Yes - the new buzzword is collagen! What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant building block in our bodies
and makes up about 30% of the proteins in our bodies. It is the protein that is
in charge of the elasticity and rejuvenation of all the connective tissues –
this includes bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, blood vessels, the
digestive system, and, you guessed it, skin. Any time you move, whether it is
in Pilates class or sprinting to catch the bus, that’s thanks to collagen. It is
basically the glue that holds your body together. Put simply, we require collagen
to function.
Agreed that collagen is something our body makes itself,
but with age, our bodies naturally begin to produce less collagen (i.e.
wrinkles). Starting at about the age of 30 and accelerating in our 40s and 50s,
skin cells become less active, bone turnover is imbalanced, and joints
experience discomfort and pain, all because of a lack of collagen production.
Other lifestyle factors like smoking, sun exposure, and a diet high in sugar
can also deplete collagen production, regardless of age.
If preventative health reasons aren’t enough, taking extra
collagen will strengthen hair, skin, and nails (and trust me when I say that
taking collagen peptides has improved my hair, skin and nails in just 6 weeks).
Collagen doesn’t only assist in anti-aging; it also helps with dryness,
discoloring, and even acne. Taking collagen is also said to help heal leaky
gut, repair joints, and boost metabolism by adding lean muscle mass
and helping absorb nutrients.
How should you take a collagen supplement?
Collagen comes in the form of either a powder or bone broth.
Bone broth is an amazing source of collagen, but it is not always convenient to
carry around a jug of soup (after all, we do have busy lives–we need
snacks on the go, not in a bowl!). A powder is the easiest, simplest source,
and a form of collagen as collagen peptides can be easily absorbed through cold
or hot water. This means you can add two scoops of collagen peptides to your
morning coffee or your breakfast smoothie for an amazing health boost.
It can be hard to choose the right supplement, because
collagen powders are not all made the same. When choosing the right product, look
for as few ingredients as possible. Collagen protein powder should only include collagen peptides, collagen
hydrolysate, or hydrolyzed collagen. You should also avoid flavored powders
(since they typically have unnecessary sugars that could upset your digestive
system) and check for certification. Because the FDA doesn’t regulate many
supplements, check if a credible group (like NSF or USP) has
tested the product.
My personal favorite is by Vital Proteins – I love the consistency and it mixes well in my coffee
or tea. It is unflavored, so it does not
affect the taste of those liquids. The big difference here is in my nails that are stronger and longer than they have been in years.
Our body needs Vitamin C in order to fully absorb the
nutrients in collagen, which is why Vitamin C has become so
popular in skincare. It helps
the skin cells to produce more collagen, which results in glowy,
dewy, and wrinkle-free skin. The same goes for your body, so try to supplement
with foods rich in Vitamin C like kale, kiwis, lemons, or oranges.
What about topically?
Skincare can be very confusing. I recently met two wonderful salespeople in
Sephora who turned me on to Algenist Genius Collagen and Peter Thomas Roth 3%
Retinoid Plus. Both of these products
are clinical grade – the highest percentage you can get without a prescription. The fine lines and wrinkles are softening on my face and my skin feels tighter and has youthful glow. Take a look at my naked face sans filters!
I cannot say which of these products is making a difference
right now, but I can say the combination of both the topical application, as
well as, the collagen supplement has made a big difference in my hair, skin and nails so the
recipe is working for me đŸ˜€ Good luck on YOUR journey!
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