The term “red light therapy” gets thrown around a lot within the weight loss and wellness community. And to most people, that may be a bit intimidating. It really shouldn’t be, though. Red light therapy is gaining popularity because of its excellent weight loss results. Fat loss and weight loss are just some of the effects of red light therapy. However, these sessions have also been documented to improve both aesthetics and health conditions in many patients.
Integrating red light therapy also known as phototherapy into your wellness plan not only gets you to your goal quicker, but it can also provide benefits that weren’t on your top priority list.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is the application of specific wavelengths of light to the body to increase blood flow and improve cellular performance and achieve therapeutic benefits that helps your body heal directly at the cellular level with no downtime and no pain.
Light from the sun powers life on earth, and humans are no exception. We have billions of cells, and each one of them needs energy to do their job and keep our bodies in balance. We convert this energy from food every second and do so most efficiently in a vital process called cellular respiration.
Red light therapy targets the cells directly and increases the blood flow to the cell. Inside every cell is something called the mitochondria, also known as the powerhouse of the cell. When the mitochondria is activated it will allow your body to purge any unnecessary toxins and unwanted fat and the mitochondria will stimulate the ATP production which is your energy.
ATP function fuels everything your body does. The more ATP energy you make, the better you look, feel, heal and perform. When ATP is fully activated, your cells may start to repair damaged tissue and nerves that have been damaged by inflammation
Red light is used to reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, heal wounds, and rebuild cells and melt any unwanted fat.
Scientifically Backed Approach to Overall Wellness
Even though this light therapy treatment has gained popularity over the past decade, the science behind it isn’t new. Researchers have studied the effects of phototherapy for 100 years, and with time it has become one of the top non-invasive and pain-free therapy options for fat loss and health improvement. The founder of light therapy won the Nobel Prize for Medicine. Although red light therapy as we know it wasn’t the initial discovery, light therapy was first used in 1893 and has since grown to be a worldwide treatment option for various conditions.
Over the years, red light therapy has been subjected to extensive testing and refinement. Red light therapy has made significant technological advances, making it a preferred treatment method in many medical fields. In the early 2000s, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat specific conditions such as acne control and the reduction of pain and inflammation.
There have also been several scientific studies done on the effectiveness of red light therapy on pain management and injury recovery. One particular study in the Pain and Research Management Journal found verifiable and substantial evidence that red light therapy may reduce chronic back pain with no adverse effects. And this is just one of many studies that have found solid evidence to show that red light therapy is indeed a reliable therapy for conditions that affect someone’s overall quality of life.
And while people have used red light therapy for health and pain management, it has been discovered that accelerated cellular regeneration also encourages the purge of the fat stored in the cells. This is how people have seen outcomes like weight loss and the shedding of inches in waistlines. Those fat loss benefits have allowed this light therapy to grow in popularity around the world.
Benefits for Everyone
Another amazing thing about red light therapy is that regardless of where you’re at on your wellness journey, it can help you reach and exceed your goals.
Although you’ll hear most people talk about the incredible fat loss and weight management results, they see with regular red light therapy, there are actually many other benefits. It truly is a holistic approach to looking and feeling great. Red light therapy, combined with a healthy lifestyle, provides both physical and mental health perks such as:
• Improved cognitive performance
• Noticeably increased energy
• Boosted sleep quality
• Decreased pain for chronic illnesses, such as chronic back pain
• Lowered inflammation, especially for injuries and inflammatory-related diseases
• Skin tightening, scar reduction, wrinkle improvement, and reduced cellulite
Many of the conditions treated with red light therapy are both common and complex. You could start treatment for one issue but see improvement in another.
Nevertheless, outside of medical usage, fat loss and weight management are common with light therapy patients. Lots of people worldwide deal with stubborn fat, and it isn’t necessarily easy to see results. Even when you diet and exercise, you may still be hitting a plateau. As a result of integrating red light therapy as a fat loss tool, its popularity has risen among people who wouldn’t have otherwise heard of it.
Unlike other medical interventions, you don’t need to involve insurance companies and primary care physicians to seek treatment. The increase in popularity means that red light therapy is now available in places like spas and wellness clinics, and there are even at-home spot treatment devices. The accessibility of red light therapy opens the door to many possibilities for people looking for pain management, fat loss, and aesthetic improvements. With so many options for treatment on the market, people are no longer at the mercy of medical professionals to get the help they desperately seek. Red light therapy is a viable alternative for people who otherwise may not be able to get help with fat loss and other treatments through conventional methods.
There are also very few things that altogether disqualify you as a candidate for light therapy. Something like surgical intervention for weight loss and management is a serious surgery that brings about its own set of complications. On the other hand, red light therapy is considered one of the safest and non-invasive alternatives to many of the typical pain management and fat loss options that are popular today and will never destroy or damage the fat cells. It’s not only for weight loss but also pain management and for overall health and wellness.
Preparing for Treatment
It’s helpful to prepare yourself with what to expect before you inquire about red light therapy for one or more of your wellness goals. While red light therapy is a helpful tool for many, you should never rely solely on these treatments to get you to the results you are after. Red light therapy works best in conjunction with a balanced diet and regular movement of the body. Especially for fat loss, the integration of a regimen is essential to consistent and long-lasting results. You should also be aware that red light therapy only works well when you’re consistent with treatment. This process can take weeks, but you’ll see results that truly last with diligence and patience.
Before you go to any type of clinic or spa, it would be helpful to have some goals you’d like to meet outlined in detail. If you can communicate your desired outcome to your clinician, you’re more likely to achieve it.
Sometimes the best places to receive red light therapy are right in your community. Ask your friends for recommendations on where to go. Your list can and should include places like wellness and weight loss clinics, holistic spas, and even dermatology offices for a more medical-like approach to treatment. You should do your research upfront to determine which program is right for you. Although red light therapy is a practical supplement to most healthcare and pain management plans, you shouldn’t leave the process up to chance.
The author is Betty Troyer, owner of Fit and Trim of Sarasota. They offer state-of-the-art technology and a combination of other approaches to aid in fat loss, pain management, and inflammation reduction.
Betty can be reached directly at fitandtrimofsarasota@gmail or at (941) 529-0888. www.FitandTrimofSarasota.com