1. ANTI-AGING: Hydration / Youthfulness / Skin Health
Our skins ability to stay looking youthful, with resilience, pliability and glow, is a complex process, but we know that being hydrated is an important contributing factor.
A natural compound produced by the body, Hyaluronic Acid* (hydrophylic / water-loving), helps keep us hydrated, however as we age the production of HA in the body declines hence it's popularity in the cosmetic and beauty industry to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. (
1).
Tremella is also hydrophylic, and contains potent anti-oxidants with the ability to attract and retain upto 500 times their own weight in water, not only reducing oxidative stress but also making it an awesome moisturiser. A 2016 study revealed that
"cosmetics added with 0.05% Tremella polysaccharides had a better moisture retention capacity than that added with 0.02% HA" with a
"moisture retention rate of 65.7% after 96hrs" (
2).
Where Hyaluronic Acid can cost around $5-$15 for 1g, Tremella comes in at a much more affordable $0.45 for 1g... and that's all you need, just 1 gram each day – not only is it giving Hyaluronic acid a run for its money, but it's doing things it can’t.
Another compound in the skin which is becoming more well known is collagen, which is a protein in bones, skin and muscles that help them keep their structure (like scaffolding), and you guessed it, as we age this reduces. One of the places this shows is in the reduction of the structure and elasticity of our skin, thus we end up looking older (
3). A 2015 study found that when applied topically, Tremella may
increase collagen by 22-26%, having an anti-aging effect (
4), not to mention the wound healing and anti-allergenic effects described in a review of multiple studies. (
5)
A 2018 study found that
Tremella can help increase the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) one of the bodies most powerful anti-oxidants, helping to provide an anti-aging response by reducing inflammation, oxidation, alleviate stress and have a regenerative effect (
5).
Tremella has also been shown to
remove 80-87% of the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) radicals which are responsible for damaging the bodies cells and DNA, again leading to its help in protection and anti-aging both in the skin and other cells in the body (
5).
Interestingly, in 2015 a study found that when catechin antioxidants (commonly found in matcha) were grafted to the the Polysaccharide anti-oxidant of Tremella, they could have a higher radical scavenging effect than the polysaccharides of Tremella alone (
6).
2. ANTI-OXIDANTS: Gut Health
A 2018 study found that Tremella's polysaccharides (anti-oxidants) have been researched for their effect on Gut Health and suggested to
help against leaky gut, improve immune health and create an environment which lowers the risk of tumours (
9).
3. IMMUNE: HEALTH / SUPPORT
Immune Health Another biological activity that defines ageing is a decline in our immune function, when our immune system declines many things happen, the most obvious being that we become more susceptible to sickness, but another being that we are more susceptible to inflammation and oxidation!! A 2018 study found Tremella to have the capacity to have an
anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative response (
7).
Immune function relies on the production of new blood cells which are generated in the bone marrow though a process called hemopoiesis, if this process or the cells in this process are damaged it can impact proper immune function, oxygenation and removal/transport of waste throughout the body. Tremella was found to have the ability to help prevent the disruption of this process by
enhancing cellular immunity (
8).
4. NOOTROPIC: MEMORY & LEARNING
A 2018 study found that Tremella has been shown to potentially aid the development of the neurons (transmitters) within the nervous system, specifically relating to
'energising the brain' – research showing that the
transmitters in this process increased by 134% (
10).
In 2013, a study found that Tremella could potentially
aid nerve growth and repair in respect of sciatic nerve regeneration, suggesting that it may be effective in the reduction of damage and improvement of functionality. (
11).
In addition, in 2016 the polysaccharides within Tremella were shown to have a
protective effect against neurotoxicity, with the potential to
help against neurodegenerative diseases (
12).
5. CARDIOVASCULAR: CHolesterol & OBESITY
A 2018 study identified a number of interesting interactions that Tremella had on the cardiovascular system, suggesting that the polysaccharides within Tremella can act “as an anti-obesity prebiotic” by disrupting the signalling pathway that instigates the production of fat cells. The high fibre content of Tremella has also been suggested to help lower LDL Cholesterol and help prevent Cardiovascular disease (CDV) (
13).
