Collagen - Is it Worth All the Hype?

There's a lot of buzz these days about collagen.

You might see it being stirred into coffee or mixed with a protein shake. Some take it in capsule form and it can even be found in some topical

skincare products.

What is collagen and what does it do exactly?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body. Roughly between 25-30% of the protein in our body is collagen. It's the main component of cartilage, tendons, bone, and skin. Collagen is present in healthy skin, hair, nails, and joints.

The power of collagen is due to its structure. It's like a rope made of three strands of protein twisted together. Collagen fibers can be stiff or flexible depending on their exact composition.

Collagen is especially popular for its beauty and anti-aging benefits.

This protein is what helps give structure, fullness, and elasticity to the skin. It is what helps skin look firm and youthful, keeping those fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

A little background:

For thousands of years, people have boiled up animal skins and connective tissue to make glue. When it comes to our joints and tendons, that's exactly what it does - it’s the "glue" that helps hold the body together.

Our bodies produce collagen naturally, but this ability declines with age. In fact, collagen production can begin to slow down as early as our late teens or early 20s. The good news is we can get more collagen by adding collagen-rich foods such as bone broth to our diets and by taking a collagen supplement. Naturally occurring collagen comes from animals. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, that's something you'll want to know.

How do I choose a good collagen product?

Look for a complete collagen supplement, meaning one that includes all 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body to synthesize protein. Research shows that collagen products that are hydrolyzed are the best choice. (The collagen is partially broken down into collagen peptides making it easier to digest and absorb.)

Not only is collagen beneficial for skin, hair and nails, many people also take collagen supplements to reduce joint pain.

A 2017 study on the use of collagen peptides in athletes with functional knee problems due to sports found that taking collagen peptides significantly reduces joint pain and improves mobility!

In summary - if you want to add supplemental collagen to your diet, choose one that is 100% hydrolyzed collagen for quicker absorption and digestion. If possible, get the one that includes all 9 essential amino acids and contains vitamin C and biotin to support your body's use of the collagen. My suggestion is Shaklee’s fabulous Collagen 9 

To your healthy joints and skin!