Why Supplement with Collagen?
Collagen is the most vital building block for the skin. It makes up to 30% of the protein in our body and up to 75% of the protein within our skin. Collagen helps our skin stay toned, supple and youthful. Independent studies have shown the body’s collagen levels start to reduce by the rate of approximately 1.5% every year after the age of 25. But after 45 years old, collagen levels fall by approximately 30%, which can significantly intensify aging*.
It is a fact that as we age, our skin loses its youthful flexibility and resilience. This loss of tone and elasticity is greatly due, among other things, to changes in the skin’s ability to integrate collagen structures. Collagen-based loss of resilience has many aging effects on the body. We readily recognize the most visible sign, which is wrinkling of the skin and loss of radiance.
There is no molecule more important to the youthful strength and resilience of skin, hair and nails, than collagen protein. Many recent studies have shown that the benefits of consuming hydrolyzed collagen improves skin hydration and reduces the number of fine lines and deep wrinkles, compared to placebo*. Collagen Supplementation is easy, effective, inexpensive and has many additional health benefits.
* Sibilla S., An Overview of the Beneficial Effects of Hydrolysed Collagen as a Nutraceutical on Skin.
How Collagen Supplementation Works
Collagen is the long-chain of amino acids that builds our skin, connective tissue and bones but cannot be absorbed through our diet. It is made primarily of four major amino acids; glycine, proline, alanine and hydroxyproline which gives it unique functional properties different from all other proteins. This also makes it the most important structural protein in the body.
To understand the difference between collagen versus collagen peptides, it is important to understand that collagen peptides are made by breaking down the full-length collagen molecules. They are made of the same amino acids as collagen, but they have different properties.
Collagen peptides are more bioavailable because they are much shorter chains of amino acids than collagen. Because they’re shorter, collagen peptides are more readily broken down into a form that can enter the bloodstream upon digestion. After absorption, collagen peptides travel throughout the body, repairing, rebuilding and providing energy. Collagen peptides are shuttled to the different tissues where cells will build the peptides into full-length collagen helices to repair our skin, bones and joints, or the cells can use the amino acids directly for energy.
A Simple Analogy
The relationship between collagen and smooth healthy skin can be compared to the relationship between a box spring and a mattress. The collagen strands act as the springs in the box spring. Once the springs begin to breakdown the mattress begins to sag in that area. These sags would be the equivalent of wrinkles in the skin once the collagen strands begin to breakdown.