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A Protein Copied from Insects Can Straighten Hair Safely

The AHA! Team — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 06:23:46 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – Resilin, combined with the strengthening power of cellulose, will power products ranging from hair straightener to flexible phone screens. Insects have a superpower: a protein called resilin. It enables fleas to jump 100 times their height — the equivalent of a human being reaching the top of the Empire State Building. In winged insects, resilin is what gives them greater flying endurance. A dragonfly can bat its wings approximately 1,800 times per minute. “Resilin is the most elastic material in nature,” explains Liron Nuttman Nesiel, CEO of Israeli startup Smart Resilin, which is commercializing the use of resilin for products from hair straighteners to flexible phone and TV screens. “Resilin is used to store energy and release it all at once very rapidly. Almost no energy is lost,” she tells ISRAEL21c. Moreover, this bio-based natural solution degrades into its original carbon source when put into the soil. That’s a significant improvement from fossil-fuel based elastic materials like plastic and rubber that take decades to degrade. Smart Resilin’s technology was developed by serial entrepreneur Prof. Oded Shoseyov of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (Shoseyov has set up more than 17 companies.) Nesiel was a researcher in Shoseyov’s lab when he suggested that she head the startup. While plenty of other companies working with resilin, Shoseyov’s innovation was combining resilin with cellulose — a glucose-based polymer that adds strength — to generate a composite material with “synergistic qualities” for use in commercial products. Straight to straighteners Using resilin is part of a worldwide shift toward new materials, estimated at $41 billion a year. Smart Resilin aiming for similar markets and applications as several well-financed companies that are developing other types of super-performing natural materials such as spider silk. Companies in this space include Kraig Biocraft Laboratories and Bolt Threads (US), Spiber (Japan), AMSilk (Germany) and Seevix in Israel. “I see this as a source for collaboration. We all want better, more sustainable materials,” Nesiel tells ISRAEL21c. “Eventually, we believe that microorganisms will be the factory of tomorrow.” Smart Resilin is eyeing future products such as sustainable, flexible plastic alternatives. However, it is starting with a surprising use case: cosmetics. The reason is both for the benefit of consumers’ health and the company’s bottom line. The heath concerns are certainly alarming. The materials used in chemical hair straighteners have sent too many people to the hospital with severe reactions including kidney failure. (The chemical glyoxyloyl carbocysteine in some hair straighteners releases formaldehyde upon contact with heat.) Hair straighteners have been linked long-term to ovarian and breast cancer. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute estimates that about 4% of women who frequently use such hair-straightening products developed uterine cancer by age 70. And traditional hair straighteners do a real number on the hair itself, changing its actual structure, often irreversibly. “These products are really bad. There’s nothing good in this market,” Nesiel says. There are also economic reasons for starting this way. “Cosmetic products require much smaller amounts of resilin,” Nesiel notes. “We’re not yet at industrial-scale production. But a small amount of resilin can make a big impact.” To replace the rubber and plastic in a flexible sports shoe requires up to several grams of resilin. For cosmetics, just a few milligrams makes an impact. So, by starting with hair straighteners, Smart Resilin can start selling now, rather than waiting for potential partners to ramp up. The company’s go-to-market strategy is to start by selling around 10,000 units of its own hair straightening product, to be followed by “meaningful deals with conglomerates.” No insects were killed Smart Resilin’s development process does not involve any breeding, catching or killing insects for their resilin. The tech developed by Shoseyov involves “taking the DNA that codes for resilin, introducing it into bacteria, and then growing it using a fermentation process,” Nesiel explains. “It’s like brewing beer.” The resilin/cellulose combination has its challenges. For one, it’s sugar-based, so if it comes in contact with water, it will dissolve. That’s a problem for one future Smart Resilin use case: flexible electronics, which may become the next big thing if and when a foldable iPhone is released followed by copycat smartphones. Nesiel notes that the resilin will be used only in the inner layer of the screen. “In the future, we will make it more stable against water.” Smart Resilin is still small, with less than a half dozen people on the payroll and $1 million from private investors and collaborations. One of those partners, Acies Bio, a top European microbial biotech company, is working to establish a large-scale resilin production line. In Slovenia, Acies already has an in-house fermenter that can handle quantities of up to 10,000 liters. Smart Resilin and Acies Bio’s goal is to produce 3.5 tons of resilin by 2026 and 100 tons by 2030. – nor is Smart Resilin attempting to conquer the market alone. In the meantime, Nesiel and her team are speaking with major cosmetics companies to get their feedback. The cost for this hair-straightening technology would be less than what’s currently available in the market, although Nesiel says that, even if the price were double that, “We will still be able to sell these products since consumers are starting to understand the need for healthier products and are willing to pay more for them.” Has Nesiel used her own technology? No. She sports a mane of typically Israeli wavy hair – and has no plans to straighten it, even with the improved health benefits. For more information, click here. To read the original article click here.

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Collagen Chocolate Caramels for Whole-Body Wellness

AHA Publisher — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 07:00:35 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – If you could quickly make delicious collagen chocolate caramels with only 2 grams of net carbohydrates, would you put it on your schedule? If you knew the collagen in them could support your hair, nail, skin, and joint health, would you drop everything and do it now? Yes, indeed. These fat-bomb collagen chocolate caramels are a great fit in the Keto Zone and will satisfy chocolate cravings with good-for-you ingredients. Get out your food processor and whip some up today! Collagen Chocolate Caramels Ingredients 1 cup raw walnuts 1 tablespoon cocoa powder or raw cacao powder 2 tablespoons organic coconut oil 2 scoops Chocolate Hydrolyzed Collagen 1 tablespoon sugar-free salted caramel syrup (such as Torani) coarse sea salt (optional) Instructions Place walnuts in a food processor and grind until they resemble a sticky dough. Add cocoa powder, collagen powder, and Torani syrup. Pulse to combine well. Move mixture to a bowl. Add coconut oil. Stir/mix until well combined. Spoon mixture into all 12 sections of an ice cube tray. Optionally, sprinkle with sea salt. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Makes 12 squares. Try also: Use other nuts such as macadamia, pecans, or cashews. Nutrition info (per 2 squares): 186 calories, 18 grams fat, 2 grams net carbs (3 grams carbs, 1 gram fiber), 5 grams protein (87% of calories derived from fat) Whole-Body Wellness from Collagen Chocolate Caramels Not only do these collagen chocolate caramels taste amazing, but they also promote whole-body wellness. First, they provide healthy fats from walnuts and coconut oil. Then, they deliver potent antioxidants from cacao. But, the real star of the recipe is the collagen. In fact, these squares offer an easy way to ingest great-tasting hydrolyzed collagen day after day. In fact, if the collagen is derived from both marine and chicken sources, it can provide three different types of collagen important to human health. These three types of collagen do different things in the body. Here’s the breakdown: 1.Type I Collagen: Type I Collagen makes up 90% of our hair, skin, and nails and supports their structure and elasticity. If you’re looking to improve your appearance, Type I is the right type for you. The most optimal Type I Collagen source is from marine animals (1). 2. Type II Collagen: Type II collagen supports many areas of the body: hair, skin, and nails, immune health, digestive health, and joint health. First, like types I and III, type II collagen is present in hair, skin, and nails. Next, it supports immune health and promotes healthy digestion. Type II collagen is a major part of your gut lining and helps it act as a barrier between the substances we consume and our bloodstream. This affects both digestion and immune function. Lastly, Type II Collagen is a major building block of cartilage, which is why it’s beneficial to joint health. 3. Type III Collagen: Type III Collagen is present in all skin, tissue, and organs of your body. It’s often combined with Type I and/or Type II in collagen supplements. Studies on Collagen for Skin and Joints Since all three types of collagen are found in skin, nails, and hair, much of the research has been conducted on the health of these tissues. What’s more, joint health is often a focus of collagen research. Here’s a sampling of what researchers have found: 1. SKIN HEALTH A 2019 analysis of 11 studies stated that “Preliminary results are promising for the short and long-term use of oral collagen supplements for wound healing and skin aging. Oral collagen supplements also increase skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal collagen density.” Of note, the studies in this analysis used 2.5-10 grams of collagen per day (2). A 2014 study of 46 women, ages 35-55, showed that eight weeks of collagen powder supplementation improved skin elasticity within just 4 weeks (3). When the skin’s elasticity is improved it can stretch and rebound better, without sagging. This increases a youthful appearance. Another 2014 study concluded that collagen supplementation lessened the appearance of wrinkles after just 8 weeks of use (4). What’s more, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology concluded that collagen supplementation not only improved skin moisture but also produced younger-looking, less-fragmented skin (5). In a 2017 lab (animal) study, researchers found that 6 months of oral consumption of collagen increased the collagen content in the skin. It also improved the skin structure and improved the density of different types of collagen (type I and type III). This resulted in improved color and luster of the skin and fur. While this was a study on mice, it is promising for human skin and hair as well (6). 2. JOINT HEALTH SUPPORT In a 2008 study from Pennsylvania State University, athletes who took a hydrolyzed collagensupplement for 6 months had less joint pain when they were active and at rest (7). This is great news for any athlete with aching joints. A 2016 study found type II collagen helped support knee health in those with osteoarthritis (8). Furthermore, a 6-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled 2012 study suggested collagen hydrolysate could help improve lower back joint pain (9). Other Areas of Study Scientists are finding that collagen may support other areas of health as well. For example: Bone Mineral Density: A 2018 study concluded that intake of hydrolyzed collagen increased bone mineral density in postmenopausal women who had an age-related reduction of bone density. In fact, the results indicated that bones were both increasing in their formation and decreasing degradation (10). Muscle Strength: Scientists are also looking at muscle strength and collagen ingestion. One 2015 study of 53 male subjects with sarcopenia found that collagen peptide intake in combination with resistance training (weight lifting) led to improved body composition, muscle mass, and muscle strength while decreasing muscle loss (11). Bottom Line Collagen is a well-researched food that has been found to support hair, skin, nails, joints, bones, and muscles. If you want to get in on its benefits, it’s a good idea to find delicious ways to incorporate it into your diet. Try our Collagen Chocolate Caramels. They may just be your new favorite collagen treat. To read the original article click here. To read more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

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