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The Power of USP Ingredients in Promoting Skin Health
The human integumentary system is the body’s largest organ, protecting its interior to an abundance of environmental hazards, from physical to chemical. To ensure the skin remains healthy, it is vitally important to carefully control the ingredients contained within healthcare products. USP ingredients answer this call.
A scientific nonprofit organization known as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) was founded in 1820 to set the standards for the identity, strength, quality, and purity of medicine, food ingredients, and dietary supplements manufactured, distributed and consumed worldwide. While only prescription medications are mandated to meet or exceed USP standards, many manufacturers ensure as many products as possible in their inventories are USP-grade - the highest quality possible.
USP standards are more than a designation, though. It verifies the purest quality formulation of any ingredient to ensure fewer adverse skin reactions and greater efficacy of active ingredients.
With more than 100 USP ingredients in inventory, Bell Chem can deliver the personal care product chemicals required for your manufacture of the highest quality skin care. Below are a sampling of our most popular USP-certified skin care products.
Ascorbic acid
As an antioxidant, ascorbic acid has been proven to relieve dry skin, strengthen skin to clear fine wrinkles, and allay damage caused by the ultraviolet rays of the sun. The integumentary system contains a natural chemical called ascorbate. When exposed to ultraviolet rays, this chemical breaks down quickly. Ascorbic acid replenishes the supply, aiding in the skin’s healthy glow.
Vitamins
Vitamins A, the B vitamins, C, D, E, K…all “lettered” vitamins generally carry a USP regulatory seal of approval although dietary supplements are voluntarily rated.
In the skin, the B complex vitamins hydrate, produce collagen - a structural protein responsible for cell structure - and rejuvenate damaged cells.
Vitamin C also promotes collagen growth and renews existing collagen, which improves skin structure.
Vitamin D is responsible for proper cell maintenance, aiding in cell division, growth, and apoptosis. All 3 of these factors are related to psoriasis, and the impact of vitamin D on inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis has been studied in depth and reported as effective.
Vitamins E and K are both anti-inflammatory, and vitamin K has been used to stimulate wound healing. In fact, the “K” in vitamin K is for the German work koagulation.
Salicylic acid
Anyone prone to acne is familiar with salicylic acid and its negative effect on this troublesome skin condition. Salicylic acid also counters dandruff, exfoliates skin, conditions hair, and conditions the skin’s keratin. This acid is also key in the removal of warts, calluses, and corns.
Bell Chem is a personal care products chemical company based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including a wide range of USP ingredients. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.
How Personal Care Product Chemicals Promote Healthy Teeth and Gums
Personal care products tend to bring to mind materials designed to enhance the way an individual looks or feels. Only a few categorically improve health as personal care product chemicals formulated for oral care do. Bell Chem highlights some of the chemicals it stocks to protect the health of gums and teeth.
Fluoride, calcium, and phosphate
If only one chemical was part of dental care, the majority of dentists would choose fluoride. Before fluoride was added to drinking water beginning in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the sheer number of cavities in the general population’s teeth flourished. When fluoride was researched and adjusted to perfectly control the small amount necessary to prevent cavities in both children and adults, it was determined the ultimate method of dispersal was community water fluoridation. When water fluoridation became the norm across the United States, the amount of severe tooth pain, unnecessary extractions of permanent teeth, and a tremendous amount of fillings fell dramatically. It has been estimated that fluoride alone accounts for a 25% reduction of oral cavities.
Calcium and phosphate are both good for bones and teeth, which are chemically different from each other. Both calcium and phosphate are positively charged ions that interact with acidic compounds. This is extremely important in oral care because acids, such as those consumed in dark soft drinks and citrus drinks, can rapidly break down the enamel protecting the sensitive interior of teeth. Thinner enamel leads to fissures and chips in teeth where bacteria lurk. As the bacteria consume the same foods the mouth consumes, their acidic waste products erode teeth and cause dental caries and may lead to infection. Even worse, the human body is incapable of repairing any oral damage; the only alternative is to secure the hole with a filling that can withstand the pressure of mastication.
Gum disease prevention
Most dental patients worry about their teeth, but the gums are extremely important in oral care. Gum disease (often gingivitis) can easily lead to tooth loss and is often unnoticed since bacteria lurk below the gum line out of sight. Small pockets at the base of teeth enlarge and bacteria enter, breaking down and giving off acidic waste products. The diseased tissue eventually dies and falls away from the teeth and more bacteria enter the larger space. This feedback loop eventually causes the teeth to loosen or fall out.
The addition of the personal care product chemicals fluoride, calcium, and phosphate in oral care products has significantly improved oral health around the world. Bell Chem has hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including oral health chemicals. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.
Examining the Role of Food Additives in Preventing Contamination
Food additives play many roles in the manufacture of fresh and packaged foods, and one of those roles is the prevention of contamination during the manufacturing process. Your food additive supplier, All food additives, whether they are specific to preventing contamination or simply to add color or texture to foods, are regulated by food and beverage safety agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration. This information alone should alleviate much of the angst many consumers have concerning additives in foods. The additives specific to preventing contamination can be categorized broadly as acidity regulators, antioxidants, emulsifiers, and preservatives.
Acidity regulators
Microorganisms thrive in narrow pH ranges. The addition of acidity regulators either raises or lowers the pH to an area inhospitable to the microbes being targeted during food processing. Included in this category are citric acid, lactic acid, and tartaric acid. Along with acid regulation, these additives often enhance the flavors of their associated foods, primarily fruit and vegetable dishes.
Antioxidants
Many consumers understand the role of antioxidants as destroyers of the free radicals that cause cellular damage in the body. However, this destruction also prevents food contamination since antioxidants damage bacteria, yeast, and fungi as naturally as they damage cells. Natural antioxidants range from vitamins C and E to flavonoids while synthetic antioxidants include butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Whether natural or synthetic, antioxidants reduce rancidity in fresh foods and often improve the flavor. Adding antioxidants helps preserve oils, flour, and milk powder and prevents discoloration of fruit and meat.
Emulsifiers
Carrageenan, diglycerides, monoglycerides, lecithin, and polysorbates all aid in stabilizing foods by keeping ingredients from separating and by improving the mouthfeel of products. Along the way, they increase shelf life by allaying bacterial growth.
Preservatives
The largest category of additives that prevent contamination are preservatives. These additives may prolong shelf life by countering the effect of specific microbes, or they might be formulated for microorganisms at large, such as bacteria, molds, and yeast. These unwanted microbes consume primarily sugars within goods, breaking them down and producing waste, which we consider contamination. Adding preservatives repels these microorganisms from colonizing on foods.
Benzoates, nitrates, sorbates, and sulfites are general-use additives necessary for preserving frozen and canned foods. These preservatives maintain a high level of quality when added as an ingredient, and keep foods fresh and appealing.
Bell Chem is a food additive supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including food additives specific to alleviating food contamination. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.
Why Dextrose is Used in Sports Drinks and Supplements
The chemical makeup of dextrose is extremely similar to glucose, the sugar normally utilized by the human body. When dextrose is added as a supplement to sports drinks, the body readily sequesters it for both aerobic and anaerobic activities. Food additive supplier Bell Chem wishes to explain more pertinent information on dextrose and why you are more likely to find it rather than any other sugar additive in your sports drinks and supplements.
How dextrose affects the body
Dextrose is a simple carbohydrate commonly derived from either corn or wheat. Because its chemical formula almost mirrors that of glucose, the body absorbs it rapidly, leading to rapid increases in blood sugar levels. Since the blood supplies muscle fibers with energy in the form of ATP, and ATP runs on glucose, adding a supplement to the body containing dextrose will stimulate ATP to generate energy within muscle fibers. As the muscle fibers are able to contract more rapidly, the body is able to lift heavier weights, run faster, or jump farther than it could when blood sugar levels are depleted.
Dextrose for focus
The majority of the focus of dextrose is its ability to affect slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibers during exercise. However, dextrose has another superpower.
Your brain requires a huge amount of fuel to function. In fact, in ordinary situations, the brain usurps approximately 20%-25% of the available blood sugar. When the brain is tasked with mental exertion, that amount surpasses the normal amount of usage and it can quickly become fatigued, leading to slower reflexes, muddled thoughts, or “brain fog.” With a quick burst of dextrose in the form of a supplement or in an energy drink, those symptoms disappear post haste, and the brain’s functions resume as normal.
Dextrose for athleticism
When an athlete needs to perform in peak condition, an energy drink quickly reinvigorates a workout. From bodybuilders to long-distance marathon runners, energy drinks are ideal to keep going. Studies have proven dextrose works to increase muscle mass since when muscle fibers are depleted of sugar, they can no longer contract, and the athlete is forced to end the workout. Adding a dose of dextrose spurs the muscle fibers to continue contracting.
Most workouts, whether of short or long duration, necessitate two core requirements: carbohydrates and water. When either of these is a limiting factor, workouts diminish rapidly. An energy drink replenishes both, and workouts proceed.
Bell Chem is your food additive supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including dextrose. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us a message.
Debunking Common Myths About Working with Chemicals
The prevailing conception concerning chemicals is their danger, since thoughts dwell on chemical explosions and fires. However, everything we utilize is composed of chemicals, and we are not experiencing spontaneous explosions and fires in everyday life. Bell Chem, your chemical supplier, wants to quell a few chemical myths.
Only chemists use chemicals.
Chemicals are used by everyone every day. From ammonia to the zinc in your sunscreen, chemicals are in your skin care products, foods, medicines, and other products consumed daily.
In manufacturing, chemicals are used within products and act as cleaners to maintain a safe environment for products used by consumers and industries worldwide.
If it is approved, it must be safe.
Chemicals undergo a strong battery of tests under varied conditions to determine their level of safety. If a chemical is flammable, a warning is applied and specific protective advice is recommended. As long as the product is used in accordance with the recommendations, the product is considered safe. This means the end user must read and follow all recommendations and ensure the environment and employees maintain a level of appropriate safety.
Chemicals are all poisonous.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are only two of the organizations responsible for overseeing chemicals. The regulations they mandate are followed closely by manufacturers to ensure use of those chemicals is safe for everyday citizens. Many chemicals are considered safe in small doses or in specific situations but extremely dangerous in large amounts or outside the given boundaries. In other words, it may depend on the dosage as to whether a chemical is poisonous or not.
If it looks safe, it is safe.
Think about a fine, powdery white substance. It could be powdered sugar, or it could be white phosphorous, or possibly silica dust. While the first substance is considered non-toxic, the other 2 are deadly to humans if ingested or inhaled.
Likewise, some substances are not dangerous unless they are placed near an open flame, in which case they could combust. The majority of chemicals are innocuous when used correctly.
Bell Chem is your chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us a message.
Different Types of Sugars Used in the Food Industry
When most consumers picture sugar, their instinct is to envision table sugar, or sucrose. However, sucrose is only one small part of the picture. In fact, sugar has 4 main categories (simple and complex sugars) and sub-varieties to fulfill every niche in the food industry. Food ingredient supplier Bell Chem wants you to recognize sugar in its multiple forms to give you the most knowledge when you order your supplies from us.
But first, why do manufacturers add sugar as an ingredient? Surprisingly, sugar has more impact than mere sweetness. Sugar acts as a thickener, especially when paired with pectin. It also controls the boiling and freezing points of specific foods, which aids in searing and crystallization, respectively. When sugar binds with water, it prevents microbial growth. Sugar also enhances taste by countering the bitterness of other ingredients. It changes the aromas of some foods and creates a different mouthfeel to still other foods.
The four broad categories of sugars are below.
Glucose
Any carbohydrates consumed are broken down into glucose, the human body’s natural fuel. Glucose feeds the cells, energizing every body function. Plants also rely more heavily on glucose than any other natural sugar. Within this category, there are two types of sugar:
Maltose: Two bonded glucose molecules create maltose. Maltose naturally occurs when carbohydrates are broken down, such as when grains break down complex carbohydrates as they sprout (sprouted grains).
Galactose: Take the chemical elements within glucose, rearrange them, and galactose may be the new creation. Galactose naturally occurs in avocados and dairy products, among many other foods.
Fructose
Fruits, honey, and root vegetables contain fructose as their sweetest sugar. The most renowned instance of fructose is as an ingredient in high-fructose corn syrup, which consists of fructose, dextrose, and scant amounts of oligosaccharides.
Lactose
Mammalian milk contains enough lactose to meet the needs of growing offspring. Lactose is composed of glucose and galactose to meet those needs. The latter produces lactic acid, which aids in fermentation’s chemical breakdown in the process of cheese- and yogurt making.
Sucrose
The similar chemical properties of sucrose and glucose make this sugar easily digestible. In fact, sucrose is an equal measure of glucose and fructose molecules. The main source of sucrose in food industries is sugarcane or sugar beets.
Bell Chem is your food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including a variety of sugars. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us a message.
Lactic Acid in Food: A Guide to Fermentation
When microorganisms eat, they break down their food and produce gas. When this process occurs in a closed environment, it is called fermentation. Food additive supplier Bell Chem brings you information on lactic acid and the fermentation process.
Of the varied types of fermentation, lactic acid fermentation involves lactic acid bacteria (LAB) or Lactobacillales cultures performing their functions anaerobically – without the oxygen so many other systems find necessary. LAB dine on carbohydrates and produce carbon dioxide and lactic acid. In turn, these by-products affect the taste, texture, and appearance of foods and beverages.
Conditions for Lactic Acid Fermentation
Lactic acid fermentation can be broken into a series of conditions.
Temperature
Fermentation is closely tied to temperature gradients. Higher temperatures lead to expedited fermentation. The ultimate temperature for fermentation is room temperature. Refrigerating products will halt fermentation, which is handy if you wish to stop at a specific point in the process.
Submersion
Whatever it is you are fermenting – fruits, vegetables, legumes – must be fully submerged in water. If your water is chlorinated, let it rest for at least 30 minutes before using it in a fermentation.
Salinity
Adding a nominal amount of salt does not cause a danger to the LAB and is encouraged to enhance flavor. Be aware that salt will slow the rate of fermentation; if you wish to regulate LAB activity, salt is your friend.
Some fruits and vegetables are naturally self-brining; add 2% of the total weight of your product in salt and seal the jar tightly. The salt pulls the water from the product (osmosis), and the water will naturally fill the sealed jar. These products do not need water added to the jar, only salt and the product to be fermented.
For products with a lower water content, add water and a 3% - 4% salt-to-product-weight ratio. Using larger-sized or whole products generally requires this method.
Size
The greater the surface area of the product you are fermenting, the more rapidly it will ferment. This means smaller chunks of carrots will ferment more rapidly than simply cutting a carrot in half and jamming it into the jar.
Sugar
Sugar is a carbohydrate broken down to a smaller form. Since LAB consumes carbohydrates, sugar is an easier form of food for them. The more sugar added to a fermentation, the more quickly the fermentation will occur. Not all sugar will be consumed by the LAB, and the result will be a balance of sweet and acidic flavors.
Benefits of Lactic Acid Fermentation
The benefits of lactic acid fermentation are far reaching. Fermented foods are great for your gut biome, have intriguing flavors, and are much easier to locate now that the general population has developed a fondness for kombucha, sourdough bread, and yogurt.
Bell Chem is a food additive supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.
Sodium Citrate in Food Production: Molecular Gastronomy and Beyond
Sometimes an ingredient is so versatile it becomes a go-to product added to almost every food. Sodium citrate is one of those favored ingredients. While you may recognize a few of sodium citrate’s many roles in food production, Bell Chem, your food ingredient supplier, wishes to share more the wonders of sodium citrate.
As the sodium salt of citric acid, sodium citrate adds a tart, salty flavor to products while remaining colorless and odorless. Its tiny white crystals do not detract from a food’s overall appearance. For being so low key physically, the chemical properties of sodium citrate lead to spherification of the solvent to which it is added – a culinary masterpiece of chemistry!
Emulsification
Water and oil will not combine unless an emulsifier is added. Sodium citrate allows these two opposing ingredients to coalesce in cheese products, salad dressings, and sauces, giving each mouthful the same flavors. In cheese, calcium citrate helps maintain a smooth, creamy texture upon melting.
pH regulation
If the acidity of a food or beverage is not within proper limits, the taste and texture may suffer. Sodium citrate adjusts the pH to control acidity in carbonated beverages. In highly acidic formulations, sodium citrate raises the pH above 5 to allow for gelification and foam. The correct pH also enhances the shelf life and preservation of products. In ice creams and other frozen desserts, sodium citrate improves the creamy smoothness while inhibiting ice crystal formation.
Buffer
Surprisingly, when the pH is not extremely acidic, sodium citrate acts as a buffer, hindering drastic changes in pH. Stabilization of pH in canning and pickling, even in the acidic range, prevents microbial growth leading to spoilage.
Chelation
In the dairy industry in particular and other industries overall, sodium citrate acts as a chelating agent, stimulating antioxidant function to deter spoilage of products. This sequestration of chemicals is also key to sodium citrate’s molecular gastronomy function: sequestration forms gels without the use of other chemicals, such as calcium.
Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including sodium citrate. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.
Understanding How Chemicals Enhance Personal Care Products
Personal care products range from cosmetics to topical medications designed to clean, protect, and maintain skin and hair. With approximately 12,500 ingredients from which to choose in the United States, manufacturers can create millions of unique personal care products. Statistically, women in the United States use an average of 9 to 15 personal care products a day, equating to 515 specific chemicals apiece. Bell Chem, your personal care raw ingredient supplier, wants to shed light on the most prominent categories of ingredients within these products to assist in better understanding the role of personal care products in everyday life.
Colors
Whether consumers are hiding a blemish or applying lipstick, color plays a large role in daily personal care. Ingredients may be mineral (such as iron oxide or manganese) or natural (plant-based ingredients such as beet powder or cochineal extract), and pigments can be broken down into organic or inorganic compounds (primarily metal oxides, such as magnesium oxide and potassium oxide).
Fragrances
While some consumers prefer the odor of soap as their fragrance, others choose a floral scent or a musk odor. These scents are properties of chemicals or natural oils. For citrus, not much tops d-limonene. Toothpaste and mouthwash manufacturers frequently choose spearmint or peppermint oils. Aldehydes are the basis of many synthetic perfumes, such as citronella, orange, rose, and vanilla.
Preservatives
The use of preservatives is essential for clean, safe ingredients since preservatives inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Salicylic acid and EDTA are frequently used as personal care preservatives.
Surfactants
By lowering the surface tension of water, surfactants have the ability to quickly combine water and soap to gently remove oils and grease from the skin. Surfactants include stearyl alcohol, polysorbates, trolamine, and magnesium stearate. Emulsifiers are a category of surfactants that stabilize fine droplets of oil within a product. An emulsifier helps treat itchy, scaly skin by packing the areas between skin cells. Emulsifiers form a physical barrier atop the epidermis, holding in moisture. Glycerin and mineral oil are stunning examples of emulsifiers.
Thickeners
When a tube dispenses a watery substance, the situation can quickly become disastrous. A thickener ensures uniform consistency. Varieties of thickeners include lipid thickeners (stearic acid and carnauba wax), naturally derived thickeners (guar gum and xanthan gum), mineral thickeners (silica and maltodextrin), and synthetic thickeners (propylene glycol alginate).
Bell Chem is a personal care raw ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including a vast array of personal care products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.
Understanding the Role of Sulfuric Acid in Water Treatment
Many professionals know how important sulfuric acid is in water treatment, but not nearly as many truly understand the varied roles sulfuric acid plays in maintaining healthy, clean drinking water. Bell Chem, the water treatment ingredient supplier, wishes to showcase sulfuric acid’s many water treatment tasks.
Pulling moisture from water?
It seems contradictory that sulfuric acid is able to pull moisture from potable water, but it does. When sulfuric acid is added to water, it causes the acid to completely dissociate, forming a gas in an exothermic reaction as it bonds to water molecules. As the moisture is removed, the particles and contaminants within that moisture is likewise pulled asunder. The freed particles link together, forming much heavier particles that sink to the bottom of the tank. In other words, the power of sulfuric acid is, in the long run, as a desiccant.
Metals No More
Sulfuric acid reacts exothermically with corrosive metals, such as iron, calcium, and manganese, eliminating the metal ions while forming hydrogen gas.
pH Adjustment
As an acid, sulfuric acid can pull a high wastewater pH down to neutral levels where water can be harmlessly digested.
Disinfectant/Odor Eliminator
Water entering a treatment facility often contains tiny bits of particulate matter missed by alternate treatments. As a strong acid, sulfuric acid eliminates malodorous situations as it dissolves the pathogens that cause the odors. When bacteria and viruses are quelled, the water is disinfected and the public is much healthier. The Journal of Water Research published a study stating sulphuric acid eliminates 99% of the waterborne bacteria they tested.
Neutralizing Alkaline Substances
Sulfuric acid neutralizes chlorine, which is listed as a strong pollutant. While chlorine is a commonly used chemical in water treatment, it must be largely eliminated by the time it reaches the consumer. Likewise, calcium carbonate forms a precipitate when in the presence of sulfuric acid, flocculating harmlessly to the base of the tank to be removed.
Bell Chem is your water treatment ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.