Recently I got REAL into red light therapy. It all started when we had the founders of Joovv ( we’ll get into what Joovv is soon ) on the podcast. After doing my own research I found that red light therapy was legit.
We also had Ben Greenfield on the podcast ( episode here ) who is a big fan of red light therapy. & he is someone who is always looking to optimize the human experience. If you haven’t heard of Ben Greenfield: he is a former bodybuilder, Ironman triathlete, human performance consultant, speaker & author of 13 books. Ben has been voted by Greatist as one of the top 100 Most Influential People in health & fitness. He specializes in anti-aging, biohacking, & achieving an ideal combination of performance, health & longevity.
On the podcast episode he talks all about fasting, better sleep, dirty electricity, good vs. bad light, nutrition & much more. You don’t want to miss this episode. OH & it’s worth a mention that he graduated high school when he was 15 & started college at age 16.
Anyway, Tim Ferriss has talked about red lights before too. You guys love to learn about new things in the wellness space & so do I. Red light therapy is something I just kept hearing about.
Simultaneously, Michael ( who also loves to research things ), became obsessed with red light therapy. He likes to stand in front of it because it ups his testosterone & gives him energy. He works off his phone while he stands there butt naked in his man cave. It’s quite the scene.
So let’s break down this wellness phenomenon & get into specifics.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is a simple, non-invasive treatment that delivers concentrated natural light to your skin & cells.
Red light therapy is quick & easy: all you have to do is sit or stand in the light for 5 to 15 minutes, ideally every day. This gives the mitochondria in your cells the natural light they need to make the energy that powers your body.
As a term, “red light therapy” refers to treatments from LEDs or cold lasers that deliver wavelengths of natural red & near infrared light.
The term does not include white light, blue light or blue LED masks, & it is not the same as full spectrum light. Some people may include infrared or far infrared wavelengths along with red light therapy, but those are typically used in dry saunas because of their ability to produce heat. Red light therapy does not rely on heat, a major difference between natural light treatments & heat-based modalities like an infrared sauna, traditional sauna, or other type of heat therapy. { via }
What’s the difference between red & near infrared light?
Red & near infrared ( NIR ) light are both in the natural light spectrum & have been clinically proven to enhance cellular function. The main differences are that red light at 660nm is readily absorbed by skin tissue, leading to improved skin health & collagen production ( LOVE !! ). Near infrared light at 850nm is invisible to the human eye & penetrates into deeper tissue, leading to benefits like increased muscle recovery & reduced joint pain.
Why red light therapy?
Our cells need natural light to function, just like they need water & nutrients from food. Unfortunately, most people don’t get as much natural light as they need for optimal health ( the average American spends over 90% of their time indoors ). Red light therapy allows you to supplement the light you get from your environment with concentrated wavelengths of red & near infrared light at home.
Red light therapy works by enhancing your energy production at a cellular level. Healthy, natural light stimulates the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, & enhances the cellular respiration process that makes ATP ( adenosine triphosphate ) energy. Humans make ATP every day, & it fuels everything we do. The more energy our cells can make, the better our bodies look, heal, feel, & perform. { via }
Michael uses the Joovv floor panel & I use the mini. The one Michael uses in his office is gnarly & huge & really gets the job done. The mini one is perfect while I’m working or while I make my coffee in the morning. There’s just something about it that gives me energy.
Ok. Now for the story: After delivering Zaza I had a really bad rash from the epidural tape. LITERALLY nothing would make it go away & I had it on my back for 3 weeks. After standing in front of the Joovv it completely went away. I attribute it all to red light therapy. Probably because it’s known to help with skin regeneration, healing & inflammation.
Also, since giving birth, it just makes me feel like my body is totally rid of toxins & it’s made me feel really good.
You should also know that this is not like a tanning bed. AT ALL !! Red light therapy is really good for your skin.
Anyways, lets get into the benefits.
What are the benefits of red light therapy?
♡ safe & well-tolerated.
♡ reduces inflammation.
♡ less muscle pain & exercise soreness.
♡ natural pain relief treatment.
♡ helps with arthritis & joint pain.
♡ helps wound & burn healing.
♡ helps with bone & tissue injuries. { via }
Also want to mention it’s helped people with the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Goodbye brown mustache !! I need all the help I can get.
But seriously, it’s also shown positive results for people with vitiligo, eczema & psoriasis.
Ok, now let’s get into red light bulbs. When doing research I also found a bunch of info on red light bulbs. Ben Greenfield uses them & now we use them too.
They promote relaxation, so much so, that I even switched my phone to red light mode. If you’re interested in that, read on.
Anyway, red light bulbs get you some of the benefits of red light therapy for a fraction of the cost. Michael & I have put red light bulbs in our bedroom & they’re so great for early in the morning & late at night. It lowers cortisol & promotes relaxation which you want in the bedroom.
Ok so, let me share how to switch your iPhone to red light mode. Every night before I go to bed I do this. It lowers your cortisol, increases melatonin production & reduces inflammation. We like that right?
How to turn your iPhone on red light mode:
♡ Go to SETTINGS –> GENERAL –> ACCESSIBILITY –> DISPLAY ACCOMMODATIONS.
♡ Go to the ‘auto-brightness’ toggle & select the ‘color filters’ option.
♡ Enable ‘color filters’ then select ‘color tint’ for your filter.
♡ Scroll down & then use the ‘intensity’ & ‘hue’ sliders to make the red effect. Both sliders should be in the far right position.
Make it a shortcut:
( because who has the patience for the above every night… )
♡ Go to SETTINGS –> GENERAL –> ACCESSIBILITY.
♡ Scroll to the bottom & hit ‘accessibility shortcut’ & choose ‘color filters.’
♡ That’s it!
Then when you just click your home button 3 times to turn the red light on/off.
Anyway, putting your phone on red light mode & getting some red light bulbs are a cheap, easy switch for the bedroom. Plus it’s fun to whip out some Woo coconut oil lube & enjoy the sexy dim in your bedroom.
However, Michael & I love our Joovvs & both think they’re such a good investment. The best thing about them is that they’re modular. So you can start with one, then attach others when you’re ready to get something bigger. ( You can use this link for some cool promos with your purchase of a Joovv ).
Have you guys tried red light therapy? Thoughts?
x, lauryn
+ listen to Ben Greenfield & the Joovv founders on the podcast.
++ tips for winding down at night.
I’ve been Joov’ing it for about 2 years and I LOVE my red light “me time”. It feels so good and I can tell it helps with sleeping and not being so sore after a workout. Thanks for the article, I love seeing Red Light Therapy getting discussed..
self care on so many levels! thank you for your input <3
My parents put a red heat lamp in the bathroom me and my brothers used growing up and it was literally the BEST THING EVER. It was a small bathroom so all you needed was the red light and to this day, I absolutely can’t wait to own my own home so I can install red heat lamps in the bathrooms. I seriously hate showering with regular lights, it’s so bright and obnoxious. Not much I can do in my apartment now but if you really want to up-level your shower experience to feel like a true spa, I’m telling ya you gotta get a heat lamp.
this is such a vibe! your parents know what’s up
He mentioned batch testing you can do at home. Can you please share where/how to find??
i love this such a great break down of how it works! https://www.shyyshianne.com/
thank you for reading <3
hi lauryn! been a fan for years, but i don’t have any personal social media accounts to show my love for your podcast/blog. just want to thank you for being so fabulous! (and solegit in all your lifestyle recommendations!) i made my boyfriend listen to the ben greenfield episode on his way to work this morning (he’s a blue light/blue blocker skeptic) and he texted me shortly afterward saying “i want blue blocker glasses and red light bulbs.” SUCCESS!! question for you though…i noticed that the red bulbs you link in this post are not incandescent. they say that they’re “incandescent equivalent” but are actually LED. are these the exact bulbs you and michael have at home? i trust anything you buy and/or endorse, so i want to get the exact same bulbs you guys are using before i checkout on amazon. thanks bebe!
I love my red light and found your podcast on it super interesting – it highlighted to me the huge amount of benefits, many of which I was completely ignorant of! However I think its important for you to reiterate to TSC readers that red light is not a replacement for real sunlight and its benefits!
love the feedback! thank you for sharing 🙂
Currently ordering some red light bulbs!
xoxo
yay! let us know how you like it!
Currently ordering some red light bulbs! tysm for all the great tips!
xoxo
<3
Do you have pros/cons for using this lightbulb vs using a color changing lightbulb? There’s a few on Amazon you can change with a remote to red. Do you ever find yourself missing a normal light color at other times of day?
we like natural light during the day & try to keep the bedroom space for only winding down! if you get the remote let us know how you like it! maybe try some lamps w the red and some w the regular so that you can have an option?
I’ll never be able to sleep with a red light on
bummer !
Thank u so much for sharing such quality content. The info you provide is remarkable. Keep up the good work! <3
I just bought one for my home — for my teenage daughter and I — who at 17 and 52 have crazy different skin “challenges”. I have a few questions for you. Can you do this partially dressed or do you have to be naked? How long do you try and do this every day? I just want to get the most out of the light, in the least amount of time!
think u need to be naked for max benefit! read up on their site <3 xx
The link for red light bulbs doesn’t have the color red anymore, are there some specific criteria we should be looking for? Or do you have any other suggestions of ones we should buy for the same effect?
Hii! I would like to to start using red light therapy at home for cosmetic purposes and see that not all lights are the same. Everyone recommends the panels from Joovv but I can’t justify the $2k to $3k markup at the moment. I was looking around on google and found these that seem to almost have the same specs and are on sale currently https://redjuv.co/collections/red-light-therapy-devices
Does anyone had experience with these and are they as effective as the Joovv ones?
Great article as always 🙂
Our go to is the Joovv, and love red light bulbs in the bedroom to set the tone before bed
Ugh I can’t seem to figure out the “red light mode” on my iPhone 12. Are those instructions for a particular model?
Hi! I’m seriously considering getting a large red light device that I can use for my body. How do you use the joov for full body? Stand/sit/nude/ do you need to wear eye protection?
Thank you! Love the blog and podcast
It comes with eye protection we believe! & stand!! So you get the most exposure.
Good post. I definitely love this website.
Thanks!
Thank you for reading 🙂