Written by Nicole Gleichmann , Writer
These days, new “must-have” products seem to pop up daily. And in the sleep space, this is especially true. Different proprietary materials abound in mattresses and mattress covers—some for cooling, some for comfort. But not too many offer the benefits of infrared energy.
That is where Celliant fiber differs from other new materials on the market. The company that manufactures Celliant claims it can help you get more restful, restorative sleep, among other benefits.
Good sleep is one of the most important things for your overall health and well-being, so of course you want to do what you can to maximize it. But you don’t want to invest in a new mattress or bedding unless it actually does what it claims it will do. So, what exactly is Celliant? And what can it do for your sleep? Read on to learn more.
What Is Celliant Fiber?
If you wear performance-enhancing athletic apparel, you may have heard of Celliant. The main objective of this proprietary synthetic fiber is to absorb body heat, convert it into usable infrared energy, and reflect it back at you.
According to Celliant.com, this proprietary synthetic fiber contains 13 thermo-reactive minerals, including silicone dioxide, titanium dioxide, and aluminum dioxide, mixed with 88 trace elements. This blend of minerals is ground and milled into a fine powder, which Celliant’s manufacturer then weaves into carrier fabric.
While you can purchase Celliant fiber in its pure form, it is much more common to see it as a smaller part of a carrier fabric, such as wool, nylon, or polyester. Whether it is part of the fibers in the material or applied as a powder coating, Celliant does not wear off or break away from the fabric over time.
How Does Celliant Work?
In short, Celliant fiber works by absorbing heat and reflecting that energy back in a different form. Of course, this is much easier said than done.
We humans lose a whole lot of energy as heat. In fact, most of the chemical reactions that constantly occur in our bodies release heat as a byproduct. You probably don’t usually notice how much heat your own body emits, but if you’ve ever shared a bed with a particularly warm partner, you know it can get pretty toasty.
So the idea behind Celliant fiber is to harness that heat energy rather than letting it escape into the air. The makers of Celliant accomplish this by using a blend of minerals that react with your body’s heat and produce infrared energy. Your body can then reabsorb this energy in a new, usable form.
What Is Infrared Energy?
Infrared energy is energy with a wavelength longer than that of light. This means that you can’t actually see infrared energy. Celliant uses far infrared energy, in particular, which is even further from the wavelength spectrum of light.
Far-infrared light is well-known to researchers for its potential therapeutic properties, which I’ll outline below. You have likely heard of various infrared treatments, including infrared saunas. While its source differs, the principles remain the same when Celliant-infused fabric emits infrared energy.
Benefits of Celliant
Durability
One of the great things about Celliant fiber is its durability. It will not break down or wash out of any of its fabric carriers, whether woven into a carrier fabric or applied as a coating. This means you don’t need to worry about its effects diminishing over time.
Body Temperature Regulation
If you sleep hot, you might wonder whether you’d be better off looking for a cooling mattress rather than one that reflects your heat energy back at you. And that is a fair concern! Fortunately, not only does Celliant prevent you from sleeping hot, it actually has cooling properties.
Firstly, it is naturally moisture-wicking, which is essential for hot and sweaty sleepers. Secondly, one of the effects of infrared therapy is thermoregulation. This means Celliant fiber helps your body maintain its desired temperature. And considering your body runs cooler during sleep than when awake, that means it helps keep your body stay at its ideal sleeping temperature, reducing your risk of waking up due to overheating
Increased Muscle Recovery and Blood Flow
A significant benefit of infrared therapy is vasodilation, or the dilation of blood vessels. Benefits of vasodilation include increased blood flow and oxygenation, including oxygenation of muscle tissue. While most of the research demonstrating these effects relates to direct infrared therapies (like infrared saunas), there is research to support similar effects from fabrics like Celliant that emit infrared waves.
Celliant’s peer-reviewed research shows that sleep quality and duration increase with the use of Celliant, so muscle recovery may benefit in two ways. Firstly, muscles benefit directly from increased oxygenation, and secondly, muscle recovery may improve because of the links between sleep and muscle recovery.
How Is Celliant Used in Mattresses?
If Celliant has the power to improve our sleep, it naturally follows that mattress manufacturers will want to incorporate Celliant into their products. But how exactly is Celliant used in mattresses?
Well, because Celliant works best when in close or direct contact with skin, you will mostly see it used in the mattress cover or the mattress’s top comfort layer. Because Celliant fiber rarely exists on its own in manufactured products, you will most likely see it woven into another fabric, such as cotton, wool, or polyester. Most mattress covers containing Celliant are around 20% Celliant fiber and 80% other fabric fibers.
There are many proposed benefits of using Celliant in mattresses and bedding, including improved sleep quality and better physical recovery during sleep (due to increased blood oxygenation). Peer-reviewed research confirms these effects, though it is important to note that all such research listed on Celliant’s website appears to be in some manner funded by the company or its affiliates. This does not mean the investigation is invalid, but it presents a conflict of interest.
Which Mattresses Use Celliant?
The two main mattress manufacturers currently using Celliant are Bear and Amerisleep. Check out our reviews of the Bear Original Mattress and Amerisleep Mattress.
FAQs
Is Celliant toxic?
Celliant is a non-invasive material, and the infrared waves it produces are entirely natural. In addition, Celliant’s manufacturers note that, while any material has the potential to cause an allergic reaction, there have been no reports of allergic reactions since Celliant began distribution in 2003.
Do Celliant sheets work?
Sheets are a fantastic way to incorporate Celliant fiber into your sleep setup. This is because the closer Celliant is to your skin, the better. So Celliant sheets easily reflect your heat energy back to you in infrared waves, as they only have to pass through your pajamas (or for those who sleep in the buff, nothing at all!).
Can you use a mattress pad on Celliant mattresses?
The more layers you put between your body and the Celliant fabric, the less benefit you may get from it. So, while you certainly can use a mattress pad, and part of the infrared energy will reach you, some will be absorbed by the mattress pad and, therefore, wasted.
Is Celliant safe for pregnancy?
There is no reason to believe Celliant would be unsafe for pregnant people, and some maternity wear incorporates Celliant fiber. That said, it is worth noting that none of the peer-reviewed studies on Celliant fiber used pregnant women as participants, so scientific conclusions cannot be drawn.