7 Ways to Get More Infrared Light for Better Health in 2026

There's no discussion about it - you need more of it in your life. After 9 years in the red light therapy industry, I've seen how transformative proper light exposure can be. Yet most people are severely deficient in this healing spectrum of light.

Here are 7 practical ways to get more infrared light into your daily routine.

What Does Infrared Light Do?

Infrared light has the remarkable ability to penetrate deep inside your body.

Glen Jeffery's recent research showed it actually travels right through your entire body. The mitochondria in your cells can absorb this light and use it for various cellular processes that support your wellbeing.

Users often report benefits including:

• Enhanced mitochondrial energy production
• Natural support for inflammation management
• Increased blood flow throughout the body

When your body has more energy, better inflammation balance, and improved blood flow, many customers tell us they feel a noticeable difference in their overall vitality.

Now let's explore how you can get more infrared light in your life.

1. From The Sun

The sun remains the gold standard for all light therapy.

Infrared light from the sun is most potent around sunrise and sunset, though it's available throughout the day. Make it a priority to spend at least 20 minutes outside as close to these times as possible.

Here's what works best in my experience:

• Get sunlight on your face and in your eyes (safely)
• Expose as much of your body as comfortable
• Don't limit yourself to morning and evening - midday sun helps too

The more skin exposure you can manage, the more infrared light your mitochondria can absorb.

2. From Plants

Here's something most people don't realise: green leaves and plants actually reflect infrared light.

When you're outside, you're getting infrared light direct from the sun, plus infrared light reflected from all the greenery around you. Even sitting in the shade of a tree, you're still receiving a decent dose of reflected infrared light.

While infrared light can penetrate clothing to some degree, direct skin exposure is always more effective.

3. Make A Fire

Fire produces an excellent source of infrared light.

Most of it registers as warmth, but you're also receiving beneficial near and mid infrared light that your body can absorb. If you have a fireplace at home, use it. Find excuses to make outdoor fires and cook meals over them.

Staring into a fire before bedtime can be wonderfully calming - just be sensible about safety.

4. Chicken Lamps

Heat lamps (originally designed for chickens) are trending in health circles as budget red light therapy.

Strictly speaking, they're not true red light therapy, but for increasing infrared light exposure, they can be helpful. Like fire, they emit mostly far infrared that you feel as heat, but across a broad spectrum that can still provide benefits.

They get extremely hot, so use them with proper caution and distance.

5. Swap LED Bulbs For Incandescent Bulbs

This is where most people go wrong with their lighting.

The main problem with LEDs isn't just the blue light - it's the complete absence of infrared light. You're getting a massive dose of blue and green light without any balancing infrared wavelengths.

I immediately notice the difference when I use incandescent bulbs while working on screens. Incandescents produce a light spectrum almost identical to fire - much more natural for human biology.

Start by replacing the bulbs in rooms where you spend the most time.

6. Try Red Light Therapy

For the most targeted dose of therapeutic infrared light, red light therapy devices are unmatched.

True red light therapy uses specific LEDs programmed to emit precise red and near infrared wavelengths - completely different from household LEDs. These particular wavelengths have been extensively studied and many users report significant benefits.

For general wellness, choose the largest panel you can accommodate. The more of your body you can treat per session, the more comprehensive the mitochondrial support.

7. Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas offer another excellent way to increase your weekly infrared exposure.

Some use only far infrared light to heat your body, while others employ a much wider infrared spectrum. Both types can be beneficial and provide a concentrated dose of infrared light that many people find deeply relaxing.

If you're considering this option, look for saunas that specify their infrared wavelength range.

Your Next Steps

Start simple: get more sunlight exposure and swap a few LED bulbs for incandescents.

From there, you can explore more targeted approaches like professional red light therapy devices. The key is consistency - your mitochondria respond best to regular infrared light exposure, not sporadic intense sessions.

At Red Light Rising, we’ve spent years helping customers understand the difference between light sources and how to use them effectively. If you’d like support choosing the right approach for your goals, expert consultations are available. Book a call here → [Book a call].