Red Light Therapy for Athletes cover art

Red Light Therapy for Athletes

Red Light Therapy for Athletes

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 What if one of the biggest factors affecting your energy, recovery and long-term health wasn’t your training or nutrition… but the light you’re exposed to every day? Most triathletes spend hours dialling in their fuelling, sessions and recovery protocols. But modern life has quietly changed something fundamental to human biology. We now spend around 90% of our time indoors under artificial lighting that is very different to the sunlight our bodies evolved with. In this fascinating episode, Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson sits down with Professor Glen Jeffery, a neuroscientist from University College London and one of the world’s leading researchers on how different wavelengths of light influence our biology. Professor Jeffery explains how light interacts directly with your mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside your cells. And why certain types of light may influence everything from energy production and inflammation to recovery, metabolism and ageing. You’ll also hear why athletes might be using red and infrared light the wrong way, and why the biggest benefits could actually come after hard training sessions rather than before. If you’ve been curious about red light therapy devices or wondering whether they’re worth the investment, this episode will help you separate real science from marketing hype. And if you want the full deep dive specifically for athletes, check out the brand new Red Light Therapy Masterclass here: https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy In This Episode We Discuss Why light is far more than just something that helps us see The surprising role of mitochondria in responding to light exposure How modern LED lighting may be quietly impacting metabolism and health The difference between short wavelength light vs long wavelength light Why sunlight contains critical wavelengths most indoor lighting lacks The link between light exposure, inflammation and blood glucose regulation Whether red light therapy can actually improve athletic performance Why athletes may benefit more from post-training light exposure for recovery The problem with many expensive red light therapy devices Simple, low-cost ways to improve your daily light environment Key Takeaways for Triathletes Mitochondria respond directly to certain wavelengths of light, influencing energy production. Long wavelength light (including infrared) may help reduce inflammation and support cellular recovery. Athletes are already highly efficient metabolically, so red light therapy may have limited benefits before exercise. The biggest opportunity may be after hard sessions, when mitochondria are stressed and recovery is needed. Many commercial red light devices deliver far more energy than necessary, meaning more is definitely not better. About the Guest Professor Glen Jeffery, PhDProfessor Glen Jeffery is a neuroscientist at University College London and a leading expert on how different wavelengths of light affect cellular health and biological function. Chapters: 00:00 – The surprising role of light in human health03:00 – The spectrum of sunlight explained05:00 – Why mitochondria are the key to energy production08:00 – The problem with modern LED lighting11:00 – How indoor environments may influence metabolism and inflammation16:00 – The benefits of long wavelength light20:00 – Can red light therapy improve recovery and health?21:00 – Simple ways to improve your light environment29:00 – The explosion of red light therapy devices30:00 – Why athletes may not benefit before exercise32:00 – Where red light may actually help athletes recover faster35:00 – Practical advice for athletes experimenting with red light therapy37:00 – The potential risks of overusing red light devices If today’s episode sparked your curiosity about how light impacts recovery and performance, dive deeper with the Red Light Therapy Masterclass for Athletes here:https://www.dietitianapproved.com/redlighttherapy Other Links & Resources Download the FREE audio series The 5 Biggest Nutrition Mistakes Costing You Time on Race Day SUPPORT THE PODCAST HERE CONNECT WITH TARYN Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube The Triathlon Nutrition Academy® is a podcast by Dietitian Approved®. All rights reserved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.