The Benefits of Red Light Therapy at 635 Nanometers

Are you curious about how red light therapy actually breaks down the fat cells? Are you wondering how something like light can possibly make a difference in the fat cells and whether or not there are other effects that contribute to fat loss? Firstly, this whole field of health is called photobiomodulation, which means the use of light to affect the body’s cells. Light vibrates at a certain frequency and when it activates the cells, it’s called photobiomodulation. Read on to see why wavelengths around 635-660 nanometers matter.

What is Light Therapy?

In essence, light therapy consists of using different colored light for different health and wellness conditions and desired effects. Each color of the rainbow has its own wavelength, and the wavelength is even different for each band of color. Red light therapy could be various shades of red, and thus different wavelengths. 

Here’s a chart of the colors of the rainbow and their different frequencies:

Once you understand that red light is right around 650 nanometers, you can find out what happened in the research studies when different wavelengths were studied.

Why 635 nm -660 nm?

To illustrate, there have been two different red wavelengths that have been studied:

1. 660 nm – This wavelength has been found to be effective for healing of burns, cosmetic issues, scars, and dermatological conditions.
2. 635 nm – This wavelength doesn’t penetrate the skin too deep and is excellent for the breakdown of scar tissue and deep fat at the level of 6 cm. 

The key fact to remember here if you are trying to lose weight is that the 635 nm wavelength goes right after fat cells and breaks them down. 

Specifically, red light therapy at 635 nm activates an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, which opens the pores in fat cells. The fat cells then deflate like a balloon. Now that the fat is circulating around in the bloodstream, your goal is to burn the fat. It’s at this point that exercise or a keto diet will burn the fat and it will be gone permanently.   

Cytochrome c oxidase is an enzyme that is used in the breakdown of carbohydrates for energy from the foods that you eat. It’s not used until the end of the Krebs cycle pathway when the end products arrive at the mitochondria of the cell. In this final stretch of energy production, there’s a chain of events that occur, highly dependent on cytochrome c oxidase. 

Other Effects of Red Light Therapy on the Body

Red light therapy has several other positive benefits on the body. It modulates inflammation, increases nitric oxide production which increases circulation, enhances relaxation and improves sleep. It lowers stress as well, and when stress hormones are low, that’s when you can get the best results with weight loss.  Red light therapy also helps reset the circadian rhythms in the body so you can feel more in charge of your life.

Red light therapy has been gaining popularity in the last few years because it’s a type of therapy that doesn’t take long, doesn’t make you sweat yet offers exercise benefits, and isn’t very costly. Sessions are usually 10 to 20 minutes long. 

For more information about Red Light Therapy, please contact us and we would be happy to help!

The Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is a type of natural healing modality that utilizes red-colored light from the light spectrum for benefits. This type of therapy is also called photobiomodulation, low-level laser therapy, and low-power laser therapy. 

During the treatment that usually lasts between 10 and 20 minutes long, your skin is exposed to a device that contains red lights. The red lights are usually very small LED types of lights that are in rows in a device such as a whole body bed, belt, headband, or lamp. 

Once your skin is exposed to the red light, the mitochondria of the cells pick it up and use it to “recharge” their batteries. The mitochondria are called the batteries of the cells, and just like regular batteries, the mitochondria can be run down as well. For example, many pharmaceutical medications deplete the mitochondria of their power source.  Red light on the other hand recharges the mitochondria.

 Red Light Therapy is safe. When your skin absorbs the red light, burning of the skin does not occur. 

3 Reactions That Occur from Light Absorption in Your Body’s Cells

1. The wavelength is absorbed by the cells in the chromophores and stimulates a chemical reaction in the cells.  Cytochrome c oxidase, important for the creation of ATP, then stimulates the mitochondria. Energy is thus produced
2. Since oxygen binds to cytochrome c oxidase, once the light energy is absorbed, increased circulation occurs in the blood vessels and the oxygen is then transferred to the cells. Not only is energy produced but oxygen is delivered to the cells.
3. Once light enters the tissue, the photons of light are transferred into the tissue. Some of them are reflected, scattered, absorbed or transmitted. If absorbed, the tissue regeneration begins.

12 Reasons Why Red Light Therapy Could Be Your Next Wellness Therapy

With over 300,000 studies on light therapy, the science of it has shown that:

1. Red light therapy reduces pain.

Studies show that different types of pain respond to red light therapy. Dental pain, neck pain, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, neuropathy, and rheumatoid arthritis are some of the types of pain that have been studied. 

2. Red light therapy decreases inflammation.

When you have joint pain, you have inflammation. When you are overweight, you will have inflammation amongst your body tissues. When you have infections, there is always inflammation. Just about every disease has an inflammatory component to it. 

3. Red light therapy increases melatonin levels.

Melatonin not only helps you sleep but also helps keep cancer at arm’s length away from you.

4. Red light therapy decreases cortisol and adrenaline levels.

By decreasing these two hormones, your stress levels plummet.

5. Red light therapy pokes holes in fat cells.

Fat cells with holes in them are cells that have the potential to die. Their fate depends on what you do to burn them up – exercise or ketosis from a keto diet or fasting helps.

6. Red light therapy relaxes you.

Light therapy permits tense muscles to heal and regenerate making them relaxed.

7. Red light therapy improves skin.

It’s been used for wrinkles, wound healing, skin grafts, skin rejuvenation, and improves the junction between the dermis and the epidermis, improving wrinkles and stimulating tissue repair.

8. Red light therapy stimulates tissue regeneration and may be beneficial for those who have had traumatic brain injury.

In one study, photobiomodulation was cited as a therapy that could reduce swelling, increase the antioxidants, decrease inflammation, prevent cell death and modulate the activation of brain cells called microglia. 

Positive effects resulted in learning, memory, inflammation and cell death in the brain. It increases the circulation to the cerebral tissues, tissue oxygenation and cognitive function.

9. Red light therapy balances your moods.

Having stable moods during the day is what helps keep your productivity high.

10. Red light therapy improves your sleep.

In one study of Chinese female basketball players, 14 days of whole body red light therapy improved the athlete’s sleep, melatonin levels and endurance.

11. Red light therapy increases circulation.

Once the cells absorb the light, nitric oxide is released, which increases circulation in the area.

12. Red light therapy has been found helpful for various conditions that affect humans:

Including dental pain, hair loss, wrinkles, acne, warts, cold sores, TMJ, dementia, and other conditions. 

The internet is rife with weight loss systems; some of them work but many don’t. 

It’s easy to become disillusioned as we trawl through online information that may or may not be true. Or spend money on promises that aren’t fulfilled.

For the more skeptical reader, this article is for you. You’re determined to get the facts and make an informed decision by digging a little deeper. Are you asking questions about the benefits of red light therapy at 635 nanometers? 

If so, then let’s explore this together and understand why and how RLT works.

Shining a Light on RLT

We’ve talked about the benefits of Red Light Therapy (RLT) in previous articles and how it impacts the body. Aside from weight loss, we’ve seen positive results on wound healing, hair growth, and improvements in the appearance of skin. Essentially, it gives the body what it needs to rejuvenate and repair itself.

When exposed to low wavelength red light, the body responds at a cellular level. The production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) increases within the mitochondria, leading to a higher energy source for all cells throughout the body.

However, the effects of RLT vary depending on the specific wavelength used during treatment and how far into the body the wavelengths penetrate. For example, 850 to 880-nanometer waves have been shown to assist with chronic pain and lymph issues. Shorter 660-nanometer waves are used for surface healing such as scar tissue and acne.

Red Light Therapy at 635 Nanometers

Low-level light therapy has enjoyed extensive research with promising results. Red light therapy at 635 nanometers, in particular, has proven effective in emulsifying deep fat beneath the skin. A laser positioned 6 to 8 inches from the target site impacts fat cells up to 6 cm below the surface of the skin.

How does this work, exactly? Science tells us that red light therapy triggers fat cells to release lipids (fatty acids) through small pores. Despite skepticism about the efficacy of red light therapy for weight loss, recent studies are highlighting varied outcomes with promising results. Participants in one study lost approximately 1 inch at their waist area after a month of bi-weekly 30-minute RLT sessions.

Nature’s Remedy

When it comes to maximizing the incredible functions of the human body, the best teacher is our natural environment. It’s no accident that we feel energized and refreshed when we spend time in the sun, and science tells us why. 

Full, glorious sunlight contains the full light spectrum, including these essential red light wavelengths. Studies have shown that increased exposure to early morning sunlight serves to reduce appetite, regulate hormones, and – you guessed it – reduce body weight. 

Therefore, harnessing red light therapy at 635 nanometers is simply a concentrated burst of sunlight for your cells offering all the benefits and none of the dangers.

Red Used By the Pros

In 2020, Titan’s running back Derrick Henry broke records when he ran over three hundred rushing yards in two games. That level of performance can be punishing for a body. It’s no surprise then that he would use cutting-edge recovery tools.

One such ace in his sleeve is red light therapy or RLT. If you’ve never heard of red light therapy before, your mind might conjure up something out of a science fiction novel.

However, rest assured, it’s all science. 

High-intensity athletes the world over rely on RLT’s rejuvenating properties. So, if you often find your performance suffering because of recovery, red light therapy may be the solution. Keep reading to learn more about red light therapy benefits for athletes.

What is RLT Therapy?

Red light therapy falls under the umbrella of photobiomodulation or PDM. You may be able to guess what this word means by looking at its components. The definition of “photo” is light, “bio” means life, and “modulation” is to regulate.

So photobiomodulation means to “regulate life” with “light.” In fact, that’s a great representation for what RLT does. 

How Does it Work?

Studies suggest that mitochondria activity is energized when infrared or red light photons are directed to muscle tissues. The mitochondria then produce more of the vital adenosine triphosphate, better known as ATP. ATP provides the fuel we need on a cellular level to do everything from transport to using muscles. 

While some light on the spectrum is harmful, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays, red light encourages cell repair and has no side effects. 

How Red Light Therapy Benefits Athletes

Sports injuries can be accumulative with improper healing and recovery. So athletes know inflammation like nobody else. Luckily, red light therapy inhibits inflammation because it stimulates tissue repair.

As a result, red light therapy recovery is shorter than for someone who follows the traditional advice of ice and rest.

Where’s the Science?

A 2016 study showed that athletes using red light therapy enjoyed being recovered in half as long as their peers. The study featured the usual suspects of sports injuries such as sprains, ligament damage, and contusions. By the end of the experiment, the RLT recipients had an average recovery time of 9.6 days, compared to the control groups with 19.23 days. 

Since then, studies suggest that red light therapy, when applied both pre and post athletics, leads to more muscle mass and less inflammation, injury, and recovery time. 

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