Last Updated on January 20, 2021 by James Matthews
Not a single day passes without us learning about new ways to lose weight. People have been trying with pills, herbs, and even surgeries. However, nothing has proven to be a magic bullet.
The search goes on for new methods to lose some of this unwelcomed fat. The latest result of this search is said to be found in infrared light.
How does infrared light impact weight loss? In this article, we’ll give you start on everything you need to know about this technology. Let’s take a deeper look at this question.
What Is Infrared Light Therapy?
Infrared therapy, or red light therapy, has been around since the 1980s. It’s already a popular option when it comes to treating skin, improving blood circulation, and accelerating the healing process.
It applies laser beams or LED light (Light Emitting Diodes) to the surface of the body to stimulate the functions of the cells. One of the main reasons it became so popular is that it causes no pain and doesn’t emit any heat.
Once the laser reaches the skin, it goes as deep as 10 millimeters, allowing itself to affect the nervous system and blood circulation.
What Does Science Say About It?
Arguments have been going on between scientists about the effectiveness of this therapy. With a small number of studies conducted, there is little evidence that this form of therapy provides positive results in weight loss.
However, in 2010, the FDA gave the green light to a laser called “Zerona” to be used for the elimination of excess fat. This laser uses infrared therapy to achieve weight loss.
This is not a statement by the FDA that this product is safe to use. What the FDA did was to give this product the permission to be available in the market. Since then, numerous products have followed in its tracks.
Consequently, this form of therapy has been tested in clinical trials. Nevertheless, these experiments were limited in size, demographic variety, and longevity. They can’t be treated as definitive scientific tests.
Moreover, we can’t overlook the fact that many of these studies are supported by the manufacturers and promoters of infrared light products.
This is not to say that infrared doesn’t help with weight loss. However, for substantial results, it’s recommended that you couple it with proper diet and exercise.
How Does It Work?
Infrared Light works by stimulating metabolism. This form of light provokes a certain enzyme in the body, which produces more cellular energy. This means more glucose is burned, resulting in a better metabolic rate. High levels of metabolism lead to losing fat.
People’s metabolism is mostly affected by diet and stress levels. Infrared light impacts this by reducing stress and providing energy.
Besides affecting metabolism, infrared light helps with blood flow. With better blood flow, the cells can get more nutrients such as glucose.
What about dosage? The patient will be exposed to a source of infrared light for around 15 minutes per day. This source of light can be a bed-like device, or a body wrap, or pads. These devices and others emit their beams around the body to initiate the fat-loss process.
Are There Any Risks?
This field of therapy is young. Not enough studies have been produced to give us a clear statement about the risks or side effects of using infrared light in weight loss.
Some people may encounter irritability, headaches, and irregular sleep. However, these symptoms are directly related to the dose and duration of exposure to infrared light devices.
Therefore, deciding on a moderate form of treatment is crucial to minimizing the appearance of these symptoms.
However, there is consensus among researchers that infrared light treatment doesn’t have serious side effects and is safe to use.
General Precautions?
If you decide to give it a try, there are some precautions that you need to pay attention to while being subjected to the infrared light.
Eyes Protection
Laser beams of any sort shouldn’t be aimed at the eyes. This applies to everyone present in the room, not just the person receiving treatment. Everyone within the range of the laser beam should wear proper safety glasses.
Tattooed-Areas Protection
If you have a tattoo or more, be aware that laser beams can cause pain since the ink of the tattoo absorbs the energy and makes you feel the heat.
Dark-Skin Protection
Lasers are highly sensitive to the color of skin. Dark skin absorbs more light than lighter skin. That’s why people with very dark skins can feel an uncomfortable amount of heat.
What Are the Devices Available?
The infrared light for weight loss treatment has taken different forms and shapes. Some devices are designed to target certain body parts, like a belt or hand held device.
If you’re using a belt you can wrap it around your waist, back, or hips. It focuses the heat on the body’s most concentrated fat stores to help eliminate toxins. Belts can help with back pain as well. If you want to give it a try check out our recommendation for this highly rated UTK Jade Back Far Infrared Heating Pad:
Other products that are widely used are body wraps and mats. The pads wrap around your body to let the laser beams do their job. All you have to do is lay back and take a brief nap or meditate. The mats are similar but they only expose one side of your body at a time. We recommend you check out this highly-rated Ereada Far Infrared Amethyst Mat here.
In addition, there is also an infrared sauna. This is where the light is emitted all over you to heat up your body while promoting blood circulation and boosting metabolism.
Conclusion
Right now, infrared therapy is a trend picked up by many people, including celebrities and professionals. It has an impact on weight loss, but we’re still not sure how long it may last or what the long-term side effects are.
However, if you decide to go for it, we suggest that you do so wisely, by signing up for an appropriate dose and timing and also paying attention to precautions.
With the variety of devices available, you can use this form of therapy at home or in many clinics and athletic facilities.
Regardless of whether you decide to try it or not, this form of therapy can’t replace the universal approved weight-loss tactics which are simply regular workouts and eating a well-balanced diet with a caloric deficit.
