A recent study found that 79% of people believe wellness is important.
There are many ways to keep well, including diet, exercise, and various treatments. Two popular wellness treatments that you may be interested in are infrared saunas or red light therapy.
But what are the differences between infrared sauna vs red light therapy? We’re going to tell you all of that and more in this quick guide to these popular natural treatments.
What Is an Infrared Sauna?
The tradition of saunas is thought to date back to 2,000 BC in northern Europe. These ancient natural treatments work by emitting dry heat into the air. That heat raises the core temperature of your body, and that’s where the health benefits come in.
A traditional sauna emits dry heat into the air through convection. The humidity in the sauna can be increased by pouring water over hot rocks.
An infrared sauna works a bit differently. Instead of heating the air in the sauna, they heat the objects inside the sauna. They utilize infrared wavelengths which penetrate the body and heat it from the inside out.
What Is Red Light Therapy?
Heat is the key to the health benefits of saunas. Light therapy, on the other hand, emits almost no heat. Instead, light therapy relies on the healing power of light.
Red light therapy involves exposing the body to near-infrared and red light wavelengths. Practitioners use specific wavelengths that are known for their health benefits. Red light therapy involves exposure to medical-grade LED light panels on a frequent or daily basis of 10 to 15 minutes each.
Infrared Sauna vs Red Light Therapy Health Benefits
The health benefits of a sauna come from the heat. The heat creates thermal stress in the body. That thermal stress increases cardiovascular function, which has benefits that include:
- relaxation
- detoxification
- weight loss
- reduces muscles pain and soreness
- reduced joint pain
- increased circulation
- insomnia relief
- lower blood pressure
The health benefits of red light therapy are quite a bit different. The wavelengths delivered by this treatment penetrate your skin and cells. The intention is to improve cellular function and balance in the body overall.
More on Your Health and Lifestyle
Infrared sauna vs red light therapy are two very different natural treatments. While an infrared sauna relies on heat to produce health benefits, red light therapy relies on light.
Not only do they have different methods of producing health benefits, but the benefits themselves are also quite different. A sauna improves cardiovascular function for benefits ranging from reduced insomnia to lower blood pressure. Red light therapy, on the other hand, works on a cellular level to improve cell function and balance in the body.
If you’re looking for new ways to improve your health and wellbeing, there’s no shortage of options out there. Check out our Lifestyle section for all kinds of ways to make your life better.
