Want to Know How Light Therapy Can Help You Shed a Few LBs?
This article goes into how you can use red light therapy for weight loss and how the body’s ability to process fat is one of many natural functions that red and infrared light have been shown to be effective for.
We will cover:
- Red light therapy and fat processing
- Is red light therapy for weight loss backed by science?
- What should you look for in a home device
- Conclusion
What’s the Deal With Light and our Health?
In addition to healthy habits regarding nutrition and sleep, more and more research is showing the importance of light on our biological functions.
The number of people using red light therapy at home or using blue-blocking enabled glasses (and the number of companies providing these tools) has exploded over the last several years and is testimony to the fact that the awareness of the effect of light on our health is indeed growing. You don’t have to search very far on the internet to find lots of stories of folks getting a better night’s sleep or feeling less stressed, etc. by employing light therapies or practices into their daily routines.
The question is, can it be used towards weight loss? Is there any science behind the veritable mountain of claims and anecdotal evidence showing it does? Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Is your metabolism a little slow?
Severe diets, especially when combined with exercise, can teach the body to make do with fewer calories, but this can backfire as the body clings to those calories, making it harder to lose weight.
Red Light Wavelengths and Fat Processing
The two main areas where red light positively affects fat processing are with improving mitochondrial function, as well as it can also help with blood circulation.
Glucose oxidation seems to increase when the mitochondria in the fat cells are active, which happens because the red light wavelengths in particular trigger a copper enzyme in our cells, leading to more cellular energy known as Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) being produced, and glucose begins to burn more efficiently. This leads to more calories being burned during the day and thus more fat loss as a results of the increased metabolic rate.
In addition, red light therapy or LLLT improves circulation to the area being treated which also improves blood circulation which also leads to a more efficient delivery of essential nutrients to the entire body.
Is Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss Backed by Science?
Due to the fact that it improves mitochondrial function, which results in a faster turn-over of sugars, red light therapy may therefore definitely help people to lose weight.
A recent study by the School of Human Ecology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana showed that low level laser therapy achieved safe and significant girth loss sustained over repeated treatments and cumulative over 4 weeks of eight treatments. The girth loss from the waist gave clinically and statistically significant cosmetic improvement.
Another study by the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusettes verified the safety and efficacy of LLLT in fat layer reduction.
What Should You Look For in a Home Device?
There are many home devices available on the market to help with fat burrning and weight loss (see our list of best options here). These are usually lamps, hanging panels, or hand held devices. At home you can employ the same techniques used in the salons.
Wavelength, energy, low flicker rate and suitable beam angle are vitally important when selecting a light therapy device so be sure to choose carefully when looking for a home device.
Conclusion
Red light therapy has not been shown to be a miracle remedy that will cause you to shed weight overnight, but when combined with proper sleep, regular exercise and a healthy diet it can enhance the results you see in the mirror and improve how you feel.
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