Collagen - Why Do You Need It?

Collagen has certainly been a trendy supplement option over the last several years. Just walk into your nearest health store, supplement shop, or even beauty aisle and you'll see options abound.

But what is it and what is the best way to take it?

 

What is collagen?

Collagen describes a family of proteins that comprise the most abundant proteins in the animal kingdom. In fact, there are at least 28 kinds of collagen that we know of that exist in vertebrates (yes, us humans included), but types I, II and III are the most common in the human body.

Collagen is responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity and stretchiness. It's in your bones, muscles and blood, comprising three quarters of your skin and a third of the protein in your body. As you age, your existing collagen breaks down and it gets harder for your body to produce.

Collagen can be found in foods, such as bone broths and animals meats, including the skin.

Benefits of collagen

Research has shown that collagen taken as a supplement has many benefits.

• It promotes your skin's natural collagen and elastin production
  For the skin to function normally and appear youthful, the structure of the dermal layer must be maintained, but as we age the structure suffers because aged fibroblasts produce less collagen.
• Supports skin hydration
  Clinical studies on collagen supplementation and skin hydration show increased moisture levels in the skin by people taking collagen supplements.
• It smooths the appearance of fine lines
  Collagen can potentially make fine lines appear smaller.
• It provides essential ingredients for hair
  Amino acids are the building blocks for keratin, the material that hair is made of. or the body to build keratin, it needs several types of amino acids, many of which are found in collagen peptides.
• It may support scalp health
  What is beneficial to your skin (collagen) is beneficial to your scalp.
• It supports nail health, reducing brittleness
  One study found that when patients took collagen daily for 24 weeks, it helped support their nail health, including better growth rates, reduced breakage, and improved appearance.
• Supports gut and digestion health
  The cells of our gut lining also use proline and glycine for energy, and these are two additional amino acids found in collagen.
• Nurtures joint & bone health
  A clinical trial found that people who took a type II collagen supplement for 180 days experienced improvements in their physical function and helped improve joint mobility and comfort. Another recent study showed that when athletes who previously suffered joint injuries regularly took collagen, their overall joint health was supported.
• Contributes to muscle growth
  In one small clinical study, men who took collagen daily while participating in an exercise program gained more muscle mass than those who only completed the exercise program.
• Improves sleep quality
  Collagen is almost a third made up of glycine, and it is this amino acid which is thought to be able to help us sleep as it helps to relax your nervous system.
• Mood boost
  One of the primary amino acids that are found in collagen is glycine. Glycine is known to increase your serotonin levels without simultaneously raising your dopamine levels.
• Brain health
  Roughly one third of collagen is composed of glycine, a non-essential amino acid that is key to brain health.

Why use the Transdermal Collagen Patch?

The slow release topical delivery bypasses the stomach and liver avoiding gut irritation and increasing the bioavailability and efficacy.

Some people report unpleasant taste with their collagen powders. The most common tastes reported are from the collagen itself (which some people describe as strong) or from the flavoring (which can be either too saccharine or comes with a tangy or bitter aftertaste).

The unpleasant taste side-effect is avoided using a transdermal collagen patch.