Everything to Know About Collagen

There’s always a buzzy new product in the beauty space that claims to solve all our concerns from head to toe. While these products are usually no more than clever marketing tactics, collagen has proven to live up to its hype. In this article, we delve into what collagen is, its crucial functions in the body, and why it may fast track your radiance goals.

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, making up about one-third of your protein composition. It’s a hard, insoluble, and fibrous protein that forms the connective tissues in our bodies, including skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones. More specifically, collagen provides structural support, strength, and that bounce back elasticity we love in our skin and connective tissues.

There are at least 28 types of collagen with types I, II, and III being the biggest players in the human body. Here’s the Cliff’s Notes version of where each 0ne is found in the body: type I supports skin, bones, tendons, and cornea of the eye; type II is found in elastic cartilage and aids joint health; and type III supports the structure of muscles, organs, blood vessels, and uterus.

Why Do You Need Collagen?

Collagen is basically one of the most important proteins in your body considering its numerous functions:

1. Skin Health: Plump, juicy skin is all thanks to collagen’s influence on elasticity and hydration. Unfortunately, our bodies produce less collagen as we age which leads to dry skin and those darn wrinkles. Supplementing with collagen may reduce wrinkles and improve skin suppleness and firmness.
2. Joint and Bone Health: Collagen helps maintain the integrity of cartilage, which protects joints. Due to our q-angles (distance between hips), hormones, BMI, pregnancy, nutrition, and more, fragile bones is something women have to worry about more than men. That’s why it’s imperative to look after bone strength and density with collagen along with weight bearing exercises.
3. Muscle Mass: Collagen contains a concentrated amount of glycine, an amino acid involved in the synthesis of creatine. This can provide the energy needed to power through workouts and help build sexy lean muscles!
4. Heart Health: Collagen provides structure to blood vessels, helping to maintain their flexibility and integrity. A deficiency in collagen can lead to weaker vessels and a higher risk of cardiovascular conditions.

How to Boost Your Collagen Levels

Our bodies naturally produce collagen so the key here is to avoid sabotagers and to supplement the production of it. For example, smoking and excessive sun exposure are no-nos because they can breakdown precious collagen fibers. You can also start adding a splash of lemon to your meals as the vitamin C is essential to the synthesis of this protein. Here are more tips for boosting your collagen levels:

1. Diet: Consuming foods rich in vitamin C, proline, glycine, and copper can support collagen production. Good sources include citrus fruits, berries, garlic, tomatoes, dark leafy greens, nuts, and shellfish.
2. Collagen Supplements: You have your pick of powders, capsules, gummies, and more on the wellness shelves. If buying a powder form, go for a flavorless blend so you have more options for incorporating it into milks, juices, baked goods, etc.
3. Bone Broth: Rich in collagen, bone broth is made by simmering animal bones and connective tissue. It’s a nutritious way to consume collagen naturally alongside other beneficial minerals. Not to mention that bone broth doubles as a quick snack during the day.
4. Avoiding Collagen Breakdown: Keep what you have! Limiting sun exposure, avoiding smoking, and reducing sugar intake can help protect collagen in the body.

Final Words…

Collagen is an essential protein that supports skin health, joint and bone integrity, muscle mass, and cardiovascular health. It’s literally present in every inch of our bodies! While we can’t avoid the natural decline of this vital protein as we age, we can optimize our levels by avoiding harmful lifestyle habits, consuming nutrients that aid in the synthesis of it, and supplementing with a range of collagen peptide products available in the marketplace. Collagen has been on the radar for some time and we vote that it stays in the spotlight because of all it can do for us.

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