One of the newest health buzzwords is collagen. It’s difficult to walk out of a grocery store or peruse a drugstore without coming across containers of collagen powder, or creams that promise to increase collagen to keep you looking young for years to come. However, how crucial is collagen to your health?

Defining Collagen

Because the word “collagen” is mentioned whenever someone discusses aging skin, you presumably consider the collagen in your skin. It’s true that this protein contributes to the appearance of young in your skin, but there’s more to it than that. One of the key components of our skin is collagen, a protein. According to Deanne Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut, it can also be found in our bones, tendons, and ligaments.

Here’s a cool fact: Collagen accounts for 75% of the skin’s structural support. The director of aesthetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Joshua Zeichner, MD, likens collagen to the frame of your mattress because it offers your skin structure and strength. In keeping with the mattress metaphor, he adds the filling is hyaluronic acid and the springs are elastic fibers.

Contributors In Collagen Depletion

Unfortunately, collagen begins to deteriorate with time, and the rate of deterioration might vary depending on your genetic makeup. According to Dr. Robinson, we produce collagen of lower quality and lose collagen every year. According to Dr. Zeichner, free radicals are the enemy of our skin because they destroy collagen. Smoking, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and a diet high in sugar, for example, all contribute to the creation of free radicals, which hasten the breakdown of collagen. Let’s briefly discuss smoking. Avoiding smoking altogether, or quitting if you already do it, is one of the finest things you can do for your skin. According to research, smoking causes collagen fibrils to weaken and lose quality as a result of free radicals attacking them. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a smoker’s skin often appears damaged and aged, especially around the lips, according to Cyndi Yag-Howard, MD, CEO and president of the Yag-Howard Dermatology Center in Naples, Florida.

What is Collagen Anyway? How does collagen work?

Let’s take a look at this essential protein’s structure. The three amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline make up collagen. Dr. Yag-Howard explains that the collagen molecule, which has the structure of a triple helix (triple spiral), joins with other collagen molecules in the skin to create a mesh-like network in the dermis, which is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis and above the subcutaneous fat.

Benefits of Collagen In Your Body

In the body, protein plays a significant role. “Collagen provides structure, hardness, rigidity, and texture to bodily tissues. It resembles a layer of leather under the skin. According to Yag-Howard, it gives skin strength and resilience when it mixes with elastic fibers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, as collagen levels in the body and the skin start to decline, you may notice wrinkles, stiffer tendons and ligaments, weaker muscles, joint discomfort, and even GI issues. Collagen is obviously essential for the wellbeing of each system in your body. Taking up to 10 grams (g) of collagen peptides daily can aid the skin’s collagen density, suppleness, and moisture. Additionally, a review published in the journal Antioxidants in February 2020 highlights that taking hydrolyzed collagen may be able to guard against UV-induced melasma, a skin condition characterized by facial discolouration spots. This may be because of the antioxidant benefits of the supplement. Regarding joint pain, 139 young adult athletes with knee discomfort participated in a study that was published in January 2017 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. They were given 5 g of collagen peptides daily for a period of 12 weeks. The collagen-supplemented group had less joint pain during exercise compared to a placebo group, possibly because the proteins encouraged cartilage’s ability to repair minor damages and decreased the inflammation that causes pain. A study published in Nutrients in January 2018 discovered that post-menopausal women who had age-related reductions in bone mineral density who took 5 g of specific collagen peptides for a year benefited from increased bone formation in the spine and hip. This finding suggests that collagen supplementation may have benefits for your bones in addition to your skeleton as a whole. The boost to your cardiovascular health might be one of the more unexpected ones. An improvement in cholesterol and arterial stiffness was seen in participants who took a collagen tripeptide for six months, according to a small study on healthy adults that was published in the Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis in May 2017. This finding raises the possibility that collagen may help lower the risk of coronary artery disease.

Scientifically Proven Ways to Boost Your Collagen

A not-so-great fact is as follows: After age 30, we start to lose collagen, and our capacity to produce collagen of a high caliber may also start to decline, according to Robinson. To assist replenish collagen storage, she advises utilizing topicals that boost collagen production. One is retinoids or retinols, which are frequently used in creams and serums to combat aging. The synthesis of collagen in the skin is stimulated by retinoic acid and retinol, according to a March 2016 study that was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. Zeichner continues by saying that applying products with alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid and peptides, can cause collagen to develop. The best thing for you to do is to keep up a healthy diet. Your body will get the amino acids it needs to make collagen from protein-rich diets. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it also benefits from other minerals like vitamin C, zinc, and copper. Eat a diversified diet rich in whole foods such fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean meats, seafood, and nuts to increase collagen formation. Yes, that does seem like the advice you’ve heard for a long time about eating healthy.

Don’t interfere with your body’s normal collagen production, either. That entails cutting back on alcohol use and giving up smoking. According to an August 2019 analysis in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, these two practices are linked to collagen loss, which causes wrinkles to appear on the forehead, between the brows, in the crow’s feet, and deepens “smile” lines. Limit your intake of sugar as well, as this contributes to the production of AGEs, which destroy collagen.

The Different Types of Collagen

One source claims that there are 28 different varieties of collagen. However, sources point out that kinds 1, 2, and 3 collagens are the most prevalent in the body, and these are the collagens that are frequently highlighted in product advertising. We’ll focus on the three most well-known collagen forms and where they may be found in the body because there are a total of 28 different types of collagen.

The majority of the collagen in the skin is type 1. Additionally discovered in teeth, bones, tendons, ligaments, and several connective tissues.

Type 2 is present in the eyes and makes up cartilage.

Type 3 Along with muscles and blood vessels, this kind of collagen also makes up skin. Because of its function in development and early newborn life, this form of collagen is occasionally referred to as “baby collagen,” according to prior study.

Now that you know more about collagen, you should know about two products that will aid you in your own collagen. These products will supplement your collagen and allow you to look young again!

About Full Body Liquid Collagen Protein Supplement (Watermelon and Chill)

It delivers 16,000 mg (16 g) of 99.5% absorbent medical-grade collagen protein. It is more effective and healthy for our bodies than all the available powders and pills, which have an uncertain absorption, due to the smaller particle size.

Their liquid collagen protein is dairy, soy, gluten, and sugar free. It is both Keto- and Paleo-friendly! Made in the USA and is kosher.

Take 1-2 1 oz servings per day to reveal your inner radiance! Because of its fantastic flavor, you can drink it straight or mix it with a few ounces of water, club soda, juice, sparkling water, or any other creative mixture! (This will lessen the viscosity and sweetness)

It contains 2.5g of arginine per serving, along with all 20 BCAAs. contains type I and III collagen, which has been demonstrated to support the health of the bones, joints, and good hair, skin, and nails. They contribute to improved skin hydration, smoothness, and elasticity. encourages our body’ own natural collagen production. It encourages the postponement of aging’s symptoms.

This is plenty for one month! more affordable than the top powders!

About Full Body Impact Collagen Protein Supplement (Peach Mango Vibes)

To provide you with the greatest protein and amino acid variety with maximum absorption, they produced their hydrolyzed liquid collagen. Stronger nails, lustrous hair, and younger-looking skin can all be supported by collagen. To continue living your best life, they made it simple to obtain your type I, type III, and amino acids. Their liquid collagen protein is dairy, soy, gluten, and sugar free. It is both Keto- and Paleo-friendly! USA-made products!

Before our bodies can absorb collagen, it must be disintegrated into minute particles. The easier the protein is to digest and put to use, the fewer daltons it has! More than 300,000 daltons are present in collagen powders. Liquid collagen with full body impact only has 3,000 daltons. Their liquid collagen is more absorbable and consequently more effective and advantageous for our bodies, with a 99.5% absorption rate in just 15 minutes!As we age, our bodies manufacture less collagen, despite the fact that these proteins are crucial to our flexibility and external health. They have delicious liquid collagen that is simple to consume so you can go about your day.

Types I and III collagen, according to research, maintain healthy joints, hair, skin, and nails. To help your body absorb the collagen more rapidly and start living your best life, they use hydrolyzed kosher porcine collagen. To reveal your inner glow, just consume 1-2 1oz servings daily! Because of its fantastic flavor, you can drink it straight or mix it with a few ounces of water, club soda, juice, sparkling water, or any other creative mixture! (This will lessen the viscosity and sweetness).

Conclusion

Your skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage all include the structural protein known as collagen. It helps in tissue repair, cellular communication, migration, and your body’s immune response in addition to giving these areas strength and support. In order for your body to be healthy and function properly, collagen is crucial. Major collagen benefits for skin include vital interior support and a host of other advantages.

The essential proteins collagen and elastin are what give your skin its suppleness and “bounce.” Throughout your lifetime, collagen is generated, but it naturally declines as you become older. Elastin levels reach their highest during pregnancy and gradually decline as we age.