It seems that collagen is the buzz product at the moment. So I thought I would do a bit of research and share with you, what collagen actually is, what are the benefits of it and how to use it.
Collagen is a protein that makes up around 30% of all protein in our body – giving strength to bones, ligaments and tendons. Collagen is extremely important for skin elasticity, helping it to remain firm, supple and aids in skin regeneration.
Dr Breg has made an excellent video on the different types of collagen, and how to determine what type of collagen you may require:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcSgIhrvaos
So why is collagen so important as we get older? As we age, the body produces less collagen, therefore skin gets weaker and can be damaged more easily, joints start to stiffen and ache, and hair becomes dull and lifeless.
On a side note, did you know, that by the age of 25 we start to lose collagen and that men have more collagen then women! Maybe that’s why it seems that some women age faster than men do!
Here are some reasons why collagen is so important every day:
- Skin – as mentioned a decrease in collagen has many effects on the skin, more wrinkles, less firmness and even making cellulite more pronounced.
- Joints – as collagen softens and cushions joints, when there is a decrease in collagen, joints may become stiffer causing pain.
- Gut – leaky gut can result in the toxins leaking into the gut lining which in turn may cause inflammation. Collagen may be helpful to help heal and seal the gut lining preventing the leaking of toxins.
- Boost metabolism – collagen adds to lean muscle mass – remembering that as we age we lose muscle mass
- Nails, hair and teeth – splitting nails and dull hair may also be a result of a decrease in collagen.
There are a few different ways to get collagen, but two examples are bovine (from cows) and marine (from fish). There are also lots of ways to consume it such as from fresh produce, from cooked bone broths or from collagen powders that can be added to smoothies, soups and drinks.
And as a final piece of trivia about collagen, did you know that gelatin is actually collagen when it is broken down!
Click here to go shopping for collagen