Collagen seems to be the rage right now. You’ve probably seen it in the beauty aisle products of retailers for years, because of its ability to help keep hair healthy, create soft, supple skin, and build strong, beautiful nails.
What you may not know, however, is that collagen has powerful health benefits far beyond its external benefits.
Because of this, it has recently made more of its way on the shelves of health food stores and on food products, such as protein bars, tea and coffee. Let’s take a look at the health benefits of collagen and why it is recommended to take it every day.
Body building blocks
Think of collagen as the “glue” that holds your body together. In fact, collagen comes from the Greek word ‘kolla’ – meaning ‘glue’.
It is the fibrous protein found throughout the body, in organs, muscles, skin, hair, nails, teeth, bones, blood vessels, tendons, joints, cartilage and in the digestive system.
There are many different types of collagen (16 to be exact), which do different things, but most of it, up to 90%, is “Type 1”. This is the most common and strongest type, even stronger than steel (gram per gram) and is found in your skin, bones, organs, eyes and within your digestive tract.
From the age of 35, collagen production naturally begins to decrease, which can have all sorts of negative effects on the body.
At age 40, it starts to run out faster than the body can reproduce, and by age 60, more than half of your body’s collagen has been depleted.
In addition to aging, there are many other factors that affect collagen levels, including genetics, smoking, pollution, excessive sun exposure and nutritional deficiencies. The addition of collagen in daily supplement is essential for optimal health and performance.
Amazing Health Benefits of Collagen
So besides the external benefits, what else can it do for you? It may surprise you. The many beneficial effects of collagen go far beyond excellent skin.
1. Helps repair a perforated intestine
One of the main reasons why using collagen supplements is excellent, is to help repair a perforated intestine. Almost 60-80% of your immune system is lodged in your gut.
As you probably know, perforated or leaking bowel is a common cause of autoimmune disease and thyroid dysfunction.
When you have a leaky gut, toxins, food particles and infections can pass through your gut wall and into your bloodstream, causing inflammation, and over time this chronic inflammation can lead to autoimmunity.
Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or thyroid disorder (the vast majority of which is autoimmune), then it is likely that you have a perforated and safe intestine you would benefit from the addition of collagen in your diet.
That’s because your intestinal wall is made up of microscopic folds or “villi” that are actually built of collagen. The amino acids in collagen literally “seal leakage” or perforations by healing damaged cells and building new tissues.
In addition to aiding in the healing of a leaky gut, collagen supplementation can help a number of other gastrointestinal disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), helping with the absorption of water into the intestines.
2. Strengthens and repairs hair, skin and nails
Hair loss and skin problems can be symptoms of thyroid dysfunction as well as the normal aging process.
As you get older, you may have noticed that your skin has become looser and less elastic – and there may be wrinkles or folds where your skin was once more soft and supple. You can also experience brittle nails. Your hair can also begin to thin and become dry and brittle.
This is because collagen protein is essential for healthy hair, skin and nails, and as mentioned, its natural production decreases as you age.
Increasing your intake can go a long way in making your skin appear firmer and smoother by renewing and repairing your cells.
Recent tudios have also shown that supplemental collagen can reverse hair loss in some cases.
Many people do not realize that by adding collagen to their diet can also help reduce the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks.
When the skin loses its elasticity and becomes thin, cellulite becomes more evident. It helps increase moisture retention, improve elasticity, and helps smooth out that dimpled look as well as fine lines.
3. It is anti-inflammatory to prevent joint pain
Like oil in a car, collagen allows your joints, tendons and ligaments to slide and move easily. With age and as the production of this one runs out, your joints can become stiff, swollen and painful, even causing a lack of mobility.
It contains the amino acids glycine and proline, which can help reduce joint pain and help increase joint mobility due to its anti-inflammatory properties, similar to those of ibuprofen.
A recent study even found that, taking collagen may be beneficial for pain associated with osteoarthritis.
4. Support weight management
Collagen can even help you control your weight. Glycine, the amino acid we mentioned earlier, forms muscle by converting glucose into energy. Having more lean muscle tissue gives your metabolism a boost, because muscle burns more calories than fat.
Essentially, collagen helps turn your body into a fat burning machine, even when you’re at rest. There is some evidence that also suggests that supplemental collagen may help suppress appetite.
One study cited a 20% reduction in food intake after breakfast when collagen proteins were ingested. The same study showed that the proteins in this one were 40% more satiating than other protein powder supplements.
5. Collagen helps protect the heart
Proline, which is found in collagen, can help clear fat deposits in the arteries and repair tissue within the artery. It has also been shown to help control blood pressure. Because of this, collagen has been linked to the prevention of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
6. Supports bone growth, repair and formation
Calcium is not the only component for healthy bones. Your bones are 1/3 collagen, which gives them their flexibility. Your bone cells are constantly changing, and the addition of collagen proteins to your daily diet can make bones stronger by increasing bone mineral density.
Several studies have shown that osteoporosis can be prevented and even reversed by hydrolyzed collagen supplementation due to its ability to stimulate bone-creating cells (osteoblasts).
7. Improves detoxification and liver function
The toxins we are exposed to every day must be processed by your liver to be discarded outside your body. Glycine, which is found in collagen, can help with detoxification and reduce damage to your liver from these toxins.
Studies have even found that glycine can be used to help reduce alcohol-induced liver damage. As if all this weren’t enough, glycine can be very calming and even improve sleep quality.
How to add collagen to your diet?
Where can you find good sources? Of course, there are foods rich in collagen (spinach, kale, tomatoes, beets, fish and many others), and bone broth has become a very popular food in recent years as an excellent source of collagen.
However, many people find it inconvenient to incorporate bone broth into their diets or go through the process of doing it at home.
Taking supplements every day in any safe and reliable presentation, is a great way to supply collagen to our body. Low molecular weight collagen protein is easily digested minutes after consumption.
Simply take your supplement in capsule or powder form (always choose good quality) if it is powdered you can add it to your smoothie every morning or a hot cup of tea. It is a great source of protein that can be added to juices or even a glass of water.
At a minimum, to help repair a perforated intestine, you can take 1-2 tablespoons capped per day if you consume it powder.
