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Dive Deep into Flaxseed Oil
Why should you care about flaxseed oil? It can feel like a relatively new, somewhat unfounded ‘hipster’ trend, but in actuality, flaxseed is one of the oldest crops - and with good reason. Its benefits are limitless. Bell Chem, a personal care ingredient supplier, stocks flaxseed oil for food and beverage, health and beauty, and personal care industries to give their customers access to the perks of this healthy oil.
So what exactly is flaxseed oil? Simply put, it’s a concentrated vegetable oil derived from flax. Flax is a flowering plant that’s been used as a fiber in cloth and paper manufacturing since 5000 BC
, and served a vital role in linen production while remaining an easily accessible and all-purpose food source, a title it still holds today.
Flaxseed is the king of omega-3s, boasting the highest amount of any vegetable oil on the market. In fact, one tablespoon contains an impressive total of 7,196 mgs. Omega-3s are credited with fighting depression, anxiety, cancer, obesity, and Alzheimer’s, as well as inflammation and autoimmune diseases. They promote heart health, bone and joint health, and mental health.
The abundance of omega-3s in flaxseed oil (50-60 percent) places it in a category of healthy polyunsaturated fats typically derived from aquatic life. Therefore, flaxseed and flaxseed oil are integral to the health of individuals without access to a marine source of omega-3.
High in protein, foods containing flaxseed oil suppress hunger and coat the digestive tract to permit food to move through easily. Trace vitamins and minerals are another benefits of flaxseed oil, including vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. However, flaxseed oil benefits are hardly limited to ingestion.
Tis the season for Floridians to deal with dry skin, and when it comes to beauty and skin care, flaxseed oil is your new best friend. It hydrates your skin from the inside out. The omega-3s play a huge part in this, repairing skin cells and sealing in moisture to soften your skin’s appearance and even minimize wrinkles and undereye darkness. It doesn’t stop there; flaxseed oil calms irritation, redness, and inflammation, and fights chronic skin conditions such as rosacea, persistent acne, and dermatitis.
Bell Chem is the personal care 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Uses of Isopropyl Alcohol
Most consumers keep isopropyl alcohol in their medicine cabinets for everyday use, such as hand sanitizer, but this all-purpose chemical serves industrial purposes as well. In fact, isopropyl alcohol’s flexibility gives it a significant place of honor in labs, paint manufacturing facilities, the pharmaceutical industry, in printing, and in semiconductor and circuit board manufacturing. Read below to learn more about the advantages of stocking your business with isopropyl alcohol from the Florida chemical supply company, Bell Chem.
Circuit boards and semiconductors rely on isopropyl alcohol to clean and remove glue, solder flux, stains, dust, and other corrosive materials.
The printing industry uses it as a cleaner as well for equipment, in gravure printing, and in flexography and lithography.
Isopropyl alcohol is used in rubber manufacturing as well as a diluent and extractor in chemistry, and strips paint and degreases metal.
Printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing has found isopropyl alcohol is perfect for hot air solder leveling, in etching, and in giving PCB holes conductivity.
Oil, grease, and hydraulic fluid are no match for isopropyl alcohol, which removes these substances with ease.
Isopropyl alcohol is an established disinfectant used in hospitals and medical facilities to pre-cleanse patient sites before drawing blood, injecting medications, or puncturing the skin in any way.
The cosmetic industry uses isopropyl alcohol as a gentle cleanser and adds it to many cosmetics, perfumes, and astringents.
Bell Chem has its Florida chemical supply 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Industrial Uses of Sodium Chloride
“Sodium chloride” sounds like a sophisticated term until you realize it just refers to common table salt. However, only 6 percent of the world’s salt is manufactured for food purposes. So what happens to the other 94 percent? Bell Chem, the Jacksonville chemical supplier, stocks sodium chloride for use in labs, welding, soldering, metal casting, and food preparation, proving that salt can surprise you with its limitless versatility.
In states prone to freezing temperatures and dangerous black ice, sodium chloride is dispersed along road surfaces to melt existing ice and prevent new ice from forming, doing so in temperatures as low as -6°F. Approximately 8 percent of salt manufactured worldwide is used to melt icy roads.
Salt is a natural emulsifier. It readily blends oils into water, which industries frequently use to create synthetic rubber, essential oil dispersants, and more.
Pottery can be fired through a “salt glazing” process, in which salt is added into the kiln when it reaches 2000°F. This then releases sodium, which behaves as a flux to the silica in the pottery, allowing the vapors to melt the surface and produce a strong, ceramic glaze.
When added to drilling fluid, sodium chloride prevents the collapse of deep holes by acting as a wall stabilizer surrounding the drill bit.
“Hard water” contains calcium and magnesium. These chemicals cling to the metal in pipes, clumping in bundles referred to as ‘scale.’ Sodium chloride attracts these hard chemicals and safely removes them from the water system.
Salt acts as a catalyst in textile dyeing, providing more thorough dye coverage and adhesion to cellulose materials.
Water has a high affinity for salt, and since sodium chloride draws excess moisture from animal hides during the tanning process, it’s popular in industrial tanning.
Bell Chem is a Jacksonville 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
The Chemical Structure of Vitamins and Their Purpose
Although vitamins are often associated with good health, very few people understand how a vitamin actually performs. Vitamins are organic compounds that contain benefits not naturally produced by the human body, therefore they must be consumed through food or daily supplements. Read on to learn the benefits of vitamins as described by USP Ingredients Product Supplier, Bell Chem.
Vitamins are generally classified as fat-soluble or water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K are stored in the liver or in fatty tissues until the body requires them, and do not need to be ingested as frequently. The remaining vitamins, B and C, are water-soluble, meaning they are quickly utilized and washed through the body. How are these important substances used in the body?
Vitamin A: Important for better eyesight, protection of the immune system, growth and development, and healthy skin and epithelial tissues lining body cavities.
Vitamin B: Thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid, pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid, and B12 have slightly different functions. However, as a whole, they create red blood cells, assist metabolic reactions during digestion, and ensure the overall health of the nervous system.
Vitamin C: An antioxidant that keeps cells and body tissues (skin, bones and cartilage, and blood vessels) healthy, and also assists in wound healing.
Vitamin D: Regulates calcium and phosphate within the body to keep muscles, bones, and teeth healthy.
Vitamin E: An antioxidant that disrupts free radicals roaming through the body, maintains the health of the skin and eyes, and strengthens the immune system.
Vitamin K: Synthesizes proteins that aid in blood clotting and may play a part in bone health.
Bell Chem is a USP ingredients product 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Fight Off Flu Season With Oils
Essential oils have grown increasingly popular with good reason: they promise benefits from calming skin conditions to soothing sore muscles, from curing nausea to healing common symptoms of the flu. Personal raw care materials supplier, Bell Chem, carries the purest forms of essential oils, and here are only a few of the oils we stock and the flu symptoms they relieve.
Feeling nauseated? Add peppermint oil to a diffuser. It contains menthol, which helps open respiratory passages. Peppermint is often touted as the “world’s oldest medicine,” and doctors today regularly prescribe it in tablet or capsule form to patients asking for alternative treatment. When applied topically, it helps reduce fevers and headaches.
Eucalyptus oil has antiviral properties that help treat a wide range of respiratory issues including a cough, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, and bronchitis. When sickness steals your energy, eucalyptus oil can relieve lethargy, stress, and mental exhaustion.
Rosemary oil is both antibacterial and antifungal. It helps ward off airborne viruses and assuages headaches, indigestion, and poor blood circulation. It also relaxes tissues, thus soothing achy muscles.
Citrus is renowned for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Lemon oil is no exception, and it effectively fights against diseases such as fever, malaria, and typhoid, and can treat stomach disorders as well.
Frankincense oil alleviates upper respiratory infection symptoms. It loosens phlegm, suppresses coughs, and eases breathing with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Bell Chem is a personal raw care materials supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, including dozens of essential oils, stocked in our 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly representatives and accounting staff handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us a message online.
Keeping Your Food Manufacturing Equipment Safe From Germs in Flu Season
You may have survived the beginning of flu season, but suddenly you hear a couple coughs and some sniffles, and see people racing for tissues and frantically unwrapping cough drops; you panic as you realize your employees are showing signs of sickness. Is it possible to barricade your equipment against bacteria and virus infiltration? Sanitization product supplier, Bell Chem, suggests the following precautions to protect your food manufacturing equipment, as well surfaces that come into contact with food in manufacturing settings.
Viruses are nonliving microorganisms that can cling to surfaces or float through the air for an extended period of time as they search out a host cell. Bacteria are quite content in almost any warm, moist surface. While they are biologic and can survive outside a host, the warm, moist human body is a perfect location for them. Knowing how these microbes survive will help you clean and protect your office more strategically. First things first, deep clean all office surfaces using antimicrobial products provided by Bell Chem.
Products labeled “antimicrobial” modify the pH of the solid, liquid, or gas in which they are added. Many bacteria and viruses have a limited pH range, so any abrupt change in pH will eradicate huge percentages of those populations. Below are different types of antimicrobial products.
An antibacterial agent (a bacteriostat) disrupts bacterial growth and/or reproduction. However, because viruses are not alive, an antibacterial agent may not destroy viruses, which is why we recommend trying chlorine, alcohol, or peroxide.
Antiseptic agents are antimicrobial agents specific for the human body. Hand sanitizer is a widely used alcohol antiseptic that disinfects the hands, whereas benzalkonium chloride is an alcohol-free antiseptic alternative that destroys microbes when applied and after it dries. While alcohol often leaves hands feeling dry and chapped, benzalkonium chloride will not.
There’s no better time of year to remember to rinse, clean, rinse, and sanitize. Start by cleaning all dry things, such as emptying scrap bins, wiping down and covering electronic equipment, and sweeping. For the first rinse, wear protective gloves and hot water, then scrub with manual labor, and follow up with the second rinse. Research shows warm, wet, environments encourage bacterial growth, so make sure to dry and sanitize properly. By being proactive and using the appropriate chemicals, you can prevent flu and cold germs from infecting your food manufacturing equipment and contact surfaces.
Bell Chem is a sanitization product 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Kitchen Essentials: Sugar, Salt, and Pepper
Bell Chem understands that our consumers require common kitchen condiments such as sugar, salt, and pepper. As a food and reagent product supplier, we stock the purest forms of these essentials and would like to share information on the chemical background of each, along with a few interesting facts.
What we commonly refer to as “sugar” is more appropriately named sucrose (CH2OH)2, a disaccharide formed from two simple sugars, glucose and fructose. We interpret its taste as sweet because of its chemical structure: the –OH groups engage with taste receptors on the tongue, and the greater the number of activated receptors, the sweeter the taste. There are varying other types of sugar including glucose, fructose, and lactose, but table sugar (sucrose) is widely used because of its availability in sugarcane as well as many fruits and vegetables. Sugar is considered an energy-rich carbohydrate, although a much smaller portion of one, considering carbohydrates are typically large molecules.
Have you ever said, “Please pass the sodium chloride?” Neither have we, but that’s because it’s commonly known as just salt, which is a combination of two volatile, toxic ions. These chemicals bond tightly together and join with millions of other NaCl molecules to form a polished, crystalline cube of salt. Table salt is generally 97 percent to 99 percent pure with a few additives, like iodine, and it breaks down into strong negative and positive ions that interact with the body’s chemicals to change the cell's’ chemical makeup. The need for salt is so great that our tongues have specific receptors designed to identify it.
Pepper is the number one selling spice in America and consists of several chemical compounds including, but not limited to, Acetophenone, Nerol, Citral, and Piperonyl. Black pepper, the most commonly used form, grows on a perennial flowering vine and comes from the dried fruit peppercorn. Its distinctive taste is a result of the chemical piperine found in the white center of the peppercorn. Black pepper has a high caffeine content, as well as vitamins A and C. It’s been used in cooking for over 2,000 years and has been incredibly popular throughout history. During the Middle Ages, peppercorns were worth more than silver in weight, Romans used to demand pepper for ransom when besieging a city, and pepper was even placed in tombs to accompany pharaohs over 2,500 B.C.
Bell Chem is a food and reagent product 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Practical Uses for Acetone Beyond Nail Polish
Take a look at a basic bottle of nail polish remover; odds are, it contains acetone. And while acetone is a great help for removing sparkles and remnants of colors from your nails, did you know it has multiple industrial uses? Although it is commonly known as a chemical that is used to remove fingernail polish, it is so much more! Acetone is just one technical grade product that Bell Chem has available for purchase and it can be incorporated into your cosmetic, petroleum, medical, or cleaning industries in the following ways.
Transporting and pressurizing volatile chemicals is dangerous. However, they can be safely handled when acetone is added as a solvent.
Acetone acts as a magic dissolvent for many kinds of extra strength of glue.
Several kitchen cleaning products like oven and stove cleaners include acetone to assists in dissolving organic matter.
Acetone revitalizes stained porcelain and fine china, giving new life to heirloom surfaces. When it comes to raw textiles, acetone is commonly diluted to remove gums, oils, and other undesirable substances from the fibers.
When it comes to medications, acetone is a great solvent, helping to blend fillers and active ingredients that compromise pharmaceuticals in pill and liquid form. Active pharmaceutical ingredients can quite literally make one pill more effective than another, and that is where acetone helps.
With so many varied uses, acetone should definitely be on the top of your chemical inventory list. If you would like to know more about its usability or how quickly we can turn around an order for you, contact our technical grade product suppliers. Our blog showcases more of our impressive products and offers detailed, in-depth information on how they are best used.
Bell Chem is a water treatment 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 handle all of your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Chemical Importance in Water Monitoring, Assessment, and Treatment
The demand for clean, pure drinking water is at an all-time high. To meet this critical need, water supplies are treated, monitored, and assessed before they reach the consumer. Bell Chem has to understand every step in the process of purifying water, which relies heavily on chemical intervention.
Water treatment chemicals are used in a variety of ways: they keep pipes and machinery clean, remove debris and buildup, react and neutralize unwanted chemicals, and keep organic growth from proliferating. Below are some chemical categories that play a part in water treatment, and an explanation as to how each is used.
Biocides, such as chlorine and copper salts, are disinfectants that remove microbial organisms from the water.
Antifoaming agents of silica and oil remove unwanted foam from processing areas where foam inhibits equipment from working at full capacity.
Coagulants and flocculants like aluminum clump unwanted foreign material together. The excess weight of the clumped materials causes them to filter to the base of the equipment.
Corrosion inhibitors include zinc and phosphates, which attach themselves as a thin film along metal surfaces.
Neutralizing agents such as sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate maintain pH levels. To prevent pipe corrosion, pH conditioners are added.
Scale inhibitors, including phosphoric acid, are negatively charged polymers that disrupt the formation of scale.
Monitoring and assessing water for nitrates, fluoride, dissolved oxygen, chloride, and microbial life relies heavily on chemical assistance to ensure it is within reasonable and expected limits. Bell Chem has a vast supply of water treatment chemicals and products for any facility size. Check out our blog for industry news, product reviews and uses.
Bell Chem is a water treatment 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 handle all of your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.
Healthy Ways to Incorporate Oils in Your Cooking Habits
You decide to incorporate healthier oils into your restaurant cooking process, but you have relied on saturated fat for so long that you don’t even know where to begin?? Bell Chem has a variety of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats for your cooking needs and has the information you need to distinguish the best practices for these oils.
First, let’s discuss the differences between polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fat is liquid at room temperature but becomes solid when cooled. A monounsaturated fat remains liquid when used in most kitchens. Monounsaturated fats are beneficial to your health because they help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol that can build up along the walls of blood vessels causing clogged or blocked arteries. Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential for brain function and cell growth.
Oils that contain either of these fats can add a dash of flavor to your cooking. Many of your kitchen appliances work at a variety of temperatures, and many unsaturated oils work best in specific temperature ranges. Our experts have listed which oils work under what conditions as well as common ways to incorporate them into your menu to receive their maximum benefit.
Low-Temperature Oils
Good for creating a splendid dip, dressing, or marinade.
Canola
Corn
Flaxseed
Grapeseed
Hemp
Olive
Peanut
Safflower
Sesame
Soybean
Sunflower
Walnut
High-Temperature Oils
Great for sautéing, deep frying, and pan frying.
Canola
Corn
Peanut
Safflower
Soybean
Sunflower
Any vegetable oil
Higher temperature oils are not readily absorbed into fried foods. Sautéing is a healthy alternative to frying since very little oil is used to cook food quickly. Begin with a tablespoon and add more as necessary. You will find that cooking with oil instead of butter is better for your budget as well as your patron’s health, but can still offer a flavor-rich outcome. The proper conversion calls for substituting ¾ cup of vegetable or nut oil for each cup of butter or shortening in the recipe you are using.
With a wide range of oils, Bell Chem can fulfill your restaurant supply needs. Find more information about our products by reading our blog.
Bell Chem is a food and reagent product 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 handle all of your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.