Biohacking: My favorite worthy helps!

There are a zillion things you could buy, but what's most helpful?

Part 1: Red Light Therapy

Biohacking is all the rage and as a girl who is pretty minimalist and believes in “use it up, wear it out, make do or go without”, there are a few therapies I find myself recommending and reaching for over and over again. I'm currently bathing in red light while writing to you: photo-modulation is a fave!

Not that we bank our everything on these peeps, but did you know that the FDA has approved red light for anti-aging, hair-loss reversal, acne treatment, pain relief, slow to heal wounds, fat loss and more. This means you may be able to use your FSA/HSA funds on lights!

Red and near-infrared light can help:

Increase energy
Speed up fat loss
Speed healing from injury
Improve metabolism and hormonal health
Improve muscle recovery
Improve vision, macular degeneration
Improve mood and cognitive function
Improving thyroid disorders
Combat aging, reduce wrinkles, increase skin health and support
Encourage hair growth and re-growth

How does it work?

The human body needs light to be healthy. Blue light sets our circadian rhythm. UV light allows us to synthesize vitamin d from the sun - hello healthy vitamin D levels! Red light acts on the mitochondria of our cells to increase cellular energy or ATP. Far-infrared light (part of the sun's spectrum that makes you feel heat) heats up our cells which changes cell function and circulation. Near-infrared light (NIR)acts on the same red light pathways and also boosts mitochondrial function to stimulate increasing cellular energy or ATP production. There are endless purposes for our living on an Earth with a big sun, overhead. And we truly can become light deficient.

With our indoor lights, many people are light deficient. Before you laugh, consider how you feel in the winter versus how you feel in the summer!

There are myriad studies linking sunlight deficit to metabolic syndrome, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, dozens of cancer types, mood disorders, insomnia and poor sleep, depression. There are even studies linking less light to a higher rate of death.

When it comes to red and near-infrared light's effectiveness, it works because it's fulfilling a body deficiency we have. Those of us with mitochondrial deficiencies from mold, lyme and other causes, for example, will feel the benefits profoundly.

There are many molecular mechanisms, but the basis of most go back to increasing cellular activity but increasing power to the cell's mitochondria. This increases circulation, which can elevate oxygen levels. These traits trickle over into supporting lower inflammation levels, promoting healthy cell division, supporting healthy levels of over-inflammatory cytokines, and supporting melatonin production. Our cells are even sensitive to red and NIR light, benefitting in their growth movement and viability.

The local anti-inflammatory benefit can block nerve pain by blocking the conduction at the local nerve fiber, too!

Dosing

Following direction on time and distance is important with red and NIR light, because too much won't provide much or any benefit and too much will negate the original benefit. Think of it as dosing!

Research tells us between twice a week and twice a day are good rates. You'll want to watch your body's response, building up to daily sessions. For some, too often can be too much. I recommend following the dosing of your light since power will vary.

Daily energy support

I keep my red light only on in the bathroom just outside my glass shower door. 12-36” away for treating the skin for anti-aging purposes, too! I leave it on during my shower and keep in mind to rotate my body for a gentle energy boost each morning. Up to 15 minutes!

For body aches and pains

Use a red and NIR light 6-12” inches from the skin for 2-10 minutes. This has been a huge support for sports injuries in our home.

For organ support and regeneration

Livers and thyroids, oh my! That about sums up my job - and these two organs benefit much from the energetic boost. Apply the light 6-12 inches over the skin, working your way up from 1 minute sessions to 3-5 minute sessions.

For headaches and the brain

Red light has little to no penetration of the skull, so use the NIR setting for brain and headaches, but keep the red light on if you want to support hair growth. 6-12” distance from the head, 5-10 minutes per site. Since your head is round and likely to not get light on all sides, this is sometimes a few exposures type thing.

For fat and cellulite reduction

Ideally illuminating these areas from 6" away for 2-5 minutes each area, on a fast body or before workouts will bring the most progress. Consistently, daily.

For immune health

One treatment every few days for general support and once daily during illness right over the thymus on the center of the chest bone will stimulate the thymus. 6-12” for 3-5 minutes.

My rule of thumb is, once I feel a pain shift, I stop the light. If I need more support, I can always turn it back on for a bit more.

My fave devices:

Red light has come a long way in the last few years. One resource I work from was published in 2018 and lists a light comparable to my $150 device at $795-1095. I love how much red light has moved in an accessible space! I truly like both the Hooga and Joovv brands.