We all have heard that proteins are the building blocks of life. A protein is a mega-structure or what we call in the medical world a macromolecule that is composed of numerous tiny components called amino acids.
Your body is in constant need of these amino acids to carry out crucial functions such as building up muscles, production, and maintenance of enzymes, hormones, and other tissues. One such critically acclaimed amino acid is glycine.
Glycine is an amino acid that the body is capable of producing itself but in the case of glycine, it is the more the better. Why is this amino acid so important? Is using glycine for anxiety a good step? All of these questions will be answered in detail in the successive paragraphs.
Health Benefits Of Glycine
Glycine has miraculous healing powers. There are numerous health benefits imparted by the amino acid but the most evident effect is seen on anxiety. There are different ways in which glycine is capable of flushing out signs of anxiety and stress from your body.
Anxiety
Becoming anxious over the loss of a job is a natural phenomenon. However, if the feelings of fear and insecurity persist for long periods, making life difficult for you, then you might be suffering from an anxiety disorder (which means anxiety in layman’s terms).
Anxiety is characterized by overwhelming feelings of fear, increased heartbeat rate, sweating, tremors, and nausea, etc.
There are different types of anxiety disorders including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Phobias (agoraphobia, claustrophobia, hydrophobia, etc.)
- Panic attacks
In contrast to anxiety, depression manifests itself as sadness, fatigue, lack of energy, loss of interest, and a loss of will to live. However, it is seen that substances capable of curing anxiety are generally good at alleviating symptoms of depression too.
Glycine Vs Anxiety
This therapeutic amino acid has a direct and an indirect impact on anxiety. It has the ability to lessen the symptoms of anxiety and also reduce the factors that lead to it. In addition to this, the amino acid supplement can also decrease the complications arising from anxiety. For example, anxiety patients have a hard time sleeping. By improving sleep glycine breaks the cycle and causes stress reduction.
It was found in a study that glycine was linked to anxious behaviors. The anxious group of the study showed decreased amounts of glycine in the hippocampus (part of the brain) as compared to the non-anxious group.
How Does Glycine Work?
The human body is composed of small cells that have specific receptors. These receptors have specific affinities for chemical molecules. When the matched molecule attaches to the receptor it leads to a cascade of events.
The central nervous system (brain, and spinal cord) have receptors called glutamate receptors. A subclass of the glutamate receptors is N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. It has been seen that anxiety disorders are the outcome of the overactivity of these NMDA receptors.
What glycine does is that it binds with the NMDA receptors in the brain and leads to amelioration of the symptoms of anxiety. The most evident effect is seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients. Studies show that glycine is a glutamate receptor modulator and can play a part in the management of psychiatric disorders.
Chronic Anxiety
Glycine has tremendous effects on chronic anxiety. It has a calming effect on the body. The introduction of glycine has proved to be a beneficial step for anxiety patients. It was found in a study that glycine supplementation can effectively be used as a treatment modality in the management of mental disorders. The amino acid is recognized as an effective way of combating chronic anxiety.
It should be noted that glycine should only be consumed in small quantities as very large doses are linked to adverse effects.
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are sudden outbursts of fear that occur by themselves and do not have a valid, significant trigger. Glycine is believed to reduce panic attack frequency because of its neuromodulatory effect on the NMDA receptors.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Glycine has shown some promising results in the management of anxiety induced by schizophrenia. Therefore, further studies were conducted to understand the range of its effects.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by high levels of persisting anxiety that are refractory to most treatments. Research has concluded that glycine can bring about evident NMDA receptor modulation which can bring about ease in anxiety patients.
Thus, the amino acid supplement can also be used in the management of Bipolar disorder depression, and other unrelenting illnesses.
Neurodegenerative Disease-Associated Anxiety
People suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s frequently face chronic anxiety. It was found out in a study that anxiety was linked to a lack of glycine. To confirm this claim another study was carried out where glycine was administered in healthy humans. IV glycine leads to an increase in glycine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The study showed that glycine leads to improvements in cognition and reductions in anxiety.
Sleep Disorder
Numerous studies have revealed the harmful effects of sleep disorders. The most harmful adverse effect of sleepless nights is anxiety and depression, a study suggests.
As per another study, students having higher stress levels were unable to sleep well. The inability to sleep leads to high levels of anxiety. Therefore one way of treating anxiety is to treat the sleep cycle.
Glycine is a pretty impressive supplement when it comes to improving sleep quality. According to a study, oral administration of glycine increases cutaneous blood flow and helps you sleep better.
Another study bore witness to similar effects achieved by glycine administration. The randomized controlled trial concluded that glycine leads to reductions in fatigue, and imparted a feeling of “liveliness” and “clear-headedness”. All these effects aid in improving the quality of sleep and reducing anxiety.
A study published in the Neuropsychopharmacology Journal found that NMDA receptor modulation is the reason behind glycine’s sleep-promoting effect. Glycine supplementation causes hypothermia too and aids in inducing a high-quality sleep.
You can try beherbal.com’s deep sleep complex to aid in sleeping. It cuts down the mental tension and lets you sleep well.
Antioxidant
The condition of the build-up of toxic oxidants in the body is known as oxidative stress. The development of oxidative stress is directly linked to anxiety. According to a study, oxidative stress leads to alterations in brain cell function and inhibition of the production of neurons. The ultimate result is cognitive impairment and anxiety.
Glycine is an active component of glutathione production in the body. Glutathione is a mighty antioxidant. According to a study, higher levels of glycine are linked to reduced oxidative stress. The latest study confirms that glycine consumption is linked to a reduction in oxidative stress and subsequent improvements in cognition.
Other Health Benefits Associated With Glycine
There are multiple advantages of using glycine as a food supplement. The effective ones are as follows:
Boosts Energy Levels
If you are planning to undergo strenuous, hectic activity, we suggest you take some glycine supplements with you. The amino acid is readily used up by the body to make creatine i.e. the ultimate tool to quick power.
Creatine enhances your muscle size and strength. It enhances you to sprint or lift heavy weights i.e. ideal for short bursts of energy.
According to research, an energy drink made out of amino acids can be advantageous in boosting energy.
Good For Building And Preserving Muscle
Collagen is a special protein that is pivotal for optimal working and healing of muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints. Glycine enhances strength by forming collagen inside the body.
The improved structure of muscles and joints casts out pain from them. This also prevents bone loss, a study suggests.
In addition to collagen, the amino acid is also responsible for the formation of creatine. This protein extends support to the muscles while adding size to them too. You may also see improvements in neuromuscular connections. This feature makes it an ideal supplement for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s patients.
People entering the later stages of their life should pay special attention to the amount of glycine in their diet. This is because muscle wasting is a natural phenomenon that occurs in old age. The only way to prevent this is by taking sufficient amounts of proteins. According to a 2020 study, glycine supplementation causes a delay in cognitive decline and premature aging of the muscles.
The shield provided by glycine against skeletal muscle loss is impressive and reliable, a study suggests.
Saves Your Liver
The amino acid is good for your liver too. If you are habitual of consuming alcohol, then you are at great risk of developing alcohol-induced liver disease. Fat deposition is the effect of alcohol-induced liver injury. Research says that glycine reverts the damage and reduces fat deposition too.
Astonishingly, glycine directs the stomach to metabolize alcohol. This takes off the load from the liver which prevents conditions like liver cirrhosis.
In addition to protection, glycine also reverts the effects of injury to the liver. In a study carried out on rats, it was found that glycine reduces cell death and decreased levels of ethanol in the blood.
Aids In Type 2 Diabetes
Patients suffering from type 2 diabetes show low levels of plasma glycine. Whereas the amino acid has shown promising results in the management of type 2 diabetes. According to a 2018 study, glycine supplementation increases insulin sensitivity and acts as a barrier against oxidative stress. The culminating effect is an improvement in the glycemic index.
The renal complications arising from prolonged diabetes are also reverted by glycine supplementation, a study suggests.
Protects Your Heart
Narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis) is the major reason for heart diseases. Blood pressure and atherosclerosis can lead to complications such as heart attack. Glycine is pretty effective in improving blood flow to the heart and also lowers blood pressure, a study suggests.
According to studies, glycine has a protective effect on the heart as it prevents cytotoxicity. Another study found out that the amino acid (glycine) improves mitochondrial function and also prevents cardiac cell death.
Herbal Supplements For Anxiety
In addition to glycine, some very effective herbs can cast out anxiety from your head. You can use a combination of different herbs and glycine to get rid of stress. The most efficacious herbs are discussed below:
1. Chamomile
According to a meta-analysis, chamomile is very useful for reducing anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder). It also improves the quality of sleep. The sleep-inducing quality of chamomile is appreciable, a study suggests.
2. Saffron
A 2019 study showed that saffron can effectively alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Strong evidence suggests that saffron can be used in the treatment of anxiety and other mental disorders. The antidepressant effect of saffron is impressive. Safranal from saffron was found to be even more productive than diazepam in reducing trait anxiety.
3. Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is a famous herb used in Indian households. Traditional Chinese medicine also recognizes it as a multi-benefit herb. As per a 2019 controlled study, ashwagandha is quick at inducing sleep and reducing anxiety.
A 2020 study promotes the use of ashwagandha as an anti-anxiety agent.
Where Can I Find The Best Supplements?
If you are looking for the best anxiolytic supplements then you should see all products from beherbal.com. There are a myriad of products aimed at kicking out anxiety and stress from the body.
You can get the best natural glycine supplement by clicking here. The magnesium glycinate will pump strength in your muscle and punch down any anxiety inside.
The Ashwagandha extract is another extremely beneficial herb for fighting anxiety. The list still goes on. You can also acquire a Golden saffron extract that is rich in safranal. You won’t need to use any more anti-depressants once you start consuming the saffron extract.
You can take a chill pilltoo. Here at beherbal.com, we have produced a chill pill that is a combination of the best anxiolytic herbs (GABA, chamomile, 5-HTP, etc.).
Conclusion
Glycine is a non-essential amino acid that should be taken in via diet. The amino acid has superb anxiolytic properties. It reduces the oxidative stress in the body leading to a reduction in stress and protection to the heart. Your chronic anxiety and mental health issues are very well solved with this one dietary supplement. It lets you sleep better and decreases the frequency of panic attacks and severity of Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
![Should You Switch to Laundry Detergent Sheets: A Complete Decision Guide
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Should You Switch to Laundry Detergent Sheets: A Complete Decision Guide
https://honestandsimple.com/should-you-switch-to-laundry-detergent-sheets-a-complete-decision-guide/
Are you interested in adopting a greener laundry routine? Have you thought about ditching bulky plastic detergent bottles for laundry detergent sheets? Today I’m sharing some useful information so you can decide if this switch is right for you.
Laundry detergent sheets are gaining popularity over liquid detergents, especially among environmentally conscious consumers. Who can argue with the convenience of tossing a thin, concentrated sheet into the washing machine and reducing plastic, right? I’ve been thinking about making this swap myself for a while now — but I keep hesitating to click the “buy now” button.
To be honest, I’ve had nagging questions: Are the sheets truly eco-friendly or is it just marketing hype? Will they clean as well as my go-to detergent? Are they pricier?
I finally decided to dig a little deeper into the good, the bad and the dirty of laundry sheets and here we are!
After doing some research, I’ve realized there aren’t any clear-cut answers. So my goal today isn’t to push laundry sheets on you as a greener choice but to share helpful information so you can decide for yourself.
Note: Some companies market laundry pods just like laundry sheets. But there’s a difference in their environmental impact, so we’re only talking laundry sheets, not pods, today.
Table of Contents
Let’s get started!
Basic FAQs
What are laundry sheets?
Laundry sheets are thin paper-like sheets containing concentrated detergent and other cleaning agents. They look a lot like dryer sheets but they’re designed to clean your clothes, not as a fabric softener or static-reducer.
How do you use laundry detergent sheets?
It’s simple! You just toss a sheet into the washing machine with your laundry and the sheet dissolves, releasing the detergent. Each brand will give you a recommended “dose,” from one-half of a perforated sheet up to two full sheets, depending on the size of your load and how soiled it is.
Can you use laundry sheets in all types of washing machines?
Yes, they’re usually compatible with all types of washing machines, including high-efficiency (HE) machines.
Are they suitable for sensitive skin? Are they available unscented?
Yes to both questions. Some brands offer hypoallergenic options. If this is essential for you, you’ll need to check the ingredients carefully for anything that might trigger skin sensitivities. There are also scented and unscented options available.
Are detergent sheets more expensive than traditional detergents?
This is a tough question to answer. I’ve seen a wide range of prices, from 20 cents per load to 80 cents per load, with some online companies charging shipping on top of that. There are discounts available if you subscribe to regular shipments. You’ll need to do the math for yourself and compare it to the cost-per-load for your current detergent.
Beyond the Basics: What are the Main Pros of Laundry Sheets?
Laundry sheets are less messy than liquid or powder detergents that you have to measure and pour. All you do is drop a sheet into your machine.
They’re easier to take with you when traveling or if you need to make a trip to the laundromat.
They’re lightweight, making it easier for those who have trouble lifting heavy detergent bottles.
The majority of laundry sheet companies offer products that are free from phthalates, parabens, bleaches, and dyes. That being said, you should still check the ingredients list before buying and you could also check the EPA’s Safer Choice program for laundry products certified safer for human health and the environment.
One of the biggest selling points — according to the companies that make them — is that laundry sheets eliminate plastic jugs that often end up in landfills and take years to break down.
A closer look at discarded laundry jugsAccording to treehugger.com, about one billion plastic laundry jugs are discarded in the U.S. each year! Seventy percent end up in a landfill while only thirty percent are recycled.
The average U.S. family does 8 to 10 loads of laundry each week. If we do the math based on a 64-load bottle, this means each household is discarding at least 6 or 7 plastic jugs each year.
Are Laundry Detergent Sheets More Environmentally Friendly?
Now let’s take a closer look at the claim that laundry sheets are better for the planet. They can be a greener option in several ways:
Better Packaging: They’re typically offered in recyclable paper or cardboard packaging instead of plastic.
Fewer Fossil Fuels — Plastic laundry bottles are made from fossil fuels in a process that contributes to climate change. Spoiler Alert: Most laundry sheets also contain a type of plastic made from fossil fuels — but in much smaller amounts. We’ll talk more about that in a minute.
Lighter Shipping Weight: Since detergent sheets are lightweight and compact, they require less fuel for transportation. This can result in lower carbon emissions, depending on where they’re shipped from.
Reduced Water Usage: Liquid detergents are about 90 percent water while detergent sheets are concentrated. They’re also pre-measured — which means you’re less likely to use too much soap, requiring extra water for rinsing.
What are the Cons of Laundry Detergent Sheets?
1. They’re not widely available at local retailers.
You might not find laundry sheets at your local grocery store or retailer. Many brands are sold online only, often with subscription options.
2. Most contain plastic.
Sadly, it’s true. While you’ll see laundry sheets hyped everywhere as “plastic-free,” I’ve learned that the majority of them contain PVA – or polyvinyl alcohol, which is a type of dissolvable plastic woven into the sheets to keep them intact until they get wet. PVA is everywhere! You’ll find it in fabric softener sheets, contact lenses, glues, dishwasher pods, food packaging, pharmaceutical products, household sponges, toilet cleaner pods, textiles — and more.
For what it’s worth, the FDA has approved the use of PVA for many applications and has concluded, after years of study, that its oral toxicity is very low and it’s “relatively harmless.” [Science Direct]
What is the environmental impact of PVA?
Polyvinyl alcohol is water soluble — so we might magically think it will disappear in our washing machines.
However, dissolved plastic doesn’t vanish. It ends up in our local sewage system and eventually makes its way to our wastewater treatment plants. As it turns out, most wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. today aren’t optimized to break down microplastics.
The result? When we use laundry sheets, we’re allowing PVA to get into our soil and water — where it has the potential to harm fish, wildlife and humans — despite what the FDA tells us about its low toxicity.
Consumer alert: A lot of brands market laundry sheets as biodegradable. Don’t be influenced by this claim! They are biodegradable under the right conditions (the right temperature, suitable microbes and enough time). But, again, the majority of municipal wastewater treatment plants don’t have the right conditions.
3. In one lab test, laundry sheets didn’t clean as well as traditional detergent.
Consumer Reports ran a head-to-head lab test with traditional laundry detergent vs. laundry sheets and the results weren’t impressive. They found that heavily soiled loads didn’t fare as well when washed using detergent sheets.
CR tested six brands: Earth Breeze, Ecos, Ecowise, Kind, Sheets Laundry Club and Tru Earth. They used swatches saturated with blood, body oil, chocolate, coffee, dirt, grass and salad dressing. The sheets were tested against liquid or pod detergents, with Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release liquid detergent being the top performer and coming in at an overall rating of 84.
By comparison, the lowest-rated laundry sheet from Tru Earth received an abysmal score of 11 while the highest-rated brand was Earth Breeze at 29. Keep in mind that this is for tough, heavily-stained laundry. [Read the Consumer Reports article here.]
The Good Housekeeping Institute also ran a cleaning test of 20 brands of laundry detergent sheets and released their top five performers. A brand called EC30 came out on top because it was the only one to remove spaghetti sauce stains. I was disappointed, however, that they didn’t compare the cleaning performance of the sheets to regular liquid or powdered laundry detergents. [There’s still a lot of good information here: 5 Best Laundry Detergent Sheets, Tested by Experts]
4. Many Laundry Detergent Sheets are Made in China.
It’s a little difficult to sleuth this out — because companies marketing their products as all-natural and environmentally friendly don’t want you to know that they’re being manufactured in China.
I scoped out the brands tested by Consumer Reports and in some cases, had to email the company if the information wasn’t obvious. I’m also sharing information from the Good Housekeeping Institute’s review. Out of the ten brands looked at, only two are made in the U.S.:
Made in China
Clearalif
Earth Breeze
Grove Co.
Kind
Sheets Laundry Club
Made in North America
Beyond Laundy (Canada)
EC30 (U.S.)
ECOS (U.S.)
Norwex (Canada)
Tru Earth (Canada)
Note: Ecowise, which was tested by Consumer Reports, appears to have been discontinued. Also, Sheets Laundry Club claims to be in the process of moving its manufacturing from China to the U.S., but there’s no way to verify this.
So that sums up my research on laundry detergent sheets for now.I hope you found this information helpful and you’re ready to decide:
Should You Switch to Laundry Detergent Sheets?
I don’t really see a clearcut right or wrong answer to this question. Once you’ve weighed all the pros and cons, you’ll need to make a decision based on your own personal green living values and what you’re looking for in a laundry product.
If you’re still undecided, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Do I want to reduce the number of plastic bottles I’m adding to the waste stream?
Am I satisfied with less plastic waste — that is, am I okay with plastic microbeads from laundry sheets going into our waterways?
Would I prefer to find a completely plastic-free option for our laundry detergent?
Do the other environmental benefits (better packaging; fewer carbon emissions, less water usage) outweigh the plastic negatives?
Will laundry sheets clean well enough for our family’s needs?
Is having a laundry product that is lightweight, compact and pre-measured important to me?
Do I want the convenience of having laundry sheets delivered to my door when I need them?
Am I willing to pay a little extra (in many cases) for a product that is overall kinder to the environment?
Here’s what I’ve decided to do
Now that I’ve finished my research, I’ve decided to hold off on purchasing laundry sheets. I think they’re a great idea that needs more work and in my opinion, the detergent companies need to do better.
Maybe I’m expecting too much — but I’ll gladly hit the “buy now” button when I can find an affordable, made-in-the-USA brand that cleans well and is also PVA-free. (I’ve searched…but no luck so far!)
One of the turn-offs for me is the questionable marketing being used. When blogger Emma Dendler on simpleenvironmentalist.com, emailed several brands and asked them if their laundry sheets contained plastic (they all did) — a few companies dodged the question, saying theirs had PVA but technically it’s not plastic (false). Some detergent companies also try to conceal where their products are made by listing their U.S. distribution sites instead of saying, “Made in China.” Hiding facts like this isn’t cool, IMO.
For now, I’ve decided instead to look into a refill station for our laundry detergent. That means we’ll bring an empty plastic or glass container to the store and refill it with their brand of laundry detergent.
If the refill idea doesn’t work out, I plan to look into powdered tablets sold in paper or cardboard packaging. Just as I was hitting publish on this post, I saw that Blueland detergent might be a good choice. As a final option, I might even try using soap nuts, an idea that has always intrigued me. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Now it’s your turn. Did you find this information useful? Will you try laundry detergent sheets or stick with what you’re currently using? Please let us know in the comments.
I am not a licensed nutritionist, medical professional or cosmetics expert. The information provided on Honest + Simple is for general informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food + Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease. Before making decisions about your health or other concerns, please consult a qualified professional and do not rely on this website for medical advice.
Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:32:04 +0000
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