Collagen - What is its role in the body - Properties, Effectiveness, Effects of Collagen

Collagen has many health properties for the skin and the entire body

Collagen is a basic building protein. All animal organisms have it, including humans, and while it is mainly associated with joints and wrinkle-removing preparations, its role in the body is much broader. It is no exaggeration to say that collagen is essential for life, but already at a relatively young age one begins to feel its deficiency. This can be changed with the right diet or supplementation, although one must expect that such treatment requires patience.

What is collagen? What is its role in the body?

Collagen delays the aging process

Collagen is a type of protein. It is insoluble in water and accounts for about 30 percent of all proteins found in the human body. Collagen synthesis occurs from the beginning of our lives and it is in youth that it is most intense, while when it begins to slowly decrease it is a signal that the body has already entered the aging phase. Collagen is responsible for making connective tissue strong, elastic and dense, which translates into higher physical fitness, good health and an attractive appearance. One of the supplements we recommend that contains well-absorbed collagen is Ostevit.

What are the types of collagen?

Currently, nearly thirty types of collagen are distinguished. The most important ones for humans are:

  • Type I collagen, which is found in joints, skin, teeth and bones, accounting for nearly 90 percent of collagen in the human body;
  • Type II collagen, which is found in cartilage;
  • Type III collagen, similar to that of type I, located primarily in muscle, skin and bones;
  • Type V collagen, which is found in smooth muscle and blood vessels;

Other types of collagen are found in the cornea of the eye, skeletal muscle, brain, kidney, heart, uterus and many other organs and tissues.

Also read: How to effectively combat excess weight?

What are the properties of collagen?

Collagen is designed to maintain the structural integrity of connective tissue, so that organs in the human body can function flawlessly. Collagen fills the space that is between cells, so there is plenty of it, the tissue has a resilient, compact and dense structure, which manifests itself, for example, in smooth, elastic skin without wrinkles. Collagen can also bind water in cells, and is involved in cell regeneration, accelerates wound healing and the knitting together of damaged tissues, is responsible for proper blood clotting, and helps bones to knit together properly after a fracture.

Collagen also improves the absorption of minerals supplied in the diet, so bones grow better, teeth are stronger, hair, skin and nails are free of defects, there is an improvement in vision and eyeball lubrication.

Collagen applications

Because of how quickly collagen losses occur in the body, there are many methods to deliver it to the body to fill these gaps. Natural collagen is widely used in modern medicine, primarily to heal tissues and bones. Collagen is also used to produce some surgical instruments and dressings, so that infections are less frequent and resulting wounds heal faster. In dentistry, collagen is used to fill tissue gaps, and collagen can even be used in ophthalmic procedures.

Collagen has a rejuvenating effect

In the public mind, however, collagen is known primarily as an ideal rejuvenator. Collagen can be administered by injection, injections, which helps fill in wrinkles and furrows, improves the oval of the face, models a nicer shape of the lips. Collagen is better absorbed than, for example, Botox, and is not a toxic substance, although it must always be administered in correctly calculated doses, by a qualified cosmetologist or doctor.

With collagen there are also various cosmetic preparations, applied to the skin, such as masks, gels, creams, collagen pads, but they mainly limit water loss - collagen is a large molecule, so it is not able to pass through the epidermal layer into the dermis. Better in this regard are oral dietary supplements, with which you can improve the appearance of skin and joints, reduce stretch marks, Strengthen hair and nails, delay aging.

Where can you find collagen?

As for natural sources of collagen, they are beef, pork, fish and seafood. Beef and pork collagen comes from skin, tendons, bones and cartilage, while fish collagen is obtained from skin, fins, scales and bones. Marine collagen is rated higher by specialists due to its better absorption and lower risk of allergies.

Marine collagen, the kind found in Collixir supplement, is mainly recommended in cases where the treatment is to rejuvenate the skin and shallow wrinkles, while the one extracted from mammals is better for strengthening joints and muscles.

The collagen diet is quite difficult to implement, since collagen is found not in meat, but in offal, paws, tendons, skins, cartilage. This is not a particularly healthy food, since such products are caloric and, on top of that, can raise cholesterol, so consuming them in larger quantities is worth consulting a nutritionist or doctor beforehand. A better option is decoctions of these products, rich in gelatin, which can be the basis for a soup or sauce. Dietary supplements with collagen contain similar or even higher doses of collagen, and they have no negative effects - collagen hydrolysates are not caloric, nor do they raise cholesterol or blood sugar, plus they are very well absorbed.

Is it better to take collagen alone or with other ingredients?

Collagen absorbs better with vitamin C

Contrary to appearances, the best supplement is not at all the one containing only pure collagen. Much better are preparations with, for example, vitamin C, because thanks to it, collagen is absorbed in greater quantities, and its effect is further enhanced. Vitamin C This is because it is responsible for the synthesis of collagen in the body, in addition to its high dose will stimulate the body to produce new collagen fibers. In addition to vitamin C, vitamin E, known for its rejuvenating properties, and biotin, also known as vitamin B7.

Yet another ingredient that can occur alongside collagen is hyaluronic acid. Like collagen, it occurs naturally in the human body, but in diminishing amounts as we age. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture in the cells and accelerates regeneration, which together with collagen gives excellent results, and after just a few weeks of supplementation. Coenzyme Q10 will provide a similar effect.

What is the right dose of collagen?

Collagen is necessary, but in too large quantities it will be harmful. In its natural state, it is very rare for the body to produce an excess of collagen, instead, supplementation can quite simply lead to an overdose, resulting in tissue fibrosis, scarring, failure of some organs, among other things. The optimal daily dose is about 500-1000 mg of collagen.

Who can take collagen?

Collagen is used in old age, when the effects of aging, wrinkles, sagging skin are already visible. Collagen supplementation helps not only with wrinkles, but also with joints, but it is then worth paying attention to what specific type of collagen is in a particular preparation. Collagen supplementation is often encouraged for people with musculoskeletal problems, as well as those who participate in sports very intensively, which contributes to increased wear and tear on cartilage. Supplements with collagen will also be useful for people who work hard physically.

At what age can you start collagen supplementation?

Certainly, minors should not reach for such products, but it is worth remembering that the decline in collagen begins after the age of 25. Of course, at this age there is not yet a great deterioration in the condition of the skin, so supplements for young people should have a slightly lower collagen content. There is a greater need for collagen after the age of 50, when production of this valuable protein decreases by nearly 40 percent. In women, the process of aging of the skin and weakening of the joints is also strongly related to menopause, so it is good to take collagen prophylactically even before menopause begins.

What are the symptoms of collagen deficiency?

Lack of collagen means worse-looking skin - it begins to sag, the oval of the face becomes fuzzy, the body is not as resilient, it becomes increasingly difficult to ensure optimal skin hydration. Hair and nails also look worse, becoming brittle, lusterless, weaker. Deficiencies in collagen become strongly apparent in the condition of joints - if there is a lack of this protein, cartilage can not regenerate, so joints hurt, stiffen, injury is easier. In addition, insufficient collagen means a general decline in fitness, fatigue, reduced immunity, hormonal disorders.

Who is most at risk from a lack of collagen?

Collagen RP

In fact, it awaits everyone, because the decline in collagen production is simply the result of the body aging. However, it does not occur in everyone at exactly the same rate. Lifestyle has quite an impact on the quality of collagen and exactly how much our body is able to produce. For genetic reasons, collagen may already be lacking in children, who grow more slowly for this reason. Also, in athletes and people who work out, the demand for collagen is somewhat higher, so if you don't provide it with diet or supplementation, you will feel the effects of a deficiency sooner.

Problems with collagen deficiency are also faced by obese people - high body weight puts a strain on bones and joints, so the cartilage wears down more intensively, but can no longer regenerate quickly enough. Collagen supplementation may also be necessary with a vegetarian diet - an additional complication here is that collagen cannot be obtained from plants. The use of poor cosmetics or neglecting proper skin care, overexposure to the sun and failure to use sunscreen, a diet low in antioxidants, and living in a polluted environment also contribute to premature collagen loss.

How to choose how to supplement collagen deficiency?

Since collagen is not absorbed through the skin, oral preparations, either in powder or capsule form, will be best for wrinkles. Also for joints, oral supplements are primarily recommended, mainly with type II collagen, which is assimilated just through cartilage and bone. Under the supervision of a doctor, in these more difficult cases, collagen injections may be the optimal solution - absolutely do not perform such treatments on your own, as you usually end up with serious side effects.

Fish collagens are rated the highest, but still the dose of collagen is key - if the product is to really work, it should not be less than 5 grams of collagen per day. People who don't like tablets will appreciate ampoules for drinking, and a powder that can be added to any drink is also convenient.

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