What is Collagen? How does it help you, and why is it so important?
Your body is made up of the most ample protein named collagen, making up about 30 percent of your total protein content and found widely throughout your body. It is found in bone, skin and connective tissue, and serves as a structural component of skin, hair, nails and tendons. Collagen is also present in some joint fluid and provide support including the lining of your gastrointestinal tract.
Over the last few years, it has become popular as a nutritional supplement as well as in shampoos and body lotions.
However, you might still have questions about collagen as well as what are the benefits, and why is it so important? This article provide a comprehensive overview of Collagen.
One-third of total protein in the human body is composed of collagen, which is tough, insoluble, and fibrous protein. Its fibre-like structures in collagen form connective tissue. As its name implies, it connects other tissues together. It’s like Fevicol that combines all the things.
Despite being a naturally occurring element, collagen is often labeled a “miracle” ingredient. In reality, collagen production in our bodies begins to slow down at age 20. By age 40, our collagen output is half of what it was when we were in our twenties. This loss of collagen contributes to the aging process, leaving us looking and feeling older than we are.
As we age collagen has a tendency to break down due to damage from things like UV light, smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise and sleep. As collagen breaks down it causes damage going deeper into the skin leading to wrinkles and fine lines undermining your beauty.
Nutrients that boost collagen production
Vitamin C - Oranges, bell peppers, and strawberries contain high quantities of vitamin C
Copper - The best sources of copper are organ meats, sesame seeds, cocoa powder, cashews, and lentils.
Glycine - Pig skin, chicken skin, gelatin, and a variety of other protein-rich foods are high in glycine
Proline - The amino acid proline can be found in egg whites, milk, cabbage, mushrooms, and asparagus.
Zinc - Various nuts and seeds, meats, and milk contain zinc, as do chickpeas, lentils, and beans, milk, and lamb.
How does it Helps the Body to Function and its Benefits
The body relies heavily on proteins. The structure, tensile strength, resilience, and rigidity of body tissues are due to collagen. It appears as a thin leathery layer on the skin. It gives skin firmness and elasticity when it is mixed with elastic fibers.
As people age, levels of collagen can drop nearly 10% per decade. Restore the body's natural levels of collagen with Vital Collagen. This supplement provides the necessary ingredients that your body needs to support skin elasticity, joint movement, muscle and tissue strengthening and more.
Some of the many benefits of collagen supplement include healthy hair, stronger nails, stronger bones and joints and increased elasticity of the skin. Collagen has proven to slow down hair loss and stop the aging process in its tracks. In addition to these benefits, collagen also promotes bone health and provides relief from joint pain.
Collagen can be beneficial in preventing the development of arthritis by offering support for joints. Several gut-specific diets, including GAPS and SCD, recommend the use of collagen to coat the digestive tract and improve digestion. The consumption of collagen might also help with anxiety.