Collagen is a hot topic lately, and while there's lots of great info out there about it, there are some things that aren't usually being discussed about it.
So let's look at the info:
Collagen supplement has many benefits. Here are just a few:
HELPS WITH JOINT PAIN
Collagen helps maintain the integrity of your cartilage, the rubber-like tissue that protects your joints.
A study published in January 2017 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism found that athletes with knee pain who took 5 g of collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks had less joint pain during exercise compared with a placebo group. Oral collagen may support cartilage repair and may also have an anti-inflammatory effect.
SUPPORTS SKIN HEALTH
Collagen is a major component of your skin.
It plays a role in strengthening skin, as well as in elasticity and hydration. As you age, your body produces less collagen, leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles.
However, several studies have shown that collagen peptides or supplements containing collagen may help slow the aging of your skin by reducing wrinkles and dryness.
MAY BOOST BONE MASS
As the most abundant protein in the body, collagen is an important component of skeletal muscle.
Studies suggest that collagen supplements help boost muscle mass in people with Sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass that happens with age.
SUPPORTS HAIR & NAILS
Collagen is infamous for improving nail and hair growth and is a main reason many customers choose to purchase collagen products.
GUT HEALTH
Collagen is incredible for gut health! Collagen receives its claim to fame from its ability to heal, seal, and repair the gut lining, which results in improved overall health. Healthy gut, healthy life! This is because the villi that lines the intestinal wall is actually built of collagen.
Another reason collagen is so helpful for the gut is because it contains glutamine. Glutamine has been studied as the most important amino acid for preventing inflammation of the gut wall. It also improves intestinal permeability. Glutamine inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress that is associated with the gaps or openings of tight junctions along the connective tissue of the intestinal lining.
Studies even prove that there is a direct correlation between decreased collagen levels and digestive imbalances. More specifically, there is an association between low levels of serum collagen levels in individuals with crohn’s disease, colitits, Celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. For this reason, supplementing with collagen might be a missing link and key to providing relief for those with digestive diseases.
Why do we need it?
With age, stress or a catabolic state, collagen production declines and is replaced with proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). GAGs are water-saturated gels that act as supporting macromolecules to collagen – but are not as good of a support structure as collagen.
We lose approximately 10% of our skin's collagen every decade starting at 20 years old.
As collagen production declines, it is gradually replaced with this weaker alternative, which can result in a number of issues:
--> Wrinkles, looseness and loss of elasticity in the skin
--> Cellulite
--> Weak, splitting nails
--> Stiff and swollen joints
--> Lower metabolism and energy
--> Weakened vascular system
--> Weak, brittle hair
Besides bone broth, collagen peptides is one of the few ways to replenish a tired or aging body with amino acids.
This is a great way to get energy naturally!
BUT...
There are a couple of things we need to do to first support our body's natural collagen production:
1) Balance/stabilize blood sugar with what we eat and active movement. Blood sugar spikes from everyday foods (which affects around 9 out of 10 Americans) induces a process in the body called glycation. This process harms collagen molecules, making them less flexible. The more glycation, the more sagging skin and wrinkles.
2) Adequate Vitamin C is necessary for the body to produce its own collagen. Vitamin C is depleted with stress, sickness, and sugar consumption.
TYPES OF COLLAGEN
While the word "collagen" is used interchangeably for all of the above-listed areas of health, there are different types of collagen that are specific to some of them and not for others.
Collagen is a structural protein made up of 19 different amino acids. It’s a key component of connective tissues in the human body.
One of the main reasons that collagen is so beneficial is because it’s full of amino acids like arginine, glutamine, glycine and proline that help to support healthy skin, a healthy gut lining and more.
Type 1, in particular, is supportive of skin health, while also helping to maintain healthy hair and nails, along with gut health.
Type 1 is most beneficial for keeping skin healthy. Because collagen production naturally decreases with older age, supplements containing 1 collagen are commonly sought out to help support healthy skin
Studies have found that type 1 collagen is able to fight against the free radicals on the scalp that causes hair loss and hair thinning. By supplying the skin around hair follicles with potent antioxidants, healthy hair production was regenerated and the rate of hair loss was slowed down.
Another study showed that one source of type 1 collagen, marine collagen, contains high antioxidant levels that play a role in enhancing hair health. These antioxidants are able to combat the damaging side effects of free radicals including premature graying.
Not only are type 1’s molecules smaller and therefore more bioavailable, but this type of collagen is especially rich in the amino acid hydroxyproline, which is an important building block of healthy skin. Marine collagen consists of 100% type 1 collagen peptides making it a targeted choice for those specifically seeking collagen’s hair enhancing benefits.
Type 2 has many additional benefits but isn't the one to reach for if you're looking for the skin and hair benefits.
Type 2 collagen is one type of collagen protein found in the human body that helps to build connective tissues, cartilage and bones. It’s made up of chains of amino acids like arginine, glutamine, glycine and proline.
To see the different types and brands I use, go here: