Woman Over 40 Should Be Doing Red Light Therapy

No woman looks forward to aging, but the truth is that all the creams, exercise, and sunscreen in the world can’t stop your body from declining.

After all, when women reach the age of 40, they often experience a series of physical, emotional, and psychological changes, primarily due to natural aging processes and hormonal shifts.

These changes can significantly impact health and well-being as critical processes in the body begin to slow down. For instance, eyesight begins to worsen, wrinkles and gray hairs start to show up, and – in women specifically – bone density begins to decline. This last one is a big one, as estimates say 1 in 2 women over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

But here’s the good news: this process doesn’t have to unfold as rapidly as it once did. Innovated companies like Recover Red are offering a promising solution to combat these age-related changes: Full Body Red Light Therapy (RLT).
In this article, we’ll dig into exactly what happens to our bodies once we reach 40 and how RLT can solve some of the biggest aging issues for women – including the dreaded loss of bone density.

 

What Happens to Women Over 40?                                                 

For starters, let’s dig a little bit deeper into exactly what’s happening inside the body of your average woman over 40. As women enter the fourth decade of their lives, they start to transition into what’s known as perimenopause. As this happens, her estrogen and progesterone levels will start to fluctuate, causing irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. Alongside these hormonal changes, many women notice that their metabolism begins to slow, making it harder to maintain or lose weight. This can lead to changes in body composition, particularly an increase in fat around the abdomen.

At the same time, her skin will start to change as well. Collagen production decreases, and the skin soon starts to lose its firmness and elasticity. This is the reason for those fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging we all spend thousands of dollars a year to avoid. But because this is happening at a cellular level, it can be very difficult to fight it from the outside in.

Then there’s the vision changes. Many women over 40 begin to experience presbyopia, a slow loss of the ability to focus on close objects due to the hardening of the eye lens. Additionally, the pupils become less responsive to changes in light, making it more difficult for the eyes to adjust to brightness or see in dim lighting.

Still, perhaps the most critical issue women face as they age is bone density loss. As we age, bone production slows down. After 35 or so, the rate at which bone is lost begins to exceed the rate of bone formation. However, this problem is much more pronounced in women than men due to hormonal differences.

Remember what we said about perimenopause and declining estrogen levels? Well, estrogen actually plays a huge role in bone health because it’s responsible for regulating the process of bone remodeling. Once estrogen levels drop, bone breakdown accelerates, putting women at a much higher risk for osteoporosis.

The Risks of Decreased Bone Density

While many women are aware that bone density loss is a problem, few actually take it as seriously as they should – until they suffer an injury.

Older women often experience fractures from even minor incidents like standing up too quickly or a small fall. These fractures can cause long-term problems, including permanent mobility issues. This is because broken bones tend to heal slowly or improperly due to decreased cellular energy and circulation as women age.

Complicating matters is the fact that nearly all women boast lower peak bone mass, which also plays a critical role in their susceptibility to fractures. Women tend to have less bone mass than men, meaning they have less reserve to draw from. This anatomical difference leaves them more vulnerable to fractures, particularly in the spine, hips, and wrists.

Hip fractures are especially dangerous and often require surgery and extended rehabilitation, and can lead to long-term disability. Even young women with weak bones may find themselves relying on wheelchairs or walkers decades before they thought they would need them. Clearly, this can have a detrimental effect on their quality of life and mental health.

Spinal compression fractures are another risk associated with decreased bone density. These fractures occur when the vertebrae collapse under normal body weight or minimal strain, leading to significant height loss and a hunched posture known as kyphosis, or "Dowager’s Hump." This change in posture can cause chronic back pain and severely limit mobility. In severe cases, compression fractures can make it difficult for women to perform daily tasks or engage in physical activity, leading to muscle loss, joint stiffness, and further physical decline.

Given these risks, it’s essential for women to take steps to protect their bone health while also doing whatever possible to prevent fractures. Though doing so previously meant focusing on diet and exercise, we now know that red light therapy lights can be a literally game changer for women of all ages.

 

 

Let There Be Light (Literally)!

Sunlight is essential for our health. It helps our bodies produce vitamin D, which is crucial for strong bones and helps to prevent the onset of osteoporosis. Without enough vitamin D, calcium absorption decreases, weakening bones and putting us at a higher risk of fractures. As discussed, this is particularly important for postmenopausal women, who are at a much higher risk of bone density loss due to declining estrogen levels.
But there’s a bit of a conundrum here.

For starters, most of us don’t spend enough time in the sun to fully reap these benefits. Moreover, spending too much time in the sun can put women at risk of a completely different ailment: skin cancer.

Indeed, studies show that skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, is more common in older adults due to cumulative sun exposure over a lifetime. Women who have spent years outdoors, especially without sun protection, are more vulnerable, which restricts their ability to get light the “old-fashioned way.”
This is where red therapy lights come in.

Unlike UV rays, which can damage the skin, red light is completely safe for people of all ages. This is because it utilizes specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light. Rather than burning the skin, these penetrate the dermis to stimulate cellular function. More specifically, therapeutic light therapy boosts the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which our cells use as energy. This increase in cellular energy promotes repair, regeneration, and overall function, making red light therapy a powerful tool for maintaining our overall well-being.

This is why you currently see infrared saunas and light therapy, red light or otherwise, being advertised at spas and health clinics. Even gyms have gotten in on the game, as evidenced by the popularity of the Planet Fitness Total Body Enhancement system.
So, how does Full Body Red Light Therapy work?
As the name implies, this is a non-invasive treatment that exposes the entire body to low levels of red or near-infrared light. The energy from these light wavelengths penetrates deep into the skin, enhancing circulation, stimulating collagen production, and supporting cellular repair. And while it doesn’t provide Vitamin D, RLT can benefit older women’s bones in a completely different way.

 

 

Advantages of Red Light Therapy for Women Over 40

According to research, the benefits of Full Body Red Light Therapy are extensive, especially for women over 40. Obviously, one of the most significant advantages of regular RLT exposure is its ability to support bone health.

For instance, RLT has been shown to stimulate osteoblast activity. These are the “good guys,” the cells responsible for building new bone tissue. By enhancing the function of these bone-forming cells, RLT can slow the process of bone loss and support bone regeneration, which is especially important for postmenopausal women who experience accelerated bone loss.

In addition to stimulating osteoblasts, RLT may help to reduce the activity of osteoclasts. These are the “bad guys,” the cells that break down bone tissue. Obviously, excessive osteoclast activity can lead to thinning bones and a higher risk of fractures. However, by slowing this process, RLT helps women maintain bone density as they age.

Improved circulation is another key benefit of red light therapy. With improved blood flow, women can get the nutrients and oxygen their bones need to keep up the remodeling process and heal from injuries. In fact, studies show that increased circulation from RLT can help speed up the healing process and reduce recovery times.
And there’s even more.

Red light therapy’s anti-inflammatory effects further contribute to bone health by reducing inflammation in bones and joints. Chronic inflammation can accelerate bone loss and contribute to osteoporosis, so minimizing inflammation is critical for preserving bone density.

Finally, there is also evidence that RLT may influence hormonal levels, including those related to bone health, such as estrogen. Given that bone density loss is driven by the decline in estrogen levels during menopause, RLT may help regulate hormones and support bone health indirectly.

 

 

RLT, Longevity, and Quality of Life

While bone density is the biggest risk to women over 40, the benefits of RLT don’t stop there.
For instance, one of the most critical aspects of healthy aging is cell regrowth. You might remember from high school biology that cells divide and replicate through processes like mitosis and stem cell activity. However, as we age, this regeneration slows down. RLT provides the energy cells need (ATP) to continue functioning effectively, thus promoting better cellular health across the body.

For women over 40, the aging process often brings a decline in muscle mass, strength, and stamina. RLT can help reverse some of these effects by improving muscle density and reducing inflammation. In fact, research shows that RLT can stimulate the production of growth factors like insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which contributes to muscle growth and recovery. This is particularly beneficial for women looking to maintain an active lifestyle as they age.

Remember those deteriorating eyes we mentioned earlier? Well, RLT’s benefits extend to vision as well. In fact, red light therapy offers a non-invasive alternative to expensive treatments like cataract surgery. This is because RLT actually stimulates collagen production in the eye’s lens, reducing cloudiness and slowing the progression of cataracts. Meanwhile, its antioxidant properties counteract the harmful effects of oxidative stress, promoting clearer vision and healthier eyes. Additionally, regular red light therapy can enhance blood circulation in the eyes, further supporting eye health and preserving vision as we age.

Overall, regular use of RLT provides women with a reliable way to maintain their health and vitality as they age, improving bone density, muscle strength, vision, and overall quality of life. The therapy’s ability to support cellular regeneration, reduce inflammation, and promote healing makes it a powerful tool for aging gracefully and maintaining independence well into later years.

 

 

Conclusion

Aging may be inevitable, but how you age is largely within your control. For women over 40, Full Body Red Light Therapy offers a powerful way for women and men to counteract the many physical changes that come with age.
From preserving bone density and improving muscle strength to enhancing skin elasticity and boosting cellular energy, RLT is an all-encompassing solution that can help you maintain a vibrant, healthy life well into your later years. By integrating RLT into your wellness routine, you can take proactive steps to age gracefully, stay active, and preserve your independence for as long as possible.

Want to learn more? Visit our Full Body Red Light Therapy page devices to explore your options and start your journey toward better health.