If you’re looking for a natural way to support weight loss and feel better in your body, red light therapy may be worth exploring. If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, Greentoes North in Tucson, offers safe and relaxing red light therapy sessions. Discover how red light therapy can help with your weight loss goals.
Can Red Light Therapy Help with Weight Loss?
Red light therapy can support weight loss by helping you slim down targeted areas and improve your metabolism. In some studies, people saw measurable changes in body size, such as a reduction in waist and thigh circumference, after just a few sessions. For instance, a short series of red light treatments led to noticeable inch loss across the hips and midsection.
It’s important to understand that red light therapy works best when paired with lifestyle changes. Eating well, exercising, and staying hydrated all help your body utilize the fat released during treatments. While you may not drop a large amount of weight just from red light therapy, it can help shape your body and make your efforts more effective.
How Many Calories Are Burned with Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy doesn’t burn a significant number of calories on its own. During a typical session, you’ll be standing or sitting next to a panel of red and near-infrared lights. Since your body isn’t working hard physically, the actual calorie burn is very low, and it’s certainly not comparable to a walk or a workout.
You may come across claims that one session burns hundreds of calories, but there’s no strong clinical evidence to support that. Instead, red light therapy helps your body become more efficient at burning fat. It improves your cells’ ability to use energy, which can support your metabolism and make it easier to manage your weight when you follow a healthy lifestyle.
If you’re looking to enhance your results, try scheduling a light workout or walk after your session. This can help your body make use of the fatty acids released from fat cells.
Does Red Light Therapy Burn Fat?
Red light therapy doesn’t burn fat in the same way exercise does. You won’t be sweating or increasing your heart rate. Instead, the light triggers a process in your fat cells called lipolysis. When the light penetrates your skin, it signals fat cells to open up temporary pores and release their stored contents, mainly fatty acids and glycerol.
Once this fat is released, your body can use it as fuel during daily activity or remove it through natural processes. Think of it like unlocking the door to your fat stores. Red light therapy makes it easier for your body to access and eventually reduce fat, especially when combined with movement, hydration, and a balanced diet.
Does Red Light Therapy Shrink Fat Cells?
Yes. One of the most studied effects of red light therapy is its ability to shrink fat cells. When the light reaches the fat layer beneath your skin, it prompts those cells to release their contents. After the contents are emptied of mainly water, glycerol, and fatty acids, the cells temporarily become smaller.
This reduction in cell volume can lead to measurable changes in body circumference, especially in areas like the waist, hips, and thighs. However, it’s not permanent unless you pair it with activity and hydration to keep your body flushing out the released fat. Without healthy habits, fat cells may refill over time.
Regular sessions, especially when done two to three times a week for several weeks, can help you notice more defined results. Many people use red light therapy as part of a body-sculpting approach to complement their workouts and clean eating.
Does Red Light Therapy Affect Hormones?
Red light therapy appears to influence hormones in a few different ways. It does this indirectly by improving cellular energy and reducing chronic inflammation. Your endocrine system, which regulates hormones, is sensitive to both of those factors.
For example, red light may help balance appetite-related hormones like leptin and ghrelin. Leptin helps you feel full, while ghrelin triggers hunger. By supporting healthier regulation of these hormones, red light therapy may help reduce unnecessary cravings and promote better eating habits.
Additionally, light therapy has been linked to improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue, both of which are signs that hormone levels are balancing out. While it’s not a substitute for hormone therapy, it can offer gentle support for hormonal health, especially in people dealing with stress or fatigue.
Can Red Light Therapy Balance Thyroid Function?
Research shows that red light therapy may help support thyroid function, particularly in people with an underactive thyroid. In clinical studies involving individuals with chronic autoimmune thyroid conditions, the application of red light to the neck area resulted in improvements in thyroid hormone levels.
Some participants were even able to reduce or stop their thyroid medication after completing a series of red light sessions. The light helps reduce inflammation in the thyroid gland and may promote tissue healing and better hormone production.
If you’re considering this therapy for thyroid support, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider first. Red light therapy should not replace prescribed medication without medical guidance. But as an add-on therapy, it may help improve energy, metabolism, and overall well-being.
Does Red Light Therapy Change Cortisol Levels?
Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone. When cortisol stays high for long periods, it can lead to weight gain, poor sleep, and low immunity. Red light therapy has shown potential to help lower elevated cortisol levels by reducing systemic stress in your body.
Some users report better sleep and a calmer mood after sessions, which suggests the therapy may activate your body’s relaxation response. Research also points to red light’s ability to influence the nervous system, helping shift you from fight-or-flight mode into rest-and-recover mode.
By reducing excess cortisol, red light therapy may help your body maintain a healthier metabolism and make it easier to lose or manage weight. It also supports better sleep, which is essential for hormone balance and immune function.
Can Red Light Therapy Help Improve Overall Health?
Red light therapy may not only support your weight loss goals but it can also help improve your overall health. This non-invasive treatment utilizes specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate the energy centers of your cells, known as mitochondria. Doing so can help your body function more efficiently, potentially leading to improved fat metabolism, reduced inflammation, and enhanced energy levels.
Red light therapy isn’t a quick fix, but many people find it a helpful part of a broader wellness routine. You may not see dramatic weight loss on the scale, but red light can help shrink fat cells and improve how your body processes energy.
Getting Started With Red Light Therapy
If you’re considering starting red light therapy, a standard recommendation is to have two to three sessions per week for the first four to six weeks. Each session typically lasts 10 to 20 minutes. To support results, stay hydrated, eat whole foods, and stay lightly active. Many people start to notice small improvements in mood, sleep, or body shape within a few weeks.
Greentoes North in Tucson, Arizona, offers red light therapy in a relaxing, spa-like setting. If you’re ready to explore the benefits firsthand, booking a session could be a significant step toward your wellness goals.