skin didn’t sag overnight, so it will take time to become firm and stretchy again. So, it’s a long-term yet effective treatment.
Does red light therapy reduce stretch marks?
You might also develop stretch marks if you’ve gained massive weight rapidly.
Even after you lose weight, they don’t go away quickly, though they might fade away.
Red light therapy can stimulate your skin’s ability to heal itself. The mechanisms include:
- Enhanced collagen and elastin production.
- Increased microcirculation.
- Better cellular metabolism, which controls the quick regeneration of cells.
Can you use red light therapy at home?
The answer to this is a big YES in caps!
Why spend thousands of dollars and your precious time on clinic visits when you can enjoy the benefits of red light therapy sitting in the comfort of your home.
Looking at the benefits red light therapy can give, you can adapt it to your daily self-care routine.
But how do we get light therapy at home?
Well, we have a fantastic tool for you- Joovv red light therapy reviews
Here is how it works:
- The light digs into the skin walls.
- The cells in our body absorb the photons in light.
- Mitochondria feed on this light in the cell and produce energy.
- Energized cells = faster healing and repairing.
So, whether you want to get rid of a little fat or want a complete body makeover, we recommend investing in this device.
Risks and side effects
As every coin has two sides, red light therapy also has both.
Above, we discussed all the fantastic features and benefits of the therapy.
So, it is equally important to discuss the downsides of going for red therapy.
But to our surprise, there are only a few ones to discuss.
Let’s see what they are:
Price
The most significant drawback to getting a red light therapy is its cost.
Though the prices differ according to location, a six-session package usually costs around $2000- $4000.
The price is therefore entirely unfeasible for many people.
Might not work for everyone
Of all the research that have been conducted to date, most has been done on people with a BMI of 25-30.
So, the effectiveness is not known if we talk about the populations or people with a BMI above the mentioned range.
Also, the majority of the people on trial have been white.
So, it raises questions about the efficacy of the therapy on other racial populations.
Adverse effects
Until today, most studies have concluded that red light therapy is a safe treatment with no report of any significant side effects.
However, one study conducted using LLLT had come up with some adverse effects.
The participants who underwent the therapy experienced severe skin damage.
It might have happened because of the direct contact between laser and skin, which was not the case with the other studies. (5)
Joovv for weight loss
Joovv for weight loss is a super effective device to accelerate your weight loss journey.
It uses red light wavelengths to enhance your cells to function better.
The most significant advantage of adding it to your kitty is that you can enjoy its benefits sitting in the comforts of your house.
Here is what else you get from the device:
- Relief from inflammation.
- Better sleep.
- Fast muscle recovery.
- Improved blood flow.
- Reduced fertility issues.
So what are you waiting for? Get one for yourself now!
FAQs
Here are some of the questions people usually ask:
Does red light therapy help you lose weight?
Red light therapy or LLLT is a type of body sculpting to get away with excess stubborn fat.
It is a non-surgical fat removal treatment that has been the talk of the town lately.
While many health experts are skeptical about its efficiency and benefits, many people claim that the therapy helped remove the excess fat they couldn’t get rid of with exercise.
Does infrared light reduce belly fat?
There isn’t much scientific proof to support the claim that infrared light reduces belly fat.
It is unclear whether any laser, lamp or body wrap under infrared light therapy can help you with weight loss or shape your body.
How does red light therapy get rid of fat?
Exposure to red light therapy pushes the adipocytes to release triglycerides.
The discharge of triglycerides leads to reduced volume and loss of fat in your body.
So, yes, red light therapy helps in getting rid of fat.
Does red light work on fat?
A lot of clinical research and accounts have undergone several treatments.
Based on such research, health experts say that red light therapy can be an effective, natural and safe treatment for both contouring and cosmetic enhancements.
You’d also like to read:
- Red light therapy for Eczema– Treat itching and skin inflammation.
- Red light therapy for Fertility– Journey from fertility to menopause.
- Red light therapy for tendonitis– Relief to your painful tendons.
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3769994/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5167494/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20393809/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20014253/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5288437/