Red Light Therapy is a Green Light for Sleep!

2 weeks ago | Sleep

By Joy Stephenson-Laws, JD, Founder

Getting enough quality sleep is important to achieve healthy and happy longevity. A study from just a few years ago found evidence suggesting that there is a link between poor sleep and dementia and even early death. If you are getting less than seven hours a sleep per night, it’s really time to get proactive. Perhaps you have tried it all - a hot bath, meditation, no screentime, a magnesium drink - and you still struggle with falling asleep and staying asleep. It may be time to consider the use of red light therapy

Red light therapy (RLT) is a form of low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) and is offered in many medical office settings. You have likely seen people on social media using red light wall panels and face masks at home.

Think of it as like a healthy tanning bed. During a session, the light delivers wavelengths of natural red and near infrared light. It’s like the wavelengths you get from sunlight without the harmful UV rays. RLT is reported to improve the appearance of skin and promote healing. It is also able to stimulate bone growth and recovery as well as soft tissue repair. It is so powerful and effective that NASA used RLT to keep astronauts healthy while in space.

Red light may also improve sleep.

(Is Red Light Therapy the New Melatonin?)

A recent study, published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), involving female Chinese basketball players showed that the players who received red light therapy for 30 minutes a night for two weeks exhibited improved sleep, a better serum melatonin level and even better endurance performance.

“We have demonstrated that red-light illumination positively affected sleep quality and endurance performance variables in Chinese female basketball players. Based on previous studies, we can infer that red-light treatment contributes to increased melatonin secretion in the pineal gland and muscle regeneration,” the report reads.

(Here’s Why You Need to Know About the Pineal Gland)

So you know what this means?

You may not be a professional athlete, however, if science suggests that red light therapy can improve athletic performance imagine what this therapy can do not only for your sleep but also your workouts. We have to remember that everything is intertwined. Good sleep and physical fitness go hand in hand, and additional factors such as diet, stress reduction and mental health are invaluable and intertwine - all contributing to happy and healthy longevity.

Red light therapy has been shown to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone. By lowering stress and promoting relaxation, it can make it easier for you to wind down before bed.

(LeBron James May Heat Up the Courts, But When He Recovers He Chills Out. Seriously!)

Red light therapy is reportedly a part of LeBron James’ $1.5 million dollar biohacking routine. The good news is you don’t have to spend money like LeBron to reap the benefits of some of the tools he uses. One 12-minute session at Chilltonic is $50 (and you can buy bundles which further reduces the individual session price.

I use red light therapy for sleep, hair growth, skin health, pain relief and more. This therapy really gives you a bang for your buck.

(Yes, You Can Be Red Light Deficient)

Remember, aiming to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night is always good. I know this is sometimes easier said than done, but let’s be proactive by practicing better sleep hygiene and making small improvements such as implementing red light therapy that can turn into greater change over time.

I highly recommend checking out this pH blog - Is Poor Nutrition Keeping You Up at Night? What You Need to Know About Diet and Sleep.

Might I also suggest reading How to Sleep Your Way to Good Health. This blog dives into the specifics of what it means to practice good sleep hygiene and also recommends healthy, nutrient-dense foods that are known to promote good sleep.

Finally, I also suggest getting a nutritional test. Nutrient testing will generally identify whether you have the right balance of nutrients in your system to help you sleep and live a balanced and healthy life. For more blogs on sleep (you can tell I really like this topic!), click here.

Enjoy your healthy life!

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or another competent healthcare practitioner to get specific medical advice for your situation.

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses, and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products, and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.