Are you taking a Collagen supplement and not ‘seeing’ any results? Do you have joint pains Are you not sleeping well? Do you have gut problems? Then keep on reading.
Collagen is the most abundant of your body’s proteins, approx. 30% of the total protein in your body is Collagen. It is a long, fibrous structural protein, where bundles of collagen called collagen fibres are a major component of the extracellular (outside) matrix giving cells structure and support from the outside.
Collagen has great tensile strength, and is the main component of fascia, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone and skin. Along with elastin and soft keratin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, the degradation of which leads to the wrinkles of aging.
The loss of collagen that occurs with age is the primary reason for wrinkles, dry sagging skin and lack of hair lustre. Collagen allows skin cells to continuously repair and renew themselves. When collagen levels are high, the skin is soft, smooth and firm. Get plenty of collagen and/or gelatine in the diet to maintain your youthful appearance.
Topical collagen cannot cross into deeper skin layers, making collagen-containing skin creams a waste of money. You need to tackle the problem from the inside-out by eating plenty of collagen and/or gelatine in your diet.
By 60 years you will lose 50% of your collagen and 4 times less by 80 years – hence the radical changes in skin when you go 60+.
Vegetarians or vegans may have more pronounced signs of skin aging, as they lack collagen-rich foods in their diet and probably shun collagen supplements because they’re made from ‘animal sources’.
BTW – Research suggests the body will selectively take collagen into the areas that are stressed and need it most.
When cells are stressed, they form extra collagen. When collagen is broken down, it releases factors that promote wound healing and suppress tumour invasiveness. The amino acid Glycine is one of these factors, which promotes wound healing. Also promotes tumour inhibition by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessel (angiogenesis).
One of Collagen’s primary purposes is to provide structural scaffolding to allow tissues to stretch and flex while maintaining tissue integrity and strength.
BUT Collagen has many other jobs which are ‘going on in the background’, such as:
- strengthens blood vessels
- tissue development.
- present in the cornea and lens of the eye
- etc.
Collagen is found in:
- Skin
- Connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, cartilage and fascia
- Bones
- Every organ
- Blood vessel walls
- Musculoskeletal system
- Hair
- Nails
- Etc.
Collagen is crucial for:
- Bone health
- Recovery from soft tissue injuries – without adequate collagen you are more prone to injuries, and they can take a long time to heal
- Improves sleep
- Reduces joint pain
- Improve gut health
- Glucose tolerance
- Blood pressure
- Reduce cardiovascular damage
- Lower risk of osteoporosis
- Lower inflammation and oxidative damage, probably due to the amino acid Glycine, which is 28% of collagen
- Etc.
Collagen Sources:
- The ideal source of collagen/gelatine and the most cost effective is homemade broth made from boiled fish heads, organic chicken feet and or ox bones. (Gelatine is the thickened layer that forms on top)
- Foods like fish, bone broth and organic, pastured chicken and eggs are all natural sources of collagen.
Collagen Supplements:
- Typically come in one of two forms:
– Unhydrolyzed – natural, undenatured
– Hydrolysed – denatured - Hydrolyzation refers to a processing technique that breaks the molecules down into smaller fragments
- In their natural, unhydrolyzed state, collagen molecules are poorly absorbed due to their large size.
- For this reason, most collagen products are hydrolysed
- Hydrolysing collagen
– enhances intestinal absorption
– promotes the synthesis of new collagen – which requires Vit C.
Supplements should be:
– Preferably organic
– Preferably bone broth (rather than hide) and or marine
– Type 1, 2 or 3 are commonly used
– Maintenance dose – 20 grams per day
– Soft tissue injury dose – 40 grams a day
- Prevent the breakdown of collagen
– Eat antioxidant-rich foods
– Avoid cigarette smoke, pollution, excessive alcohol consumption and sugary foods. - Vitamin C-rich foods/supplements are necessary for collagen production.
