7 Surprising Benefits of Red Light Therapy (That No One Talks About!)

If you’ve been hearing more about red light therapy lately, you’re not alone. It’s popping up in clinics, gyms, and even home wellness routines—and for good reason. While most people associate red light therapy with skin health or anti-aging, the benefits go way beyond that.

In this post, I’m sharing seven surprising ways red light therapy can support your health—especially if you’re dealing with inflammation, pain, poor sleep, or slow recovery.

I’m Kait, a nutritionist who specializes in insulin resistance, blood sugar balance, and sustainable weight loss. And yes, red light therapy is one of the tools I use in my own routine to support healing and recovery from training, poor sleep, and inflammation.

Today’s post is sponsored by the Megelin Infrared Red Light Therapy Bag—more on that in a minute. Let’s get into the benefits!

1. It Boosts Mitochondrial Function

Red light therapy works by delivering specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light into your cells. This light stimulates the mitochondria—your cell’s energy powerhouse—to produce more ATP (energy). The more efficiently your mitochondria work, the better your body can repair, detoxify, and perform.

This is one of the main reasons red light therapy has such a broad range of benefits—it literally enhances cellular energy production.

2. It Helps Reduce Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is one of the root causes of insulin resistance, weight gain, pain, and fatigue. Red light therapy has been shown to reduce inflammatory markers in the body.

If you deal with joint pain, bloating, or chronic soreness, red light therapy could help lower systemic inflammation and support healing.

3. It Accelerates Muscle Recovery

Whether you’re training hard or just recovering from a long walk, red light therapy can help muscles recover faster by increasing circulation and reducing inflammation.

Studies have found that athletes who use red light therapy before or after workouts experience less soreness and recover faster.

4. It Improves Sleep Quality

One of the more surprising benefits? Better sleep. Red and near-infrared light can help regulate your circadian rhythm by boosting melatonin production at night—especially if you use it before bed.

Many people report falling asleep faster, waking up less during the night, and feeling more rested in the morning.

5. It Supports Thyroid Health

Red light therapy applied to the neck has been shown in some studies to support thyroid function, especially in people with hypothyroidism. It may help reduce the need for thyroid medication in certain individuals (always talk to your doctor first!).

This is likely due to red light’s ability to reduce inflammation and stimulate cellular energy production in the thyroid gland.

6. It Can Improve Skin Health from the Inside Out

Yes, red light therapy can improve skin texture, reduce fine lines, and even help with acne—but here’s why:

Red light therapy stimulates collagen production and blood flow to the skin, which improves skin elasticity, hydration, and healing from the inside out. If you’re dealing with acne, scarring, or dryness, this could be a great addition to your routine.

7. It’s a Natural Pain Reliever

Red light therapy can act as a natural pain reliever for chronic pain conditions, muscle tightness, or even nerve pain. By increasing circulation and reducing inflammation, it helps relieve discomfort without medication.

It’s often used for back pain, arthritis, joint issues, and even migraines.

Why I Recommend the Megelin Infrared Red Light Therapy Bag

For the past few months I have been using Megelin’s Red Light Therapy Bag 3-5 times per week—and I’m impressed!

Unlike most red light panels, the Megelin bag is designed to be portable, flexible, and full-body. You can lay in it, wrap it around your torso, or use it on specific muscle groups.

It uses both red and near-infrared light at therapeutic wavelengths and has an easy-to-use timer and temperature control.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to make red light therapy part of your daily recovery routine, this is one of the most effective and comfortable options out there. Save 5% when you use code KAIT!

Final Thoughts

Red light therapy isn’t just hype—it’s backed by science and can be a powerful addition to your wellness routine. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, inflammation, fatigue, poor sleep, or just want to support your metabolic health, it’s worth exploring.

Let me know in the comments: Have you tried red light therapy? What results did you notice?