Blog - Red Light & Infrared Therapy

Benefits of Infrared Saunas for Weight Loss

Feb 01, 2021 Posted by: Shopify API
Benefits of Infrared Saunas for Weight Loss

Benefits of Infrared Saunas for Weight Loss

Infrared saunas have become one of the latest and greatest trends for people looking to lose weight. Because of injuries, health issues, or just personal preference, many people struggle with physical exercise and have a difficult time losing weight as a result (or if you’re like us, you just really hate doing burpees - ugh). However, infrared saunas seem to be the ideal solution to this.

 

 

Studies suggest that you can burn 600 calories in a single infrared sauna session on average. Dr. Masakazu Imamura, MD, even published a study saying, "If a 150 LB person burns 300 calories jogging for 30 minutes, the infrared sauna promises to burn twice that, around 400-600 calories in one 30 minute session" (hummingbirdhmp.com). But it's speedy calorie burn is just one of its many benefits. Today, we're going to go over infrared saunas and all of its benefits for weight loss. 

1. Boost metabolism

To start, one of the biggest benefits of infrared saunas is their ability to naturally boost your metabolism. The way this works is that the sauna works to heat your body from the inside out. As your body heats up, it works to keep its core temperature down, which as a result, speeds up your heart rate, causing you to sweat, and ultimately making your body work much harder. As a result, it boosts metabolism. Cool, right? This puts your body into a cardiovascular state, just as if you were jogging or jumping rope, without actually having to do the physical work of it (and thank goodness for that). And at a temperature of 140, it is believed that the body can burn up to 250 calories per hour. Which, to us, sounds so much better than running for an hour to burn the same amount of calories. For real. 

 

2. Detox the body

Another way that infrared saunas help with weight loss is by detoxing the body. Each day the body builds up toxins in day-to-day life from many things. From environmental pollution to harmful EMFs, your body holds onto these toxins, which can cause the organs to undergo stress and cause your body to struggle with regulation and circulation (and honestly, it’s 2021 - ain’t nobody got time for that). Therefore, the only way to get rid of them is to sweat it out (yeah, it’s pretty gross), and the quickest way to do that is with an infrared sauna. Detoxing your body like this up to three times per week is an excellent way to keep your internal organs working properly, which will ultimately regulate your body's circulation for better weight loss control and healthier organs. Not to mention, it gives your skin a beautiful, goddess-like glow, and we’re all for it. 

 

3. Combat stress

And lastly, another big way that infrared saunas assist in weight loss is believed to be from their ability to relax the body. As adults, we all experience stress as a normal part of our life. From going to work to having kids, stress takes a huge toll on our health, mentally and physically regularly. And believe it or not, just by having stress, you can actually mess up your body's normal functions internally and be unknowingly putting on weight (just another fantastic perk of being an adult, right?).

 

This is because, when we are stressed, our body's normal functions begin to shut down, which, among other things, can cause us to hold onto excess weight (weightandwellness.com). To put it simply, our stress hormone, also known as cortisol, is released during times of high stress, which can slow down our metabolism and mess with our blood sugar levels. This can confuse our body’s normal functions and tell our body to release more fat deposits in the abdominal region, and ultimately cause us to put on weight faster. However, when we are in a relaxed state, such as in a sauna, our normal cellular functions level out and allow our body to regulate blood sugar, metabolic rate, and energy levels again, allowing for a healthy and balanced regulation. 

In conclusion, infrared saunas have a variety of health benefits, and weight loss is definitely one of the biggest ones. However, exercise, nutrition, and healthy mental practices all play a part in a successful weight loss journey. So, if you're able to get your body moving and find time every day to relax your mind, we highly suggest you do. Not only will this help to speed up your weight loss overall, but it will empower you with an uplifted spirit and renewed energy!

The Nushape Lipo Wrap

The New ZERO EMF Sauna Wrap

Nushape exists to develop top-tier, industry-leading LED light therapy devices for photobiomodulation. Implementation of specific wavelengths of LED light can effectively enhance bodily processes by improving mitochondrial health, ATP production; ultimately aiding the cellular ability to work faster, stronger.

 

Jessica Charles

The year was 2015 and I was happily helping clients in my Santa Barbara Spa. So many of my clients would ask me for safer, alternative methods for lipo or plastic surgery to help them kickstart that life-change to a healthier, happier lifestyle. I started looking into how lightwaves work and the intricacies of how light therapy influences fat-loss and other bodily processes. Becoming completely enthralled with this unique approach to wellness and how it could help my clients, my interest grew to obsession and resulted in the phototherapy start-up, Nushape LLC. Originally Nushape was only offered in spas and doctors offices, but with our current collection we're happy to be delivering clinical strength light therapy directly at home. Welcome and thanks for reading!

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Red Light Therapy: Your Key to Faster Fitness

Feb 01, 2021 Posted by: Shopify API

Red Light Therapy: Your Key to Faster Fitness

Fitness and sports are always evolving to employ the best tools in favor of the athlete’s interest. Red light therapy is a revolutionary way to use a particular spectrum of light. It was initially thought for acne, scars, and other skin conditions. But studies are finding every day more applications to this new technology, including muscle recovery and performance.


Did you know about this painless way to recover from strenuous exercise? Would you believe me if I say that red light therapy repairs muscle tissue? I’ve got some compelling evidence for you, and it all comes from scientific sources.

Red light therapy basics

Before turning our attention into muscles and performance, let’s take a short review. We know that light has a spectrum depending on the length of radio waves. Some of them are relatively short, others are very long, and the light we see is right in the middle. The wavelength of X-rays is shorter, and we can’t see these rays. The same happens with infrared light, which has a longer wavelength as compared to visible light.


The body reacts differently to each wavelength. For example, X-rays travel through the soft tissue of the body and only reflect bone tissue. That’s why it is used for medical imaging.


Infrared light also penetrates deeper tissues, and it stimulates blood flow while doing so. By doing so, it favors nutrition and metabolic processes in our cells. This can be useful to prompt faster tissue repair and improve recovery rates in different parts of the body. That’s where the muscle tissue and sports medicine come into play.



Why is red light therapy becoming a trend in fitness?

Red light therapy has been used successfully to stimulate recovery in the skin and other body parts. But the muscle is one of the tissues that undergo more trauma every day. Even when we’re not aware, there is muscle tissue breaking and tearing apart. New muscle fibers are created in a continuous cycle.


If you’re training regularly, the number of torn muscle fibers you need to recover every day can be overwhelming. This causes soreness and sometimes compromises your performance. Naturally, a technology that speeds up recovery can be tempting if you’re worried about your gameplay.


Besides increasing your blood flow, red light therapy also speeds up the production of antioxidants. Thus, your muscles are more protected against free radicals created during strenuous exercise. These antioxidants also contribute to building muscle by promoting protein production and preventing further damage.

Depending on how you use red light therapy, you can get different benefits:

  • Using red light therapy before your workout: It protects your muscle fibers from free radicals and other muscle damage sources. It reduces the degree of inflammation and the strain in your body. Thus, you may experience a reduction in muscle soreness and recovery time. 
  • Using red light therapy after your workout: It accelerates your muscle tissue recovery after it has been damaged or torn. It contributes to muscle adaptations to exercise by promoting the synthesis of proteins. It also modulates inflammation that is usually triggered after your workouts.

Before turning our attention into muscles and performance, let’s take a short review. We know that light has a spectrum depending on the length of radio waves. Some of them are relatively short, others are very long, and the light we see is right in the middle. The wavelength of X-rays is shorter, and we can’t see these rays. The same happens with infrared light, which has a longer wavelength as compared to visible light.


The body reacts differently to each wavelength. For example, X-rays travel through the soft tissue of the body and only reflect bone tissue. That’s why it is used for medical imaging.


Infrared light also penetrates deeper tissues, and it stimulates blood flow while doing so. By doing so, it favors nutrition and metabolic processes in our cells. This can be useful to prompt faster tissue repair and improve recovery rates in different parts of the body. That’s where the muscle tissue and sports medicine come into play.

  • Improves cell oxygenation and nutrition by increasing the blood flow (1)
  • Contributes to the formation of ATP (energy) inside the cell (2)
  • Improves the antioxidant profile and protects the muscle from free radicals (3)
  • Protects the muscle against massive damage during strenuous exercise bouts (4)
  • Repairs the muscle faster and promotes muscle adaptation (4, 5)
  • Contributes to physical performance and reducing fatigue (5)
  • Improves resistance to more extended strength training programs or short and intense bouts of exercise (6)

Thus, red light therapy is becoming a trend in sports, including group sports, resistance training, cardio, weight loss goals, and bodybuilding. Regardless of the type of exercise, there’s an application of red-light therapy out there waiting for you.


Modalities and available devices

Traditionally, you would need to go to a medical facility to use red light therapy. Now it is available for the general public with different types of LED light sources. What you need to know about these devices is that they can use red or infrared technology. Ideally, they should offer both because each one penetrates the skin to a different depth. You can use them safely as red light and infrared therapy are non-invasive with no side effects.


The type of device you want to use depends on the area you wish to treat, and your budget. Handheld devices are are affordable and easy to maneuver. However they are often low powered and treatment is either not effective or takes a long time to perform. Large hard-shell units are becoming popular and can be placed against the wall or over a door for full body rejuvenation, however these devices are cumbersome, expensive, and best for general wellness. The patented Nushape wraps put targeted light therapy treatment into a flexible, hands-off, portable body wrap - and at the fraction of the cost of hard shell options.


How to use

As noted above, you can use red-light therapy before or after training. If you’re looking for adaptations (an increase of muscle mass, for example), you would prefer to use it after working out. You can also use the technology before exercising if you’re about to engage in resistance exercise and before an important match.


It can also be useful if you have overuse injuries or acute sports lesions. It is applied in the trouble area and will also reduce the risk of ligament damage, strains, sprains, and contusions.



References:

  1. Ferraresi, C., Parizotto, N. A., Pires de Sousa, M. V., Kaippert, B., Huang, Y. Y., Koiso, T., ... & Hamblin, M. R. (2015). Light‐emitting diode therapy in exercise‐trained mice increases muscle performance, cytochrome c oxidase activity, ATP, and cell proliferation. Journal of biophotonics, 8(9), 740-754.
  2. Ferraresi, C., Kaippert, B., Avci, P., Huang, Y. Y., de Sousa, M. V., Bagnato, V. S., ... & Hamblin, M. R. (2015). Low‐level laser (light) therapy increases mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP synthesis in C2C12 myotubes with a peak response at 3–6 h. Photochemistry and photobiology, 91(2), 411-416.
  3. Houreld, N. N., Masha, R. T., & Abrahamse, H. (2012). Low‐intensity laser irradiation at 660 nm stimulates cytochrome c oxidase in stressed fibroblast cells. Lasers in surgery and medicine, 44(5), 429-434.
  4. Hamblin, M. R. (2017). Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS biophysics, 4(3), 337.
  5. Ferraresi, C., Hamblin, M. R., & Parizotto, N. A. (2012). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) on muscle tissue: performance, fatigue and repair benefited by the power of light: Low-Level-Laser (Licht)-Therapie an Muskelgewebe–Möglichkeiten zur Verbesserung der Leistungsfähigkeit und zur Behandlung von Muskelermüdung und Muskelverletzungen. Photonics & lasers in medicine, 1(4), 267-286.
  6. Ferraresi, C., Huang, Y. Y., & Hamblin, M. R. (2016). Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance?. Journal of biophotonics, 9(11-12), 1273-1299.

The Nushape Lipo Wrap

The New ZERO EMF Sauna Wrap

Nushape exists to develop top-tier, industry-leading LED light therapy devices for photobiomodulation. Implementation of specific wavelengths of LED light can effectively enhance bodily processes by improving mitochondrial health, ATP production; ultimately aiding the cellular ability to work faster, stronger.


Jessica Charles

The year was 2015 and I was happily helping clients in my Santa Barbara Spa. So many of my clients would ask me for safer, alternative methods for lipo or plastic surgery to help them kickstart that life-change to a healthier, happier lifestyle. I started looking into how lightwaves work and the intricacies of how light therapy influences fat-loss and other bodily processes. Becoming completely enthralled with this unique approach to wellness and how it could help my clients, my interest grew to obsession and resulted in the phototherapy start-up, Nushape LLC. Originally Nushape was only offered in spas and doctors offices, but with our current collection we're happy to be delivering clinical strength light therapy directly at home. Welcome and thanks for reading!

Light Therapy - An Answer For Cellulite

Feb 01, 2021 Posted by: Shopify API

Light Therapy - An Answer For Cellulite

The truth is that while red light for fat loss is a remarkable discovery in the world of weight loss, it’s still not a magic pill requiring no effort. Fat loss results obtained from adding red light lipolysis to an already healthy lifestyle or following our fat loss protocol, can make a tremendous difference and amplify your current results in a major way versus a fat loss program without. Stubborn fat from fat areas that are always resistant to being burned off can be whittled down in record time, (twice as fast is what the studies show!).

What is Cellulite?


Cellulite is a term that describes dimples and lumps in your skin caused by fat. This fat is just normal fat that presses against connective tissues. This pushes the fat up which causes the skin to protrude and look abnormal. It is a completely harmless condition. However, it can make women everywhere more concerned about their appearance. This is because cellulite is much more common with women, than with men.


What Causes Cellulite and Who Has It?


Hormones such as prolactin, estrogen, insulin, thyroid hormones, and noradrenaline can cause cellulite build up. In addition, you may inherit cellulite. The condition can be a genetic one that your parents may have passed on to you. Cellulite is also extremely common in women due to how their dermal layer is constructed. Aging may also cause cellulite as skin gets thinner over time.


Due to cellulite being a condition that is caused by fat build up, overweight individuals may also experience cellulite more. People whose diets consist of fats, carbohydrates, and salt may also be affected. You can reduce your risk of having cellulite by eating healthy, exercising, and not smoking. Getting rid of fat may also help a person to get rid of cellulite. In addition, a person with a large amount of muscle mass may also be less likely to have cellulite. However, it is still not impossible for you to have cellulite if you have a large amount of muscle mass.

What Are Normal Treatments for Cellulite?

Cellulite Creams

There are creams that can help to treat cellulite. Caffeine is a common ingredient in these creams because caffeine dries out the fat cells. This in turn makes the fat cells less visible. You may also see creams that contain retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, and aminophylline.


Cryolipolysis

Cryolipolysis is a procedure that uses cold temperatures in order to freeze the fat cells in parts of your body. It is a procedure that is performed without anesthesia.


Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is essentially when doctors inject chemicals into the fat layer below the skin. The intent of the procedure is to break up the fat that causes cellulite to be more visible.


Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure in which doctors physically remove fat deposits using surgery. The procedure is considered to be an invasive procedure.


How Can Red-Light Therapy Be a Great Alternative to Treat Cellulite?


Cellulite is formed due to fats, which means that a great way to control cellulite is to control your weight. Getting rid of fat helps to reduce cellulite. However, some people may experience difficulty getting rid of unwanted fat in certain areas of their body. One of the reasons for stubborn fats to stay where they are is a lack of blood flow to the area. Red-light therapy helps with weight loss by increasing blood flow and circulation in your body.


You can also decrease the circumference of different areas of the body using red light therapy by draining fat cells with the 635nm wavelength that specifically affects the body by draining fat cells. A study was done with two groups. Both groups contained 20 women each. All of the women had to ride a stationary bicycle 3 times per week for a 4-week span. However, one group just exercised and did not receive red-light or near-infrared therapy in addition to exercise. The other 20 participants received 635mm red and near-infrared therapy.


The results of the study showed that the group who received light therapy in addition to exercise had a size reduction in several areas of their bodies. The women lost around 8 centimeters on their waist, hips, and thighs. The group that did not receive light therapy ended up gaining fats.


Traditionally, using red light therapy for cellulite treatment would be done with a doctor or at a weight loss center with a professional performing the light therapy procedure on you. However in 2016 Nushape broke new ground with the first patented red light therapy device that is portable, wearable, and completely easy-to-use for red light therapy at home. The Lipo Wrap is our best selling wrap with rave reviews - especially for cellulite. Nushape's red light therapy is uniquely calibrated in 635nm waves at 37/joules per cm2 power density - proven to help to drain toxins from fat cells resulting in inch loss and cellulite reversal, but also includes near infrared waves in 850nm, to speed weight loss overall with increased energy, metabolism and calorie burn, improved lymphatic drainage, and decreased healing & recovery times after a workout. With a 98% percent customer satisfaction rate on The Lipo Wrap, we are sure you'll be satisfied and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee - so you can tackle cellulite with Nushape risk free.

Citations

DerSarkissian, C. (2019, May 15). Can You Get Rid of Cellulite? Healthy Treatments and What to Avoid. Retrieved June 5, 2020, from https://www.webmd.com/beauty/get-rid-of-cellulite#2 


Cellulite: Causes, treatment, and prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2020, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149465#treatment-and-removal Charles, J. (n.d.). Red & Infrared Light Medicine.

The Nushape Lipo Wrap

The New ZERO EMF Sauna Wrap

Nushape exists to develop top-tier, industry-leading LED light therapy devices for photobiomodulation. Implementation of specific wavelengths of LED light can effectively enhance bodily processes by improving mitochondrial health, ATP production; ultimately aiding the cellular ability to work faster, stronger.


Jessica Charles

The year was 2015 and I was happily helping clients in my Santa Barbara Spa. So many of my clients would ask me for safer, alternative methods for lipo or plastic surgery to help them kickstart that life-change to a healthier, happier lifestyle. I started looking into how lightwaves work and the intricacies of how light therapy influences fat-loss and other bodily processes. Becoming completely enthralled with this unique approach to wellness and how it could help my clients, my interest grew to obsession and resulted in the phototherapy start-up, Nushape LLC. Originally Nushape was only offered in spas and doctors offices, but with our current collection we're happy to be delivering clinical strength light therapy directly at home. Welcome and thanks for reading!

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