Collagen - Not just for your skin!
Collagen supplements have become the hot ticket wellness item and for good reason. Although our bodies naturally produce much of the collagen we need, as we age production slows down, and collagen fibers become damaged causing them to lose their strength and thickness. Damaged collagen, or a lack of collagen, can leave our bodies more susceptible to wrinkles, sagging skin and joint pain. Ingesting collagen helps to achieve and maintain a youthful appearance, allowing us to preserve or recapture the beauty and vitality of our younger years – and who doesn’t want that!
Collagen Benefits
Collagen is the single-most abundant protein in the body, comprising one-third of total proteins.
As a fibrous protein of the extracellular matrix, it’s a key building block that helps make up our skin, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, blood and bones. There are at least 16 types of collagen with Type I and II being the most common in supplementation. Type I collagen is a major constituent of skin and bones and also found in tendons, ligaments, the cornea, intestinal wall and heart valves. Type II is found in the skin, blood vessel and intestinal walls.
Skin: Collagen provides structure to skin, as well as elasticity and hydration. Collagen peptides have benefits that include reducing the dryness and wrinkles in aging skin. What’s more, taking collagen for skin health can actually cause our bodies to produce more collagen on their own, as well as other proteins such as elastin and fibrillin, which also lend structure to the skin.
Joints: Just as collagen can help your skin keep its structure and elasticity, it does the same for the cartilage in our joints. Osteoarthritis and other degenerative joint disorders can strike as the amount of collagen in our bodies decreases.
Bones: These are primarily made of collagen but as we age our bone mass decreases, in part because the collagen in our bodies deteriorates and low bone density and osteoporosis may result. Multiple studies have shown taking collagen supplements improve bone mineral density and can help fight against bone breakdown and reduce the risk of bone disorders.
Muscles: Also made up of collagen, it’s important to keep them working efficiently. Collagen supplements have been seen in studies to help boost muscle mass in elderly patients as they exercised, compared to the patients who exercised but did not take collagen supplementation.
Heart: Collagen provides structure to our arteries, helping them transport blood throughout our bodies. As collagen deteriorates, our arteries lose some of that structure. Adults who took a collagen supplement for six months as part of a study experienced reduced artery stiffness and also experienced a healthy increase in HDL cholesterol.
Gut: Many medical professionals believe that collagen supplements help treat intestinal permeability.
Collagen Supplementation
There are tonnes of collagen options on the market as the category continues to explode. Capsules, tablets, powders, gummies, creamers and protein collagen blends are found everywhere from the supermarket to Farmers, making it quite hard to figure out what one is most suitable.
To address a specific condition, you need to find a collagen that will provide appropriate dosing, which is generally around 6g per day. Powders are a great way to get high doses in one go, while tablets can be more convenient. Chewing a gummy once a day might taste nice but make sure that it has good levels of collagen per service, and that the you are not getting high levels of sugar per dose. You want to make sure that the collagen supplement you purchase is providing the health or benefits that equate to the money spent.
Dosage
Although safe to take up to 40g of collagen per day, determining the correct dosage for a specific goal is the key factor in achieving the best results. For example 40g has been shown appropriate for improving joints and discomfort, 15-20g for muscular support and 10-12g can show benefits in skin elasticity.
Collagen Sources
Marine (fish) collagen is made from fish skin and bones and contains Type I and III collagen. Bovine (cow) collagen is made from cow hides, and also contains Type I and III, and is similar to young human skin. Collagen Type II is usually only sourced from Sternal Chicken Collagen, and this naturally contains Hyaluronic Acid, Chondroitin & Glucosamine, meaning it is usually in Joint specific collagen products.
Measured as daltron (kDa) molecules, collagen supplements are often compared, as a lower molecule size is associated with easier absorption into the bloodstream. Marine collagen sits around 3000 kDa, hydrolyzed collagen typically ranges from 3000 – 6000 kDa. Absorption studies show up to 95% absorption within 12 hours of ingestion of collagen within a 2000 – 10000 kDa range. Research has shown that hydrolysate collagen is effective as is absorbed as di- and tripeptides. These smaller peptides enter circulation and reach target tissues where they help support collagen-producing cells.
Nature’s Sunshine’s Collagen combines 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen peptides with trace minerals and electrolytes. High strength, sustainably-sourced and containing Type I and III fibril forming, hydrolyzed collagen, this formulation is certified Non GMO, Gluten Free, Diary Free, Keto and Paleo friendly.
One serve of Nature’s Sunshine Collagen provides a whopping 17g collagen, is odourless, tasteless and mix easily into any hot or cold beverages or foods.
NeoCell Super Collagen + C provides 1,000mg of Type 1 & III Collagen per tablet that your skin, hair and nails use to create their own collagen and other important proteins, like keratin. Plus, this collagen comes in a hydrolyzed form which may become bioavailable and easily absorbed in the body. In addition, this formula delivers 10mg of vitamin C to support your cellular health and skin against free radicals and environmental toxins.
The recommended dosage of NeoCell Collagen is 6 tablets a day, to give you the 6,000mg of Collagen.
Younger Secrets Age-Defying Collagen contains Marine Collagen Peptides and every serving of Younger Secrets Marine Collagen Powder contains 6000mg of the lowest molecular weight Marine Collagen Peptide on the market today. This Marine Collagen Peptide itself is highly concentrated and contains over 20 amino acids, plus the added benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C that supports collagen synthesis and protects against oxidative stress.