Red Light Therapy Belt: Does It Really Work?

What is a red light therapy belt?

A red light therapy belt, as the name implies, is a belt that you wear around your waist, and is therefore a red light therapy device, although they can also be worn on other parts of the body.

A red light therapy belt has built-in LED lights that shine red and near-infrared (NIR) light onto exposed skin. Some belts have the option of using red or NIR light, or a combination of both.

A red light therapy belt is designed to be worn around the waist. It is primarily used to treat the abdomen and waist.

Red and infrared light therapy belts can help with the following:

• Wound healing
• Tissue repair
• Weight loss

You can wear the belt anywhere on the body to treat localized conditions, such as around the quadriceps or knees to relieve muscle soreness or joint pain.

Can a red light therapy belt help with weight loss?

One of the most popular benefits of red light therapy is that it can help with weight loss when combined with a healthy lifestyle. However, the ideal treatment would be to use a higher intensity red light therapy pad, which can provide full body treatment with multiple wavelengths. Here are some of the benefits of using red light therapy, although a red light therapy belt isn't always the best choice.

Improved Cellular Metabolism

Red light therapy panel treatments can activate the mitochondria in your cells, allowing them to function better. One of the main benefits of red light therapy is improved metabolism at the cellular level and throughout your body. A faster metabolism can help to naturally lose excess fat.

Reduced Inflammation

Red light therapy helps treat chronic inflammation that can lead to weight gain. There is a direct link between chronic inflammation and weight gain, and the two can exacerbate each other. Eliminating inflammation can help the body "reset" and function more normally.

Increased Muscle Mass

Red light can also help increase muscle mass. The more muscle mass you have, the faster your metabolism will be, leading to weight loss.

Reduced Cellulite

Reduced cellulite is one of the benefits of light therapy. Red light is absorbed by fat cells, creating temporary perforations that allow lipids (fats) to seep into body cavities and out of the body.

The appearance of cellulite is also due to increased collagen production, which makes the skin tighter and less prone to dimpling.

Does a red light belt have this effect?

You may experience some weight loss effects, but the effects will not be as fast as larger, more powerful light therapy pads. Wearable red light therapy devices are thin and do not have heat sinks, which means their components cannot be as powerful as those in the panel. The panel has fans to help dissipate heat, which allows for a higher power ceiling, but it is noisy for meditation. In terms of effect, you may need to be patient to see the effect.

Red Light Therapy Belts: Further Research Conclusions

Red light therapy itself has been well-researched over the past few decades, with hundreds of studies revealing its many uses, though research on red light therapy belts is limited.

One study found that red light therapy belts can reduce pain in pregnant women. However, there is also limited research on whether red light therapy during pregnancy is beneficial.

People may be able to use this natural treatment to relieve lower back pain. It can also be used to relieve joint pain caused by osteoarthritis. Red light therapy belts can be useful in both cases.

Since many hormones are produced in the gut, red light therapy belts may help balance hormones when losing weight. In fact, balanced hormones can help naturally lose excess weight.

You can also place a red light therapy belt around your throat to treat your thyroid. Of course, any treatment for hormone imbalance issues should be done under a doctor's supervision.

At this point, rather than repurposing the device, a red light therapy panel can be used, which stimulates the mitochondria for systemic treatment while also providing sympathetic benefits to the thyroid.

Here are some potential benefits of using red light therapy belts (although there is currently little research on this):

• Relieve lower back pain
• Treat osteoarthritis pain
• Help with weight loss
• Balance hormones

Other scientifically validated uses of red light therapy include promoting hair growth, neuropathic pain, psoriasis, anti-aging, and acne. However, red light therapy belts are not practical for these conditions. They are best used for targeted treatments.

How do I use a red light therapy belt?

Red light therapy belts are designed to be wrapped around the torso. They can also be placed on almost any part of the body if you have a specific area you want treated.

Red light therapy belts are intended to be in contact with the skin. Never use sunscreen, lotions, or clothing to block the light.

If the light therapy belt has a timer, set the desired time. Start with short sessions of 2-3 minutes and gradually increase to a maximum of 20 minutes.

Because the treatment works on a cellular level, it is best to do short, regular sessions each day, or 3-5 times a week, to regularly "feed" your cells with light.

You may feel a pleasant warmth when using a light therapy belt, but the light itself does not cause tissue heating.

Possible Side Effects and Disadvantages of Red Light Therapy Belts

Most of the problems people experience with red light therapy are due to overuse.

While red light therapy belts are almost completely free of side effects, some people may experience redness and tightness in the skin after treatment. Start slowly to make sure you are not sensitive to the treatment, then gradually increase the number of sessions.

Go beyond 20 minutes (a single session) and you will see diminishing returns because your body can only absorb a certain amount of light at a time. That’s why shorter, more regular sessions are more helpful.

One of the disadvantages of battery-powered RLT light belts is that as the battery drains, the device won’t be able to emit the same amount of light energy. For best results, keep the battery charged and use short treatments.

Red light therapy is often used to treat wounds. However, RLT light belts are designed to come into direct contact with the skin. You should not place the device directly on an open wound. Pulling the belt tightly against your skin can help, but it defeats the purpose of a wearable device.

Are red light therapy panels better than red light therapy belts?

In general, red light therapy panels work better than red light therapy belts.

Red light therapy panels are larger and can treat the entire body at once if you wish. This can be helpful for a wide range of skin conditions, chronic inflammation, or just general wellness.

Some panels, such as the Astarexin AT7, Hooga 300, and Joovv mini 3.0, have more power.

If you travel a lot, want to carry a red light therapy device, and only treat small areas, such as your lower back, then a red light therapy belt is a practical option. But if you want to continue your anti-aging treatment or enjoy the benefits of hands-free, contactless treatment, a small panel may be a better choice.

Alternative Natural Health Strategies

As we mentioned before, you will get the best weight loss results when you combine red light therapy with a healthy lifestyle.

Here are some other alternative ways to lose excess fat without dieting, taking medication, or even feeling deprived.

Stay Hydrated

One often-neglected element of weight loss is to drink plenty of water: not sodas, not juice, just plain water. You can give sparkling water a bit of flavor by adding a few drops of lemon or lime juice. Staying hydrated helps your metabolism work at its best and helps prevent “hunger” pangs (which are similar to thirst).

Choose Nutrient-Dense Foods

Hunger isn’t always what you think it is. It’s not always your body’s way of saying “more food please.” Often, it is your body’s way of asking for specific nutrients, not calories. Choose nutrient-dense foods like whole vegetables, organic meats, nuts and seeds, whole grains, and fruits rather than fruit juice.

Cut the Sugar

Americans eat an average of 17 teaspoons of added sugar each day according to the American Heart Association so this is the fastest and best way to jump-start weight loss. Sugar is empty calories. But worse, it promotes inflammation which can lead to weight gain. Once you get  used to not having sugar, most processed foods will taste unbearably sweet and you’ll be on the road to choosing more nutrient-dense foods.

Eat Protein for Breakfast

Most Americans eat plenty of protein, but not when it matters. Many people eat a high-carb breakfast which leaves them hungry just a few hours later. Eating a high-protein breakfast will help slow the absorption of carbohydrates and keep you full longer.

Snack Well

If you must snack between meals, choose a handful of nuts or seeds. The high fat content will satisfy you and keep you from reaching for sugary snacks.

Avoid Emotional Eating

It’s too easy to overeat when you’re feeling depressed or anxious. Instead, distract yourself with a pleasurable activity like a hobby.

Astarexin Series Red Light Therapy

While red light therapy (RLT) has its place, you can get better and faster results using pads and panels. Panels give you more diverse treatment options, from targeted treatments to full body wellness.