Collagen is a protein found in bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and connective tissue. It is derived from the Greek word Kolla, which means glue. It’s no surprise that collagen has been used as an intravenous infusion to plump lips and soothe wrinkles for years. It has become increasingly more accessible in recent years, with pill and powder forms readily available. Some milkshake counters even offer a collagen booster.
Discover what collagen is and whether it is the fountain of youth that many people believe.
Collagen and Its Importance
Collagen, alongside elastin and hyaluronic acid, is one of the building blocks of healthy skin. It maintains the skin’s seamless, plump, and youthful appearance, earning it the moniker youth protein. Unfortunately, collagen synthesis in the body normally decreases as we age, leading to skin wrinkling and sagging.
Collagen is produced by cells known as fibroblasts. The human body uses a variety of nutrients from our diets, such as amino acids, Vitamin C, zinc, copper, silicon, sulfur, and omega-3, in producing sufficient collagen.
Causes of Collagen Depletion
The loss of collagen is not solely due to aging. Other factors that cause collagen depletion, such as:
- Excessive sugar intake
- Insufficient supply of antioxidants
- Sunlight exposure or UV radiation
- Smoking
- Stress or anxiety
- Air contamination
- Increased homocysteine levels (increased levels can be caused by a total absence of B6, B12, folate, or an excessive intake of meat and other animal products)
Oxidative stress harms collagen and elastin, but it also harms fibroblasts which secrete collagen. As an outcome, fibroblasts become less productive, resulting in less new collagen production.
Various Types of Collagen Supplements
Collagen supplements are generated into protein chains known as collagen hydrolysates, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream and used immediately by skin cells. Powder and pill are the two most common forms of collagen supplements.
Both collagen powder and pills are becoming increasingly popular. They’re made from powdered flesh and bones of animals like cows, chickens, pigs, and fish. Like humans, these species have fibroblasts that enable them to produce collagen.
While consuming these two types of collagen is very safe, there are two significant concerns you need to remember. First and foremost, the majority of collagen is derived from conventional animals. It’s critical to select organic meat products to prevent unwanted exposure to antibiotics and contaminants regardless of form.
Second, when you already receive sufficient protein (which most humans do), you might be wasting your money. Because collagen is broken down in the same way that any other protein-rich food is, ingesting it does not result in an equal and direct increment in collagen in the skin.
Collagen and How It Slows Down the Aging Process
Consumption of dietary collagen provides more of the amino acids required. While we can get the amino acids we need to produce enough collagen from other foods, digesting dietary collagen seems more beneficial than developing collagen from other sources.
Collagen supplements have been extensively researched over the last few years, and there is sufficient evidence to support collagen intake in two main areas: the skin and joints.
Skin
It’s essential to comprehend how the skin appears to work and how well it keeps itself in terms of skin and collagen. Collagen seems to be an essential nutrient in the extracellular environment. It provides skin smoothness and a youthful look for a much healthier glow.
Collagen as a protein undergoes constant turnover like all other proteins and must be supplemented. Furthermore, collagen intake was observed to boost the body’s production of collagen significantly. Such capacity can strengthen overall skin quality and aesthetic appeal.
Joints
Aside from elastin, collagen is a predominant protein in our fibrous joints. Collagen loss is a prevalent cause of joint pain in many individuals. As a result, collagen consumption has been proposed to alleviate joint pain successfully.
It is essential to remember that the advantages of collagen supplementation are observed primarily in older women with weak bones. As a result, collagen treatments don’t wield similar effects in other patients, such as men, younger generations, or people who don’t have low bone mineral density.
Wrapping Up
Collagen is one of the most significant structural proteins in the human body, accounting for roughly one-third of all proteins found throughout the body. It is also responsible for much of the formation of the skin and the supportive connective tissue in bones.
Collagen supplementation has been scientifically proven to enhance skin hydration and elasticity and might even help to slow down aging. It has also been shown to help athletes suffering from joint pain and can work on improving discomfort associated with osteoarthritis.
Likewise, reducing vices like cigarette smoking, heavy drinking, and a healthy diet can indeed assist in protecting against collagen loss and damage.
