Energy efficiency is all the rage right now, with the public having finally caught on to the fact that the resources on our planet aren’t indefinite. The fact still remains though, that the human body needs energy to survive – and one primary form in which it needs this energy is heat.
Our bodies get their heat from a number of sources – both natural and artificial – sunlight, warm food and drinks, central heating and so on. In fact, stored food in our body is burnt by our metabolic system to keep our temperature regulated at all times.
Why do we need such a steady supply of heat though? Because, as amazing a natural machine as our body is, it isn’t very good at retaining the heat it generates and extracts from so many sources. Ultimately, this means we as a society use plenty of the planet’s resources to simply sustain our body heat.
What if there was a way to make our utilization of heat more efficient? We can’t change the way our body functions, of course, but perhaps an external mechanism? That’s exactly where Celliant fiber comes in.
What is Celliant fiber?
In the manufacturer’s own words, Celliant is a ‘proprietary fiber that … recycles and converts radiant body heat into something that gives the body a measurable boost – infrared energy’. The patented fiber incorporates a special blend of thermo-reactive minerals that turn it into an energy converting engine on the microscopic level.
What are thermos-reactive minerals then? These are minerals that respond to heat, converting heat energy emissions back into a useful form of energy that can enhance your bodily functions / performance. A total of 13 such minerals are used in Celliant fiber, for instance, titanium dioxide, aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide.
Since the minerals are used in the form micron-scale particles and made into a resin that gets woven directly into the fiber itself, the technology lasts for as long as the overall fabric itself, and never loses its effectiveness by breaking down or washing out.
The infrared energy harnessed in this manner has several benefits, ranging from therapeutic medicine to boosting of athletic performance. But before we move on to that, you may be wondering what all this technical jargon about radiant body heat and infrared energy is – I know I was when I first heard about Celliant, so here’s a little breakdown.
What is infrared energy?
Infrared is a natural wavelength of light, that lies just outside the visible part of the spectrum – don’t confuse this with UV though, which can be harmful if exposed to for long periods of time. Infrared, on the other hand, has benefits for our body ranging from vasodilation (promotion of blood flow), to alleviating hypertension and muscle damage.
How does Celliant redirect Infrared Energy to Your Body?
The mineral fibers used in Celliant have been chosen for their ability to react to heat – both from outside sources e.g. sunlight, and from that emitted by your body. They convert this heat into infrared energy, and then direct it back at your skin, which then absorbs it and transports it to your cells and blood vessels, thereby resulting in the benefits I’ve summarized below.
Celliant does not need to be in direct contact with your skin to transmit IR – because IR can be transmitted through any medium (in fact, when it arrives from the sun to the earth, it does so without any medium whatsoever!). In other words, you can wear it over multiple layers and still get the same benefits!
This is in sharp contrast to regular thermal wear which merely traps the heat inside your body, or keeps the heat from external sources out.
The Sleep specific Benefits of Celliant
The infrared light this material sends your body’s way improves the oxygenation of your cells, and boosts blood circulation. Since blood circulation is how your body regulates its temperature, Celliant also ensures optimum thermal regulation of your system. And it is a known fact that the thermal state of your body will impact the quality of your sleep.
Note that just because the body is getting excess IR infused into it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll heat up. The process enhances the thermal regulation of the body both ways: when circulation gets upped, depending on what the outside climate is like, your body can both cool down and warm up.
Besides this, the improved oxygenation also alleviates minor aches, which can be a major hindrance to a restful sleep.
Peripheral Benefits
Improved oxygenation resulting from the use of Celliant fiber has, according to research, boosted the performance of athletes who push their bodies to the limits to win. It also actively aids in healing and relieves pain, which is why it is used in premium sports gear for high endurance activities.
What is Celliant Used In?
Since it is a fiber based technology, it can be used in virtually any niche that involves textiles ranging from healthcare to bedding – and since the exact degree of infrared conversion can be modified by adjusting the mineral blend, it is able to work for a wide variety of applications and products.
Celliant can be used both on its own, or mixed with other fabrics such as cotton, wool, plastics, Nylon, Spandex and so on. In this manner, it is incorporated into garments, bed sheets, mattresses (we’ve reviewed a couple of them too), mattress protectors and mattress pads.
Does Celliant Really Work?
It usually takes more than claims to convince me about the effectiveness of a product – and with Celliant making such bold ones about their energy efficient fabric, I had to double check. Fortunately, they are also very open about the third party verification their product has gone through, not to mention the panel of scientists continuously testing the product itself!
To start off, Hologenix, the parent company behind Celliant, created a Science Advisory Board in 2011 to be able to create products that were founded in scientific fact. At present, it consists of doctors from the fields of nanotechnology, photobiology, diabetes and wound care, and sleep medicine – and its sole purpose is to create and execute rigorous testing procedures that gauge the veracity of Celliant’s claims.
Besides having its mettle tested by the SAB, the product has also gone through clinical trials at University of Calgary, University of California Irvine, Texas A&M University, Loyola University Chicago, and UCI Long Beach Veterans Affairs Medical center – all well-respected third party research institutes that have found Celliant technology to be effective at recycling and conserving heat, as per their original claims.
Do I Need to Worry About an Allergic Reaction?
Ever since its inception in 2003, there have been no reported instances of allergic response to this product. However, since Celliant has to be embedded into the core of a synthetic carrier, those with a known allergy to polyester fiber must use it only with caution and after a physician’s consent.
Celliant Fiber Bedding Products
Here are some popular specialized sleeping products that utilize Celliant:
| Rank | Product | Features | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ironman Pure Energy Ignite Mattress | Celliant Technology, Latex Comfort Layers, Soy Foam Comfort Layers, Zoned Pocket Coil Technology | n/a |
| #2 | Ironman Pure Energy Radiance Mattress | CellActive™ Technology, Celliant Sleeping Surface, Cellitex™ Recovery Latex, Latex Comfort Layers, High Density Soy Foam Core | n/a |
| #3 | Ironman Pure Energy Natural Mattress | CellActive™ Technology, Celliant Sleeping Surface, Cellitex™ Recovery Latex, Latex Comfort Layers, Latex Core, Joma Wool | n/a |
| #4 | Amerisleep Americana Mattress | Celliant Cover, Bio-Pur™ and BioCore™ Foam Layers, Extra-Breathable Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly Support, Firm | 100 Night Trial, 20 Year Limited Warranty |
| #5 | Amerisleep Revere Mattress | Celliant Cover, Bio-Pur™ and BioCore™ Foam Layers, Extra-Breathable Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly Support, Medium Firm | 100 Night Trial, 20 Year Limited Warranty |
| #6 | Amerisleep Liberty Mattress | Celliant Cover, Bio-Pur™ and BioCore™ Foam Layers, Extra-Breathable Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly Support, Medium | 100 Night Trial, 20 Year Limited Warranty |
| #7 | Amerisleep Colonial Mattress | Celliant Cover, Bio-Pur™ and BioCore™ Foam Layers, Extra-Breathable Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly Support, Medium Soft | 100 Night Trial, 20 Year Limited Warranty |
| #8 | Amerisleep Independence Mattress | Celliant Cover, Bio-Pur™ and BioCore™ Foam Layers, Extra-Breathable Cooling Layer, Eco-Friendly Support, Soft | 100 Night Trial, 20 Year Limited Warranty |
| #9 | Bear Mattress | Celliant Cover, Graphite Gel Foam, Response Foam, High Density Support Foam | 100 Night Trial, 10 Year Limited Warranty |