Collagen – What It is and Isn’t
Before we get into the particulars of what collagen is, let’s first demystify what it isn’t. Collagen is not a simple supplement we take to make us look more beautiful. It doesn’t only go to work on our face, hair and nails , and it doesn’t just target the areas where we don’t feel pretty. Collagen is actually a key protein component in our body that we produce daily. Different types of collagens perform in skin, hair and nails yes, but also in our bones, ligaments, blood vessels, tendons, cartilage and even in our gut.(1) The most common types of collagens found in our body are as follows:
Type I – collagen in our bones and tendons
Type II – collagen in cartilage and joints
Type III – collagen in skin, gut lining, and the lining of blood vessels.
As we’ve learned so far, collagen plays an important role in how we feel daily. It is responsible for helping our skin, the largest organ of our body including hair, nails and glands do its job, and collagen makes up at least 30% to 40% of our body’s protein content. (2,3) Type I collagen also helps to keep our bones and muscles strong, and tendons flexible as it is the most abundant protein in bone, skin and connective tissue.(4)
Where Does Collagen Come From?
When we eat, our bodies produce collagen by breaking down the proteins into amino acids such as proline, glycine, lysine and hydroxyproline, which are the building blocks for generating new proteins. Since collagen is produced by proteins we eat, consuming foods high in protein will get us the best results. Foods like chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, beans and beef are examples of foods that are high in protein. For those who are vegan or vegetarian, foods such as citrus fruits, broccoli, leafy greens and cauliflower are rich in Vitamin C, which encourages the body to produce collagen.(5) But in order to produce an adequate amount of collagen, your diet must be well-balance with a high combination of collagen producing foods. Truthfully speaking, are you getting enough?
Who Needs Collagen
As we age our skin changes, especially with exposure to the sun and elements. Over time our skin becomes thinner and less elastic, and unfortunately our bodies do not produce as much collagen as it did when we were younger. In fact, some young and older adults may notice discomfort in joints and ligaments, weaker muscles and papery feeling or blotchy skin, and all may be an indication of collagen loss. These changes are inevitable and can be evident in both men and women over time, so regardless of gender you may need more collagen as you get older. To help maintain collagen, try to avoid collagen damaging toxins like excessive sun and ultraviolet light, smoking, high sugar intake and environmental pollutants.(6) To add extra collagen in your diet, consider taking a collagen support product.
What to Look for in Collagen Support
Today, the market has an over abundance of collagen support products, so how do you choose the best one? When looking for any good supplementation, there are a few non-negotiables you should always look for:
- Essential and Special Ingredients
- Scientific Support
- Potential Results and Benefits
- Product Safety
- Verification and approval by a Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Standards
When it comes to collagen products, studies have shown collagen peptides (very small pieces of protein from animal collagen) provides excellent benefits on skin by helping to promote skin elasticity, thickness and hydration, so your collagen selection should include collagen peptides, grass-fed hydrolyzed collagen peptides to be specific.
Research also suggests that hydrolyzed collagen is more suitable for digestion because it dissolves in liquid and absorbs well. The use of a hydrolyzed collagen peptide support product may help to give you an overall feeling of well-being by supporting skin and joint health.
At Sweet Spot MediSpa we provide products from nutraMetrix. We are committed to bringing you the most advanced, comprehensive formulas when it comes to supplementation support. We are delighted to introduce you to nutraMetrix Pure Collagen+ in a convenient flavorless powder, making it perfect for adding to water, coffee, smoothies or your favorite beverage.
To learn more about this revolutionary collagen support product, offering 10 grams of hydrolyzed grass-fed bovine collagen, plus Biotin to support healthy collagen production in the body, ask us.
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/8912.htm
- https://bionumbers.hms.harvard.edu/bionumber.aspx?id=109730#:~:text=Its%20main%20protein%20is%20collagen,in%20the%20form%20of%20fibers.
- https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/osteogenesis-imperfecta/#causes
- https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-collagens#2
- https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-collagen-and-your-body
