Get Ahead of Cold & Flu Season: Boost Your Immunity with Red Light, Cold Plunge, and Infrared Sauna
As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, we all know what’s coming—cold and flu season. With more time spent indoors and the immune system naturally under more strain, now is the perfect time to prepare your body for the challenges of fall and winter. The good news? Red light therapy, cold plunges, and infrared saunas offer proven, natural ways to keep your immune system strong and resilient. Let’s break down how each of these therapies works to support your body’s defenses.
1. Red Light Therapy: Power Up Your Immune Cells
Red light therapy (RLT) isn’t just a trend—it’s grounded in real science. This non-invasive treatment uses low-level wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to boost cellular energy. Specifically, it enhances mitochondrial function, which in turn helps your immune cells operate more effectively.
Why It Works:
Think of red light therapy as a power-up for your immune cells. By increasing ATP (cellular energy), your body’s defenders—white blood cells and macrophages—get the extra energy they need to respond faster and more effectively when an infection hits
Added Bonus:
It’s not just about energy. Red light therapy also helps reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation can make your immune system sluggish, so reducing it helps free up your immune cells to focus on fighting off real threats
What the Science Says:
Research found that RLT can enhance immune cell function by boosting ATP production, which is crucial for efficient immune responses.
Fall Tip: Adding red light therapy to your routine can help keep those energy levels up and your immune cells ready for action as the temperatures drop.
2. Cold Plunge: Build Resilience with Cold Exposure
If you’ve seen cold plunges all over social media, it’s for good reason. Cold water immersion—whether it’s a full plunge or just a cold shower—comes with impressive immune-boosting benefits.
How It Works:
Cold exposure triggers your body to produce more white blood cells, which are the immune system’s first line of defense. Regular cold plunges have been shown to boost immune cell activity, making you less likely to catch common illnesses.
Feel-Good Factor:
Cold plunges also release feel-good hormones like norepinephrine and dopamine, which help reduce stress. And less stress equals a stronger immune system.
What the Science Says:
Research shows cold water immersion’s immune benefits, highlighting its role in increasing white blood cell production and overall immune resilience.
3. Infrared Sauna: Detoxify and Boost Immunity
Infrared saunas take heat therapy to the next level by using infrared light to heat your body from the inside out. This deep-penetrating heat offers a range of benefits for your immune system.
How It Works:
Infrared saunas raise your core temperature, which activates your immune system in a similar way to when you have a fever. Just like how your body ramps up its defenses when you have a real fever, the sauna stimulates the production of white blood cells to help fight off infections
Detox Power:
On top of that, infrared saunas promote sweating, which helps flush out toxins that burden your immune system. The less work your body has to do fighting off these toxins, the more it can focus on keeping you healthy during cold and flu season.
What the Science Says:
Multiple studies show that infrared sauna use activates heat shock proteins—important molecules that protect your cells and boost immune function.
Fall Tip: Regular sessions in an infrared sauna can help detoxify your body and keep your immune system in top shape as flu season approaches. Aim for once a week.
Why Now is the Time to Boost Your Immune System
With Fall and Winter fast approaching, it’s time to give your immune system the support it needs to keep you healthy. Red light therapy, cold plunges, and infrared sauna sessions are all effective ways to reduce inflammation, boost circulation, and energize your immune cells—three critical factors in fighting off seasonal illnesses.
At Level Up Wellness, we’re here to help you feel and perform your best. Book a session today and give your body the boost it needs to stay healthy this season!
