Why Do Golfers Wear True Power Negative Ion Bracelets And Do They Work?
You’ve seen the silicone bracelets some of the world’s top golfers wear. Yes they look great cosmetically but have they really any scientific benefit? I’ve dusted off my Ph.D. in science hat and had a look at the True Power Negative Ion bracelets, which are one of the most popular brands on Tour.
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Now I am sceptical to the core about any claims a product makes, but I’m willing to go along with the theory behind the existence of negative ions. Ions are molecules that have gained or lost an electrical charge as air molecules are broken apart. Negative ions are mostly formed by evaporation of water and are odourless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we breath in. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to result in increased levels of the mood chemical serotonin, relieving stress, anxiety and boosting energy. Negative ions are thought to be more abundant in clean open spaces with sun, moving air and water such as the seaside or waterfalls. I’m okay with that.
There is also plenty of published scientific studies into negative ions and their benefits.
So how do you make the leap from negative ions that we breath in and silicone bracelets infused in some way with the same negative ions?
A substance called Tourmaline, which is a silicate containing material, posses the ability to emit negative ions. Tourmaline is historically known as the "Sri Lankan Magnet" because it could attract and then repel hot ashes due to its pyroelectric properties.
Tourmaline, no matter how small it is crushed, has since proven by Japan researchers in the 1980’s to carry a faint but constant electric charge of 0.06mA, giving it the name "the electric stone," in Asia. This electrical charge enables Tourmaline to produce negative ions.
During the manufacturing process of many negative ion bands, silicone is mixed with black powdered tourmaline during the production process.
So there is plenty of science behind True Power bands. As a scientist who deals in measurable results, I cannot say for sure that it works, but hey they do look great and I’m certainly willing to give it a try. You never know, maybe that’s the difference between me and some of the world’s best players!
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The Sciencey Bit!
Now I am sceptical to the core about any claims a product makes, but I’m willing to go along with the theory behind the existence of negative ions. Ions are molecules that have gained or lost an electrical charge as air molecules are broken apart. Negative ions are mostly formed by evaporation of water and are odourless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we breath in. Once they reach our bloodstream, negative ions are believed to result in increased levels of the mood chemical serotonin, relieving stress, anxiety and boosting energy. Negative ions are thought to be more abundant in clean open spaces with sun, moving air and water such as the seaside or waterfalls. I’m okay with that. There is also plenty of published scientific studies into negative ions and their benefits.
"The action of the pounding surf creates negative air ions and we also see it immediately after spring thunderstorms when people report lightened moods," says ion researcher Michael Terman, PhD, of Columbia University in New York.
Generally speaking, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy," says Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research and director of research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C.
So how do you make the leap from negative ions that we breath in and silicone bracelets infused in some way with the same negative ions? A substance called Tourmaline, which is a silicate containing material, posses the ability to emit negative ions. Tourmaline is historically known as the "Sri Lankan Magnet" because it could attract and then repel hot ashes due to its pyroelectric properties.
Tourmaline, no matter how small it is crushed, has since proven by Japan researchers in the 1980’s to carry a faint but constant electric charge of 0.06mA, giving it the name "the electric stone," in Asia. This electrical charge enables Tourmaline to produce negative ions.
During the manufacturing process of many negative ion bands, silicone is mixed with black powdered tourmaline during the production process.
So there is plenty of science behind True Power bands. As a scientist who deals in measurable results, I cannot say for sure that it works, but hey they do look great and I’m certainly willing to give it a try. You never know, maybe that’s the difference between me and some of the world’s best players!
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