Why we should all be using collagen in our lives
From the age of 25 we produce 20% less collagen in the skin each year. After the age of 50 that production drops to 50% less each year.
The advantages of taking Collagen supplements for skin are well known and well documented, but there are so many other advantages that aren't mentioned.
In this post we are going to look at some of the advantages (including for skin) that taking Collagen gives the body.
Better skin
Did you know that collagen is a major component of your skin?
The consumption of collagen supplements can play a role in strengthening your skin, adding elasticity and hydration. As you age, your body produces less collagen, leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles.
However, many studies have shown that collagen peptides and supplements may help slow the aging of your skin by reducing wrinkles and dryness, significantly improving skin elasticity, and thus encouraging that youthful, dewy glow you once took for granted.
Supports digestion and gut health
High levels of stress, a poor diet and unidentified food sensitivities can all damage the tissues lining your intestines, leading to "leaky gut."
A leaky gut is often formed by particles, such as undigested food, wreaking havoc on your body, by entering your bloodstream they can encourage autoimmune diseases and inflammation.
Like with skin and muscle tissue, collagen is a key component of the gut, important in ensuring the gut's connective tissue and lining remain healthy.
The core reason for it’s usefulness towards gut health is due to the fact it is an excellent nutrient source for rebuilding the rapidly dividing cells that line the interior of the gut.
Muscle growth and performance
Collagen peptides contain two of the three amino acids needed to form a natural, energy-boosting creatine source in the body.
The amino acids duo of glycine and arginine in collagen may aid the production of creatine, helping to increase physical performance through repeated bouts of exercise. Arginine also helps promote increased muscle growth and maintain muscle mass!
In one study of men with sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), those taking a hydrolysed collagen supplementation combined with resistance training improved their muscle strength and lost more fat than that of a placebo group.
"The men who supplemented their workouts saw more fat-free mass, muscle strength, and fat loss. Given their age, this is quite remarkable! Consistently supplementing with collagen can make your workouts stronger at any age," One gut expert said of the study.
Hydrolysed collagen is also easier to digest than other popular proteins, like whey, making it a smart addition to your pre-workout smoothie that's less likely to cause gastrointestinal upset.
Joint & Bone Strength
The high percentage of our bone mass, that’s made up of collagen, has significant control of how strong or weak our joints will be going about everyday life – especially those with an active lifestyle.
Not providing your body with the necessary essential amino acids it needs to build up the proteins required for support, will result in the breakdown of proteins in the body. Not what you need when you’re trying to gain strength.
You also don’t need to be an athlete to experience joint pain. Some people are so sensitive that a sharp change in weather is enough to stiffen up their joints.
Collagen is shown to provide natural relief. In a 24-week study, researchers gave collagen supplements to athletes suffering with joint pain to see how it would affect both their cartilage and pain levels, the results showed that collagen reduced pain while standing, lifting heavy objects, and even at rest.
Promotes Heart Health
Researchers have theorised that taking collagen supplements may help reduce the risk of heart-related conditions.
Collagen provides structure to your arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Without enough collagen, arteries may become weak and fragile leading to the narrowing of the arteries.
Deeper sleep
The most abundant amino acid in bovine collagen, glycine, has promising sleep perks. One review of research revealed that ingestion of glycine before bed bettered self-perceived sleep quality among people prone to poor sleep.
It also suggested that glycine may help manage core body temperature, which is associated with better sleep. Erratic spikes and dips in blood sugar can interfere with quality sleep, too, while collagen (which often contains around 20 grams of protein per serving) can help even those out.
Supports hair growth
Your body uses several amino acids to build keratin — some of which can be found in collagen. When you consume collagen, your body breaks them down into amino acids that are then used to build new proteins and compound. Providing your body with collagen may help maintain a healthy dermis and prevent hair thinning.
It is also shown that Collagen can act as an antioxidant and fight damage caused by free radicals. Research shows that free radicals may also damage hair follicles. Since your body’s defence against free radicals decreases with ageing, older adults are especially susceptible to hair damage.
Due to its antioxidant properties, collagen may be able to fight cell damage and slow greying. Age-related hair greying is largely influenced by genetics, but free radical damage to the cells that produce hair colour also play a role.
Why we have added Vitamin C to our powder?
Here's what we know about collagen production: Naturally, your body produces less and less of its own with age and due to oxidative stress, UV damage, diet, and other lifestyle factors.
We also know that your body will produce less collagen during times of stress or anxiety. Finally, and thankfully, we know that there are a few things you can do to support your body's natural production.
The most effective way to promote your body's natural collagen production is through collagen supplementation. Hydrolysed collagen peptides, like those found in collagen powders, are able to be absorbed by the body.
Once absorbed they work to support your skin's fibroblasts, or the mechanism in the cell that actually makes collagen and elastin.*
Studies show that collagen supplements can promote healthy skin by smoothing fine lines, enhancing firm texture, and even maintaining moisture.*
Here's the vitamin C catch: Your body cannot effectively produce collagen without the antioxidant. Vitamin C is actually able to promote fibroblast production, tend to damaged collagen DNA, and regulate collagen synthesis, or the pathway in which collagen is made.*
But it goes a step further, too, as vitamin C can also take on a protective role. Vitamin C stabilises the collagen you already have thanks to its antioxidant properties, which can help neutralize free radical damage, a main source of collagen degradation and DNA damage.
But your body cannot make vitamin C on its own; it must be ingested. To make this easier for you, our [Collagen-powder] already combines the ingredients into one hardworking powder, so please enjoy.
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