How an infrared sauna can impact aging at a cellular level

As living beings, we all age. While the chronological process of aging can’t be stopped (i.e., those birthdays are coming every 365 days whether you want them to or not), you can alter your biological age. This is how your body functions compared to how many years you’ve been alive. So, while you may be turning 50, having healthy lifestyle habits could mean your biological age is in its early 40s.  

One of the most important markers of biological age is the health of your mitochondria–structures that live in the cells of the body that produce energy. Read on to understand why mitochondrial health is so important to the biological aging process, and how infrared sauna therapy can improve the health of your mitochondria to boost longevity and health. 

What are mitochondria, and what do they do?

To understand the role of mitochondria in the body, think of yourself as a car. At a cellular level, mitochondria are tiny engines – giving you the gasoline or energy to thrive.  

Here’s how it happens: mitochondria take up a surprising amount of space in our cells, approximately 25% of cell volume. Each cell in the body contains anywhere from 1,000 to 2,500 mitochondria. Some organs, like the brain and heart will have more mitochondria than others. So, the mitochondria play a big role when it comes to the anatomy of your cells.  

How do mitochondria affect your health

Just like you can put premium gasoline in your car to help it drive better and live longer, the premium gasoline you can put in your body is a healthy diet and regular exercise. That’s why you feel better and have more energy after eating a salad versus a pit stop for greasy food at the drive-through.  

1. Mitochondria absorb light.

Mitochondria contain photosensitive chromophores. This is two-fold: They can be damaged by light (i.e., getting a bad sunburn can hurt mitochondria function) or in the case of infrared light – stimulated.  

Research has found that near infrared (NIR) light improves the membrane of mitochondria, which can decrease age-related inflammation. In this particular study, the researchers looked at brief NIR exposure (between 60 to 90 seconds over the course of one week) in old mice. This consistent NIR exposure was absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), part of the mitochondria that helps in ATP creation. In turn, the researchers found this absorption led to an increase of retinal ATP and less inflammation. 

A separate study looked at fruit flies and NIR exposure. They found that the ability for mitochondria to absorb NIR throughout the entire body resulted in improved ATP. This led to longer lifespan and better mobility – the flies exposed to NIR could climb higher than the control group. 

This same logic applies to human exposure of NIR, with CCO absorption improving mitochondrial health and increasing ATP production. 

2. Near infrared (NIR) allows mitochondria to make energy faster.

Within the mitochondria is a layer known as the inner mitochondria membrane (IMM). The IMM is important for electron transportation and ATP production. This layer is also permeable to water, which can cause mitochondria to slow down as they try to produce energy. Think of this similar to running a race – will you go faster on land or running in the water? Mitochondria can create ATP faster when water doesn’t interfere with its process. 

When mitochondrial function is impaired from oxidative stress, this can increase the viscosity of water molecules. If these water molecules permeate the IMM, mitochondria cannot produce ATP as efficiently. Research has found infrared therapy (specifically red light and near infrared) can decrease the viscosity of nanoscopic interfacial water layers (IWL) that can permeate that IMM. This helps the mitochondria speed back up, kickstarting that ATP production again at a higher speed for optimal function that slows down aging.   

3. Far infrared (FIR) reduces the size of water clusters in the body.

It’s no secret your body needs water to function. However, the body absorbs lower-frequency or smaller water clusters more easily. This decreases the viscosity in cells and mitochondria so that they can operate at full speed. FIR heat and light combined break down the strength and size of water clusters in the body⁹, to help with mitochondrial function, maintenance and growth.  

4. Infrared therapy balances oxidative stress.

It’s impossible for mitochondria to experience zero oxidative stress, but it is possible to reduce reaction or change from that stress. When this happens, it’s known as redox. The oxidizing substance loses electrons in the mitochondria while antioxidants regain those electrons, leading to a better balance and with it, less damage to the mitochondria. 

Through infrared therapy’s ability to absorb water this speeds up the activation of CCO. The exposure to light causes CCO to alter cellular function through reactive oxidative stress. At the same time, it speeds up ATP production through the mitochondria. It’s this dual redox state that keeps cells in the body stable.

Think of this as a cellular tug of war – infrared therapy’s ability to cause stress and produce more energy at a cellular level keeps cells even-keeled and primed to react to larger stressors when they occur.