As we get older, we just accept that certain things just happen such as having brittle bones, bigger waistlines, fine lines, and wrinkles show up, poor eyesight, and more. This is the reason why we need to take care of ourselves, it would be beneficial to want something better, that we are we willing to do, move, and learn. And for those young people who are reading this, you might want to start as early as you can to take good care of yourselves.

Today, collagen get a lot of attention these days, particularly to those who love taking care of their skin. We naturally have collagen in our bodies and it is one of the most abundant protein in the body that builds up a large part of our skin, hair, and nails.

Understanding What Collagen is

Basically, collagen is a lengthy-chain amino acid and is the greatest protein find in our bodies. It is made up of the individual amino acids Glycine, Proline, Hydroxyproline, and Arginine, plus in the natural world originates in animal tissue, primarily bones and connective tissue.

It is in charge of providing your skin with amazing elasticity, healthy hair, and connective tissue for holding anything in place. According to News Medical Life Sciences, collagen makes up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content, and 70% of the protein in the skin.

Your body’s natural collagen fabrication reduces as we age and due to modern lifestyle elements including unhealthy diet, stress, gut health imbalances, and etc. which adds up in decreasing the body’s ability to produce it.

Collagen is Good for the Skin

Aside from the wonders it does to the entire body, collagen is pretty much noticeable to the skin. As you age, the epidermis (outer layer of skin) decreases and shows plenty of signs of aging and gets more wrinkles. Here are some of the benefits it has on your skin:

Wrinkles and Aging

Getting older also means having a steady decline in epidermal collagen but the good news is, there are a few amino acid precursors to collagen synthesis in the body that can be filled via consumable called collagen peptides and gelatin.

A 2014 study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found out that “oral intake of specific bioactive collagen peptides reduces skin wrinkles and increases dermal matrix synthesis.” It demonstrated a 20% depletion in eye wrinkles from using collage peptide supplements for 8 weeks.

Skin Elasticity

Elasticity is closely associate with wrinkles and it’s not possible that you can have one without deficiency in the other. However, it’s still important to place emphasis on how helpful collagen supplementation is for the skin elasticity. A study from Kargel International about Skin Pharmacology and Physiology says that hydrolyzed collagen provided at various dosages has the same significant influence on skin elasticity.

They gathered sixty-nine women between the ages of 35 and 55 and gave them 2.5 g or 5 g of collagen hydrolysate once a day for eight weeks, resulting to a significant improvement in skin elasticity in both groups compared to placebo. This really just shows that getting more amount of collagen in our diet guarantees a lower risk of skin cracking.

Cellulite

From the journal of cosmetic and laser therapy of Taylor & Francis Medicine, an estimate of 85-98% of post-pubescent females have cellulite. Although this is not consider to be a risk in one’s life, many see it as distress for a flawless physique.

A clinical study made from the NCBI last 2015, over 105 women between 24 and 50 years of age were prescribe to take 2.5 g of collagen peptides or a placebo for a period of 6 months. For the women with normal weight who were given the peptides has a gradual decrease in the level of cellulite and “reduced skin waviness”, in company with enhanced dermal density.

However, for overweight women who also tried the collagen, changes were not noticeable. Why? Having a poor diet and less exercise blocks the benefits of what the collagen can do for the body. Collagen is an effective ingredient but should be place in the proper context.

Sun Damage

Most people are not aware of this but the more you go out into the sun, your skin ages. But it doesn’t mean that you should be scare every time a ray of sun moves your way. You also need to get some essential Vitamin D and enjoy the sun a bit.

The solution to this is that you do your best to avoid overexposure, have antioxidant protection (wear sunscreen, it helps a lot!), and have a sufficient intake of collagen to keep healthy collagen levels in the skin.

On the Note

Your skin is not the only who will greatly reap the benefits of collagen, but it also plays such an important role in your overall health. Aside from intaking collagen in your body, you can also invest in great skincare products such as serums, sunscreens, and balms, to also make a huge difference on your outside appearance.

Collagen can help improve your bone and joint health, lessen joint pains, enhance your body’s natural hormone production, and refine your digestion. If you want to try intaking collagen, you can do your research or ask your doctor for any recommendations of high-quality gelatin and collagen powders. When looking for a supplement, you want to choose one that’s grass-fed and pastured humanely raised sources from a well-established company.