What is Collagen?
Before we dive into collagen supplements and their benefits, lets look at what collagen is all about in the first place. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom. You can think of it as the “glue” that holds all these things together. In fact, the word comes from the Greek word “kólla,” which means glue. Why are we looking at the benefits of collagen for joint repair? This is because collagen is one of the major building blocks of bones, skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It is also found in many other body parts, including blood vessels, corneas and teeth.
We are able to help our bodies produce this important protein by making sure you get plenty of the following nutrients:
-Vitamin C: citrus fruits, bell peppers and strawberries
-Proline: egg whites, wheat germ, dairy products, cabbage, asparagus and mushrooms
-Glycine: pork skin, chicken skin and gelatin, and also found in various protein-containing foods
-Copper: Mostly found in organ meats, sesame seeds, cocoa powder, cashews and lentils.
What destroys Collagen in the body?
Collagen production slows down as we age. But there are things we do that make matters even worse. Let’s see what we can do less to help ourselves.
Sugar and refined carbs
That sweet tooth is not only putting you at risk of diabetes. It’s also responsible for the wrinkles on your skin. Yes! Put that cake down and find something different to put in your mouth. A carrot maybe.
Collagen and elasticin are the proteins keep skin firm and elastic and are responsible for the plump and bouncy characteristics of a healthy and youthful complexion. At blame is a natural process that’s known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (or, appropriately, AGEs for short)https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care
The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop AGEs make your collagen and elastin stiff, dry and brittle, zapping them of strength and spring. The effects are seen on your complexion in the form of fine lines, sagging and wrinkles.
Too much sunshine
The skin uses sunlight to help manufacture vitamin D, which is important for normal bone formation. There is a flipside to this though. Ultraviolet radiation can reduce collagen production. UV radiation can cause collagen to break down at a higher rate than normal aging. It does this by penetrating the middle layer of skin (dermis), causing the abnormal buildup of elastin. When these elastins accumulate, enzymes are produced which inadvertently break down collagen and create so-called “solar scars.” Continued exposure only speeds the process, leading to further wrinkling and sagging.
You can protect yourself by covering sensitive areas, wearing sunblock, limiting total exposure time, and avoiding the sun between 10 am and 2 pm.https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideo
Smoking
Tobacco contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including 250 toxins and carcinogens. Nicotine, the main ingredient in tobacco, is absorbed at 1mg per cigarette. Unlike damage to your heart or lungs, the effects on skin are often outwardly visible for people to see. Not only is smoking related to the development of certain skin disorders, it is a major culprit in premature ageing of the skin.
Smoking reduces collagen production rates of type I and III collagens in skin and alters the balance of extracellular matrix turnover in skin. This can impair wound healing and lead to wrinkles.
–Some autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, can also damage collagen.
Collagen Supplements
Collagen supplements are gaining popularity. While collagen is made of amino acids (the building blocks of protein), the idea behind taking these supplements is that your body will use the amino acids to protect and rebuild/regenerate your joint cartilage. This in turn restores your joint to its healthy state.
Many studies show benefits of collagen supplements in the following areas:
Muscle mass
A 2015 study in elderly men showed that a combination of collagen peptide supplements and strength training increased muscle mass and strength. (10Trusted Source).
Adequate protein intake combined with strength training exercises is a proven method for increasing muscle mass and decreasing fat stores. Muscle growth begins when muscles break down during exercise. Muscle fibers tear as a result of resistance exercise and then repair by increasing the size of the fibers, which results in bigger and stronger muscles.
If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s especially important to work on increasing strength and building more muscle mass. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat, which increases your metabolism and ultimately burns more fat.
Since collagen is pure protein, you might be wondering if adding more collagen to your diet can help increase muscle mass. The short answer is, yes — there is promising evidence that adding collagen to your diet can help support muscle-building efforts.https://invigor8.com/blogs/invigor8-fitness-blog/can-collagen-increase-muscle-mass
Arthritis/ degenerative joint disorders
Another study gave supplements to people suffering from osteoarthritis. They experienced a significant decline in pain over the 70-day study. (11Trusted Source). Collagen is the primary building block of cartilage and discs of the back. When our bodies slow down the production of collagen, this results in degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. Collagen supplements help your body to restart the repair process and restore your cartilage and discs to their healthy state naturally, over time.
Benefits of collagen for skin
Women who took a supplement showed improvements in skin elasticity in a 2014 study. Collagen is also used in topical treatments to improve the appearance of skin by minimising lines and wrinkles (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
Strong nails and hair
When collagen is boiled for a long time (as in bone broth), it gets broken down into gelatin. It can be further “pre-digested” into its basic amino acids and is called collagen peptides or hydrolysed collagen which are more easily absorbed in the body.
Leaky gut syndrome
Collagen helps to keep our gut lining healthy hence keeping away problems associated with leaky gut syndrome, a condition caused by increased intestinal permeability allowing toxins in to the blood stream. These include irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains among others.
Researchers have also found that Magnesium helps the body to absorb the hydrolysed collagen more effectively.
So where can you buy collagen supplements in Kenya?
Our product, Collagen with Magnesium, made in Spain (European quality) is available in our Shop at the affordable price of Sh 2,000.
OR Buy Now!
Collagen Peptides with Magnesium (200 tablets)
You can also contact us directly for more information at 0728091400.
Knowledge is power. We believe in helping prospective buyers make an informed decision before purchase. We also invest time on researching quality supplements with a proven record that will show results to my esteemed clients.
