COLLAGEN: TOP 4 WAYS YOU CAN BENEFIT

The easiest way I like to describe collagen is that it’s your body’s support, glue, netting, duct tape, webbing, bubble wrap, the matrix that keeps our body from melting into a puddle of human mush on the floor. LOL…

So what is collagen?

Collagen is a naturally occurring matrix that is synonymous with human tissues and for this reason, it is readily available to be used for repair.  It’s the closest thing to human articular cartilage in the universe.

Collagen isn’t just for your skin, it’s for your joints, your hair, your nails, your connective tissues, your gums, your gut, your heart.  Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body.  Collagen doesn’t just keep your bones and joints healthy, but it aids in building muscle mass, as well as keeping our skin youthful, AND repairing and protecting our gut lining. And we all know that gut health is vital for overall optimal wellbeing!

We begin to lose collagen in our mid-twenties.  Due to the evolution of our diets, we no longer consume the amounts of collagen that we used to. Seems like since the launch of the George Forman grill, we have been working hard to take fats OUT of your foods. Eating chicken skin and fats, and boiling the bones with the cooking of the animal are ways that you get the beneficial collagen of the animal.  That gelatinous stuff at the top of the water when making bone broth or boiling chicken, that’s collagen. It goes right to work on repairing our tissues. 

I love this collagen because the liquid is more bioavailable via sublingual glands.  This is also chicken sternal cartilage-derived which is the most bioavailable source of collagen. (second bovine, third porcine)

Top 4 Benefits of Collagen:

• EASES JOINT PAIN AND DISCOMFORT:

Collagen decreases with age.  Joint cartilage also begins to weaken with age and use. Over 50% of Americans over the age of 55 complain of joint pain or problems.  Athletes, overusing or straining their connective tissue and experience inflammation. As we age we can begin to experience arthritis symptoms leaving us stiff and achy.

In a 2009 study was conducted with people suffering from osteoarthritis consumed a type II collagen supplement made from chicken necks.  Of this group, 40% had an overall decrease in symptoms and pain. (1)

• PREVENTS + REVERSES SKIN AGING AND REDUCES CELLULITE:

Natures botox anyone? Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that one of the most touted benefits of collagen is that it can reverse signs of aging while promoting vibrant, glowing, youthful skin.

In a 2014 study 46 of 69 women were chosen to supplement collagen hydrolysate, while the other 23 were given a placebo.  The women who took the collagen supplement showed improved skin elasticity in as little as 4 weeks, and wrinkle reduction in 8weeks. (2)

Cellulite is caused by the layer of fat under the skin pushes up against the connective tissues. Think of smashing play dough (fat cells) up against a fish net (connective tissue) The reason it has the dimple appearance is because of the weakening in the connective tissue. A study conducted in 2015 pooled 105 women between the ages of 24-50 to take collagen peptides for six months and this group experienced clear improvement in skin texture and bumpiness. (4)

• AIDS IN BUILDING MUSCLE

Collagen is one of the major components of muscle tissue and has a large impact on building muscle tissue.  Collagen contains a concentrated amount of the amino acid glycine, and glycine is involved in synthesizing creatine. This can increase strength and stamina and aid in post-workout recovery.

Side note, the more muscle mass we have on our frames, the more body fat we burn at rest. YAY!

• IMPROVES GUT HEALTH

Collagen in the gut lining is what supports and strengthens the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract.  Gut tissue health is so vital because any breach in this barrier can lead to Leaky Gut Syndrome.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is where the connective tissue of the gut becomes permeable allowing microscopic particles to cross the gut barrier and into the bloodstream causing systemic toxicity.

One study conducted on 170 people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease noted that these individuals had lower levels of serum collagen. (3)

WAYS TO ADD COLLAGEN TO YOUR DIET

• BONE BROTH:

So delicious and super beneficial. Bone broth is made from simmering long bones of animals for an extending period of time to extract the collagen from the inside.  You can search for local farms in your area and purchase 10lb bags of bones for a low price, while some grocery stores carry them in the frozen food section. 

I did see improvement with my joint pain and inflammation doing a cup of morning bone broth.  However, for me, I enjoy this method much more in the fall and winter versus the summertime.

You can find one of my favorite and easy recipes by clicking HERE.  

• SUPPLEMENT WITH COLLAGEN:

You can increase your collagen levels by supplementation. All collagen is not created equally.  I have experience with multiple brands and since I’ve found my favorite, it is the only brand I will use with my family and my clients.

My husband and I are competitive athletes with a long history of lifting and exercise. We supplemented faithfully with a popular bovine powdered collagen for one year.  We both neither saw or felt any change, yet knew the benefit with regard to prevention thus faithfully continued. 

I was introduced to another brand a few years ago that will forever have my loyalty.  It changed everything for us.  This collagen is a liquid form which I prefer since liquids have higher absorption and bioavailability.  It’s also type II collagen sourced from high-quality free range chicken, it also has chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, which furthers the total body anti-aging and repairing benefits.  Type II collagen is the same as what’s noted in the above joint health studies. 

Within one week my husband could tell a drastic difference in his joint inflammation and pain and vows the never be without this product. If someone you love lives in chronic pain or discomfort you will do anything to see them pain-free!  Over my husbands’ competitive career, he sustained many injuries that resulted in a triple level cervical fusion, a triple level lumbar fusion, ruptured both biceps, and tore his quadriceps from the bone, all resulting in surgeries.

I also saw a difference in knee pain within 3 weeks and my hair, skin, and nails are incredible! 

With total transparency, after we received these results I became an affiliate with this company.  I’ve yet to find anything that rivals their product quality and results.

Remember that collagen supplementation is distributed like any other nutrient in the body.  You can’t direct collagen where to go, but otherwise, get to enjoy the systemic healing effect this beneficial protein.

Learn more about my favorite must have Collagen by clicking the button 👇 

LV's MUST HAVE COLLAGEN

Have questions? Drop them below…

SOURCES:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2764342/
2. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/351376
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14600124
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685482/