The Benefits of Red Light Therapy, Plus Why I’m Obsessed With Red Light Bulbs

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. 

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