The Many Properties And Applications Of Glycerine

Author:  Jo Alelsto

Glycerine, also spelled glycerin, is a kind of organic compound known as sugar alcohol with a chemical formula C3H8O3. It occurs as a sweet-tasting, viscous liquid that is colorless and odorless. It is miscible in water and generally non-toxic. In nature it occurs in form of glycerides. The glycerides are esters of the compound and are fundamental components of lipids.

Various industries see glycerine in numerous applications. It is included in pharmaceutical preparations due to its lubricating and hygroscopic properties. Thus it is found in cough syrups, expectorants, and suppositories. In personal care products it is found in shaving creams, soaps, mouthwash, toothpastes, skin moisturizers and conditioners, and hair care products. The substance is an excellent solvent. It serves as a humectant (moisture-retaining agent) and a softener in candy and cakes, as well as a food preservative.

A molecule of glycerine or glycerol contains three chains of carbon. In each carbon atom a hydroxyl group is attached. The hydroxyl group is represented as OH. The compound owes its high solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature to the hydroxyl groups. A compound that is hygroscopic has the property of attracting water molecules from the air or from the surrounding. When hygroscopic substances are used for the purpose of retaining moisture, they are accurately referred to as humectants. Glycerol melts at 18�C and boils at 290�C under standard conditions.

Today, the production of the compound involves either of the following: saponification or transesterification. Saponification involves a reaction of an alkali, say sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, and a fat or oil. This process forms soap and glycerol. Transesterification is a process whereby a glyceride undergoes a reaction with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is either an acid or base. In this reaction, two compounds are formed. One is the new ester. The other is glycerol. In biodiesel manufacture, the hygroscopic compound occurs as a 10 percent by-product and is a result of vegetable oils undergoing transesterification. This process contributes heavily to the amount of crude glycerol in the market. This unrefined liquid may be purified further to remove excess water and chemical residues as a result of transesterification.

The compound is considered a carbohydrate, but it is generally different from sugar in terms of structure and metabolic pathway in the body. Unlike sucrose (table sugar), glycerol does not raise blood sugar levels, thus it has a low glycemic index. The synthesis of triacylglycerols and phospholipids in the liver involves glycerol as a precursor. The source of glycerol is of course stored fats. The body breaks down fats into glycerol and fatty acids. The liver converts glycerol into glucose which powers cellular respiration and metabolism.

The compound has thousands of industrial applications. In medicine and pharmaceutical preparations, the compound is employed as a means to provide lubrication, improve smoothness, and act as a humectant. It is also used as a laxative when used in enema or a suppository. Cough syrups and expectorants also contain the substance. The compound is a good emulsifying agent, keeping insoluble tannins from precipitating in ethanol extracts of plants. This is especially useful in making of tinctures. The substance is a component of nitroglycerin, a known ingredient in explosives, but is also used to treat heart disease.

In personal care products, this viscous compound is used as an emollient, humectant, solvent and a lubricant. An emollient is a substance that soothes and softens the skin. Toothpastes, mouthwash, shaving creams and soaps contain glycerol. Home-made soaps contain larger amounts of this organic compound than the usual comercially produced soaps.

There was a controversy about the moisture-retaining capacity of the substance. Some believed that as much as it draws water from the air, it may also draw water from the skin, inducing more dryness. This, however, remains unproven.

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Disclaimer: The opinion(s) expressed by the contributing author of the article reflected above is the author’s own, and we bear no responsibility for the contributing author’s opinions. We intend to provide readers with news and information. It is not intended to give personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. Acting on any information provided herein without first consulting a physician is solely at the reader’s risk.

 

 

Afro Curly Hair and Choosing the Right Products & Accessories

Author:  Eva D.

For over ten years, I would flit like a butterfly to the vast array of products with the bright shiny labels promising drama free styling for my curly coif. Yet, each time I ripped open the lid and applied my creamy concoctions, planets ceased to collide, minds didn't meld and guess what? My hair didn't grow...not immediately anyway because aside from actually working, effective products and accessories should also support three necessary growth requirements for tight curls over time:

Moisture

Products that promote growth really moisturize your curls. Because curly hair is dry, it can break off and be unforgiving when it tangles. Yet when hair is moisturized, its more pliable and easy to manipulate, but without moisture, curls can become knots when being detangled and break. So products that are most beneficial shower curls with the most moisture possible.

Breakage Prevention

Not only do brittle curls cause breakage, but so do certain styling accessories. For years, I used to routinely wear a flat metal clip for a ponytail or bun style and I often wondered why in that exact place, where I snapped the clip closed, this area of my hair was shorter than the rest. At first I thought my hair just grew that way, but one day, I lost my clips (and was too cheap to buy more). So I needed to figure out another style for a while, and noticed my hair started to grow back in that area. Sometimes we can be using accessories that are hurting our hair and because we've always used them, we don't even think about it.

When I transitioned to being natural, there were a lot of styling practices that I carried over from my relaxed hair days. These practices were bad before and even worse now for my natural fro. For example, I didn't cover my hair at night. I thought I didn't have to, because I could sleep on it, and still comb through it the next day, but not so with natural hair. Now, if I don't moisturize, twist up and put a cap on my curly fro for the night, my hair will rub up against other hair and create a beehive of knots and tangles which will not be sorted out by the time I have to get to work the next day unless there is a scissor involved.

Curly Interactions

Effective natural hair products and accessories also reduce curl to curl friction. I know the phrase sounds bizarre, but researchers have found that when a hair's cuticle layers rub up against each other, there can be lifting of the cuticles causing damage. Remember we don't even want to see the cortex of your hair strand. That's not healthy hair.

And curls know this interaction really well, because they just naturally intertwine. When hair isn't set and covered during the night, hair will rub against other hair and your pillow causing knots, damage and the beginnings of fractured hair.

Picking the right products and accessories then using them appropriately is definitely important for afro curly hair growth. While styling products work differently for each curl, I will test some products by integrating them into my current routine and will see what happens. I know that I'd like to try some products like emu oil. My last relaxer involved a chemical burn near the area of my temples and hair doesn't live there anymore, but emu oil may be able to help that. So I think I'll try that one first and share the results

Article Source:   http://www.articlecity.com

 

http://www.satinhaircare.com

Disclaimer: The opinion(s) expressed by the contributing author of the article reflected above is the author’s own, and we bear no responsibility for the contributing author’s opinions. We intend to provide readers with news and information. It is not intended to give personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. Acting on any information provided herein without first consulting a physician is solely at the reader’s risk.

See How Easily You Can Revitalize Your Hair

Author:  Jane Preeter

Revitalizing shampoos, hair-care products aside, great nutrition is by far the most effective way of getting great-looking hair! Like your body, your hair too needs a balanced, nutritious diet to stay healthy.  Water  One of the most important fluids you could ever have, water makes up one-fourth of the weight of a strand of hair. Moisture makes the hair supple; so ensure you get plenty of fluids. A key point is not to wait until you're thirsty. If you're thirsty, it means your body has already lost more water than it should have, and it's urging you to refill the tank! Water not only hydrates your body, but also helps keep your hair silky and shiny. Ideally, you should drink between eight and ten glasses of water a day.  Protein  Protein is the building block of hair, so a diet for healthy hair contains an awful lot of protein! Protein will give the shaft of your hair more strength, and will reduce the possibility of damage through snapping and splitting. You can get protein from foods like fish, meat, milk, cheese and cereals.  Minerals  In addition to water and proteins, minerals are equally important. Remember, your hair, like the rest of your body thrives on the natural resources.

• Iron helps to carry oxygen to the hair. Without enough iron, hair and its follicles get starved of oxygen. This means that the 'goodness' in the root of your hair is much less effective along the length of the strand. You can increase your iron intake by eating red meat and dark green vegetables, or by iron supplements.
  
• Zinc builds hair protein, which helps to prevent hair loss. Meat and seafood are the foods highest in zinc.
  
• Copper is involved in the pigmentation of hair. You can optimize your natural color with a diet with plenty of copper. Shellfish, liver, fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds and meat are all high in copper.

Vitamins

• Vitamin A will give you a healthy scalp, because it's great for the skin! You can get vitamin A from foods like vegetables-in particular, carrots.
  
• Vitamin B and C is important for good circulation, hair growth and hair color. If you ensure that you have enough vitamin B and C, you'll have strong, supple strands of hair that do not split. You can get these vitamins from eating foods like fruit, vegetables, cereals, eggs, milk and bread.

Just follow this good food guide to healthy and great looking hair. You could do without all the artificial chemicals.

Article Source:   http://www.articlecity.com

 

http://www.satinhaircare.com

Disclaimer: The opinion(s) expressed by the contributing author of the article reflected above is the author’s own, and we bear no responsibility for the contributing author’s opinions. We intend to provide readers with news and information. It is not intended to give personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. Acting on any information provided herein without first consulting a physician is solely at the reader’s risk.