Is Collagen Essential for Your Skin or Just a Hype?
Collagen – it is all over social media, in pop-up ads on your screen, beauty blogs, and supplement store shelves. It has never been so popular before this. Collagen has grabbed massive attention over recent years and is being endorsed by celebrities as the fountain of youth.
But is this only hype? You’ll be happy to learn that it’s not. Collagen intake has many benefits for your health, particularly on your skin, which is the largest organ. Nowadays, it’s a common dietary supplement, available on the market.
What is Collagen?
“Collagen” is derived from the Greek word “Kolla,” which means “Glue.” It is the most abundant type of protein present in our bodies. There are several types of collagen, including types I, II, and III; type-I accounts for 90% of that in the body.
Collagen Benefits
Being the major component of bones, cartilage, tendons, muscles, and skin, collagen gives the necessary structure and strength to these parts to hold everything together. Besides providing structural integrity to the body, collagen helps keeps our skin firm, elastic and supple.
1. The Role of Collagen in Your Skin Health
Collagen is a key component of your skin. It helps maintain strength, elasticity as well as hydration. In a study, those Individuals who were supplemented with collagen and other supporting vitamins and minerals for three months showed improved skin hydration and elasticity.
2. The Role of Collagen in Your Overall Health
Collagen also has other benefits which go beyond skin health. Joint cartilage is another area of research where collagen has been helpful. Collagen type II mainly plays a significant role in joint cartilage health. In conditions where your cartilage becomes damaged, collagen can be beneficial in cartilage formation, relieving pain, and improving mobility and function. However, its deficiency causes your joints to ache.
Collagen Deficiency
As we turn 30 years, collagen levels begin to decrease by approximately 1% each year. However, the low intake of collagen through the diet can also cause collagen deficiency in the body. Moreover, environmental factors such as ultraviolet rays from the sun trigger free radical formation in the body, which causes oxidative stress. The increased activity of free radicals can disintegrate the collagen structure, leading to visible signs of premature aging on the skin, such as wrinkles and saggy skin.
This is why collagen intake through supplements is encouraged to support optimal collagen production naturally. Marine collagen is derived from fish skin, seaweed, sponges, jellyfish, and algae. It is more beneficial for your health than that derived from animal sources due to decreased risk of disease transmission from animal to the human being.
The Sources of Collagen
Beef bone broth is one of the popular sources of collagen, containing gelatin, which provides collagen. Poultry, dairy, beans, eggs, and seafood are also good sources of the amino acids our body uses to make collagen. You can also take it as a supplement, preferably marine collagen, which is halal.
Collagen supplementation is particularly beneficial for those who are:
- Not obtaining adequate amounts of amino acids (glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine) in your diet that build collagen.
- Looking to help reduce visible signs of aging.
Best Collagen Supplements
Nutrifactor’s Gencell and Nutri Collagen contain hydrolyzed collagen peptides derived from marine sources. Both of these supplements contain a healthy amount of collagen and vitamin C (which facilitate collagen absorption in the body) with the added benefits of biotin.
They help support:
- Skin rejuvenation, maintenance, and integrity
- Strong antioxidant action
- Stronger joints and bones
- Healthy and strong hair
- Stronger and healthier nails
- Moreover, they help reduce the signs of premature aging of the skin.
Adding one of these supplements to your dietary routine may prove an excellent step toward maintaining skin health and delaying the premature aging process.
Conclusion:
To sum up, collagen is not just hype; it has multiple benefits backed by science. Collagen can make visible improvements to wrinkling skin. It also has other positive effects on the signs of aging, such as reducing joint pain. The use of hydrolyzed collagen supplements is certainly promising, as collagen peptides are more easily absorbed in the body than the whole protein.
However, it is always recommended talk to your healthcare professional before starting a new supplement.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen
- https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/body-mind-spirit/hair-skin-nails/marine-collagen-for-aging-skin/
- https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/consuming-collagen/
- https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/supplements-remedies/collagen-supplements-for-better-skin/
