The truth behind the anti-aging supplement everyone is talking about
Is there really any difference between the countless collagen products on the market? That depends on who you ask. With so much conflicting information from supplement companies, social media and high profile personalities, it’s getting harder and harder to know what to believe. Read on to learn the surprising, science-backed truth that even most industry experts don’t know.
COLLAGEN: THE BASICS-why we are losing it
Collagen is a protein that provides structure to cells and can be found in nearly every part of the human body, especially in healthy skin, joints and connective tissue. Your body starts to decrease collagen production in your 20s. In fact, you lose about 1% of your collagen every year, so by age 50 you have nearly 30% less collagen than you did at age 20, and almost 50% less collagen by the time you’re 70.
Collagen loss is the number one internal factor that contributes to noticeable signs of aging. Once it begins to break down, the intracellular matrix loses its rigidity and structural support, leading to the appearance of sagging skin and wrinkles, joint discomfort, tendon and ligament stress, and affects eyes, nails, hair, gums, and even digestive health.
COLLAGEN INGREDIENTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
Collagen as a nutritional ingredient can be classified into one of several groups depending on its type, source and manufacturing processes. The most popular varieties of collagen include:
TYPE I: Hydrolyzed — Derived from porcine skin, bovine hide, eggshell membrane or fish, this collagen type is commonly sold as bone broth or collagen powder.
TYPE II: Undenatured, unhydrolyzed collagen — Mostly derived from chickens.
TYPE III: Hydrolyzed — Often derived from bovine sources.
Vegan collagen: A pending scientific development in attempts to meet consumer demand, using genetically modified yeast and bacteria.
NOTE: Vegan collagen is not yet commercially available at the time of this publication. Products that are misleadingly labeled as vegan collagen typically contain no collagen at all, but instead are formulated with common collagen-boosting ingredients such as vitamin C to capitalize on consumer demand.
If you’ve ever heard that ingestible collagen doesn’t provide any benefits, that’s partly true. In their natural state, collagen molecules are too large to be effectively absorbed by the body and are simply digested as proteins in the digestive system.
Hydrolysis is a process that breaks down these large collagen molecules for improved efficacy, so most supplements use hydrolyzed collagen. However, the method of hydrolyzation and the type and source of collagen used can yield widely varying results in the quality and effectiveness of the end product. What’s more, there’s also a very different kind of collagen that goes beyond the usual categories named above. It is very important that your collagen has Hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate in it, naturally occurring.
The one I recommend comes from chicken sternal cartilage.
Why are the HA and chondroitin sulfate in Liquid collagen important?
Hyaluronic acid is a natural compound that exists throughout the body and is most commonly found in the eyes, joints and skin. Its molecular structure gives it a unique ability to retain large amounts of water, which affects the body’s moisture content and directly impacts the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dry skin and skin’s firmness. It is also a crucial component of synovial fluid for sufficient joint lubrication.*
Naturally found in connective tissue, chondroitin sulfate is one of the building blocks of cartilage. Its job is to help cushion joints and provide elasticity and resistance. Chondroitin sulfate supports joint, bone, ligament and tendon health for optimal mobility and can play a key role in living a more active lifestyle as you age.*
In the simplest terms, Liquid collagen consists of type II hydrolyzed collagen, a major component of healthy joints, youthful skin and connective tissue; hyaluronic acid (HA), essential to skin hydration, tissue maintenance and a youthful appearance; and chondroitin sulfate to support joint flexibility and lubrication.*
Liquid collagen can help with the following:
- Counteracts skin’s natural aging and photoaging from the inside out*
- Improves skin’s hydration, firmness and elasticity*
- Increases skin’s collagen content*
- Reduces the appearance of deep wrinkles and lines*
- Helps improve skin’s microcirculation and skin tone*
- Reduces hyaluronidase, the enzyme that causes skin aging*
- Promotes healthy hair, nails, gums and eyes
- Improves joint mobility and lubrication*
- Reduces joint discomfort*
- Promotes healthy cartilage and connective tissue*
It Soothes, Repairs and Strengthens
Collagen plays an integral role in rebuilding and strengthening the lining of our digestive tract as it contains the amino acids—particularly glycine and glutamine—that are essential for its repair. In fact collagen peptides can improve gut barrier dysfunction and also improves it’s tight junctions.
Again, as gut inflammation is linked to inflammation elsewhere in the body, it’s undoubtedly beneficial to include an abundance of amino acid-rich foods—such as collagen—in our diet on a regular basis to help reduce gut inflammation and keep conditions such as leaky gut at bay.
Your gut and immune system connection
With 70-80% of immune cells being present in the gut, there is an intricate interplay between the intestinal microbiota, the intestinal epithelial layer, and the local mucosal immune system. It is increasingly recognized that the gut microbiome also affects systemic immunity. Collagen can play a role in this by keeping the gut lining healthy.
In summary, you should be able to see and feel results. It is very important for gut repair and your overall wellbeing. Don’t waste your time with collagen that is not bioavailable and in my opinion you get what you pay for!
If you would like more information on this recommended collagen email me here on this website.