In the rush towards advanced rejuvenation treatments it is easy to forget something as simple as what our body is in contact with around the clock. Clothing and bedding create a particular microenvironment around the body which, depending on the material chosen, can either support recovery or place an unnecessary burden on the system. Advocates of natural fabrics – linen, hemp, cotton and wool – describe them as “the oldest shield nature ever gave us”. Here is where the advantage of natural fibres over synthetics actually lies.
This article expands on our Longevity Alphabet series, in which we define the most important concepts in longevity medicine. Discover what our Speaker says about natural fibres. Watch the short video, and follow Elevate on Instagram for more content like this:
The Skin’s Microclimate and Your Energy During the Day
Most of us judge clothing solely by how it looks or how comfortable it is, but what matters most for our skin is the exchange of heat and moisture. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester or acrylic create a kind of impermeable barrier against the body. Even a slight rise in temperature and humidity under clothing means the thermoregulatory system and the muscles have to work harder, which over the course of a day speeds up the feeling of fatigue and increases the production of free radicals.
Natural fibres behave in the opposite way: they absorb moisture efficiently and let the skin give off heat freely. As a result the body does not spend energy on a constant battle against overheating.
The Biology of Our Surroundings: How Does the Environment Shape the Aging Process?
Read moreCalmer Sleep and Deeper Recovery
The choice of materials matters especially at night, when the body enters its biological renewal mode. During sleep the body physiologically lowers its temperature, which is a condition for entering the phases of deep rest. When we sleep in natural linen bedding, the microclimate around the body stays stable and dry. Laboratory measurements show that natural textiles in the bedroom favour faster biological renewal and better settling than sleeping under synthetic fabrics.
Linen and Hemp: Natural Antibacterial Protection
Although cotton is a breathable material, it consists almost entirely of simple cellulose. Bast fibres – above all linen and hemp – contain a far richer biochemical composition. They naturally contain lignins and phenolic acids, which act antibacterially and inhibit the growth of microorganisms on the surface of the fabric. These materials also form a physical barrier against UV radiation and do not accumulate static charge, which means they do not attract dust or allergens.
Cosmetotextiles: When Clothing Takes Over the Role of Skincare
Linen and hemp create excellent conditions for the skin even in their pure, natural form, but contemporary materials engineering has gone a step further. Scientists have begun designing fabrics that actively cooperate with the biology of the epidermis, combining natural textiles with modern cosmetology. Microcapsules filled with plant extracts and cannabinoids (CBD) are introduced into the structure of the fibres, so that the garment gradually releases beneficial compounds into the skin.
The mechanism is simple: under the influence of body heat and natural movement, the microcarriers slowly release their contents. It works like constant, gentle skincare that helps calm irritation or a feeling of dryness. In this way clothing becomes an additional, active shield that protects the skin from drying out and losing elasticity throughout the day.
The Environmental Cycle of Microplastics
The subject does not end with direct contact between material and skin, however. An equally important, though often invisible, problem is what happens to fabrics during washing and everyday use. It is estimated that around one third of the microplastic present in seas and oceans comes precisely from synthetic textiles.
Polyester fibres present in air and water make their way into the food chain. The latest laboratory analyses confirm the presence of microplastics in human blood, internal organs and even the placenta. While polyester sportswear performs well during intense training thanks to how quickly it wicks sweat away, for the clothes worn through the rest of the day and night it is linen, hemp or wool that are the simplest way to limit daily contact with synthetic particles.
Conclusions
The textiles we surround ourselves with every day directly affect the skin’s microclimate, how quickly we tire and the quality of our night-time sleep. Choosing natural fibres over synthetics is a simple step towards better recovery, less contact with microplastics and support for the body’s natural protective barrier.
Sources
1. De Falco F, Cocca M, Avella M, Thompson RC. Microfiber Release to Water, Via Laundering, and to Air, via Everyday Use: A Comparison between Polyester Clothing with Differing Textile Parameters: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.9b06892
2. Leslie HA, van Velzen MJM, Brandsma SH, et al. Discovery and quantification of plastic particle pollution in human blood: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107199
3. Zimniewska M, et. al. Bioactive Hemp Clothing Modified with Cannabidiol (CBD) Cannabis sativa L. Extract: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/14/20/6031
