What Is Collagen And Why Is It Good For You?

Collagen is a term you might have heard used by beauty companies in the past, or seen written on a bottle of wellness supplements. This substance is one of the better-known substances in the human body, and it’s one of the most abundant proteins you have.

Collagen isn’t just the substance that determines whether your skin will continue looking youthful and fresh for as long as possible – it’s also the main component of the connective tissues making up various parts of your body.

Without collagen, you wouldn’t have your ligaments, skin, muscles, and tendons.
Here’s your guide to collagen, and why it’s so important to good health.

What is Collagen? An Introduction

Collagen is your body’s most abundant protein, responsible for forming critical tissues in your body and performing various functions (like strengthening your bones).

There are a total of 28 types of collagen that scientists know of. The most common four are:

● Type I: The collagen found in all connective tissues
● Type II: The collagen found in intervertebral discs and joints
● Type III: The main component of reticular fibres, found in your skin and blood
● Type IV: The component in your kidneys, eye lens, and inner ear

The collagen naturally produced in your body begins to break down, and it becomes harder for your body to produce more. You can improve your collagen levels by getting more of the substances collagen needs to form into your diet.

To produce collagen, your body needs a host of essential nutrients, including Proline (found in cabbage and dairy), Glycine (found in gelatine), Vitamin C (found in citrus fruits), Zinc (found in chickpeas and nuts), and copper (found in cashews and lentils).

It’s also possible to replenish your levels of collagen with collagen supplements, available in the form of various powders and pills.
What Are The Benefits of Collagen Supplements?

As you get older and your natural levels of collagen begin to drop, it may make sense to consider taking collagen supplements.

As an essential component of so many critical parts in your body, collagen is essential to maintaining good health, and taking supplements can help you to avoid a range of issues.

Some of the benefits of supplementation with collagen include:

Improved Skin Health

Collagen is an essential part of healthy skin, so it makes sense that collagen supplementation would help to improve your skin health.

Studies show collagen peptides and supplements can help to slow the aging of skin, and even improve skin elasticity levels. Collagen can help to keep your body hydrated, and may even stimulate the skin to produce collagen on its own.

Stronger Bones

As we age, our bones naturally become more brittle and less dense. They break more easily and take a lot longer to heal.

Studies show a daily collagen supplement could be a valuable tool in making your bones denser, slowing some dangerous parts of the aging process. Collagen supplements could also be helpful in assisting with the development of new bones.

Thicker Hair

Aside from making your skin healthier, collagen supplements could also help with improving hair health too. Women and men often experience hair thinning and even baldness as they age.

However, collagen can help to improve the health of the scalp and boost the strength of your hair. This could mean you’re less likely to experience hair loss.

Reduced Joint Pain

Collagen forms an important part of the substances between your joints (cartilage). As you age and your collagen levels decrease, your risk of degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis increases too.

Some studies indicate collagen supplements may be useful for helping to minimize joint pain. Researchers also believe collagen from supplements may also accumulate in cartilage and stimulate the production of new collagen.

Healthier Nails

If your nails tend to break easily, then investing in some collage supplements could be a good idea. Collagen helps to form the substances which make up your nails and hair, meaning taking supplements could help to create stronger nails.

Improved Muscle Mass

The most abundant protein in your body, collagen is crucial for building skeletal muscle. Some studies suggest collagen supplements may be effective in boosting muscle mass in people with muscle loss issues.

Collagen can help to promote the synthesis of various other muscle proteins and stimulate muscle growth, but it isn’t more effective than whey protein.

Better Heart Health

Researchers believe collagen supplements may be valuable for reducing the risk of heart conditions, because collagen helps to provide structure to your arteries.

Without enough collagen, arteries may become less flexible, which could lead to a higher risk of atherosclerosis.

We All Need Collagen

There’s no arguing with the fact that collagen is one of the most important substances in your body.

If you’re concerned you don’t have enough of this essential protein as you’re getting older, taking a collagen supplement could be a useful strategy. Just remember to talk to your doctor before you start supplementation.