What is collagen, where does it come from, and what are its benefits and effects on the body?
In this video, we discuss collagen supplements – what collagen is, its history, and what its scientific health benefits and effects are on hair, skin, muscles, joints, and more.
So, what is collagen and what’s all the hype about?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. Collagen protein actually makes up one-third of the body’s total protein composition. Some people call it the scaffolding, or the glue, of the human body because it is the primary foundation for the overall structure and support of your body.
Collagen is found in skin, bones, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, ligaments, corneas, and in teeth, and supports the function and health of almost all the body’s systems.
90% of the body’s collagen comes in three main types: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3.
- Type 1 collagen is the most plentiful type in your body and supports skin, bones, tendons, and fibrous cartilage.
- Type 2 provides the most benefit to your joints by supporting elastic cartilage.
- Type 3 primarily supports the skin and organs.
If collagen is so important but also abundant in the body, why do we need more of it, and why do so many people take collagen supplements? Can collagen be found in everyday foods instead?
Well, the body’s supply of collagen actually decreases as we age, so it becomes more important with age to consume more in order to regulate the body’s supply and train the body to create more. Most natural collagen sources are so rarely consumed nowadays, making collagen supplements one of the best ways to give your body the amount it needs.
If you’re going to take a collagen supplement, you shouldn’t just take any supplement off the shelf. The best type is hydrolyzed collagen from safe sources.
The history of hydrolyzed collagen and why it’s better:
The body’s structure is made up of collagen, and collagen’s structure is made up of tropocollagen. Tropocollagen is essentially a triple helix of polypeptide chains that are twisted together in a strand and contain amino acids arranged in patterns.
Tropocollagen is how collagen naturally occurs in vertebrates, and scientists have worked for decades to keep tropocollagen’s triple helix structure intact while extracting it, so that it can be used effectively. Preserving the triple helix bond, or keeping the collagen intact, makes it biologically active.
In the 1980’s, scientists from Gdansk, Poland, figured out how to hydrolyze collagen. Hydrolysation preserves the triple helix bond and makes it possible to obtain intact tropocollagen, which is identical to the collagen that naturally occurs in the body. Hydrolyzed collagen, therefore, is bioactive, can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, and provides the most benefit to the human body when ingested. So, if you look for collagen supplements, make sure to look for hydrolyzed collagen.
Now that we know what collagen is and why our bodies need it if we have a modern diet, let’s talk about its main benefits and what its effects on the body include.
Collagen’s effects & benefits on the body:
The most commonly known benefit of collagen is for skin. Collagen promotes the production of elastin and fibrillin, both of which are essential for skin structure.
The other most popular benefit of collagen is for your joints. As we age, our bodies produce a lower amount and quality of collagen. This negatively affects our joints because our joints protect cartilage, and cartilage is made of collagen.
Collagen can also help prevent bone loss by increasing BMD (bone mineral density). This measures the density of calcium and other minerals in your bones. A higher BMD is better, and a lower BMD is a sign of weak bones.
Collagen can also boost muscle mass. Up to 10% of muscle tissue is made of collagen, and collagen has been studied for its properties of supporting muscle synthesis and stimulating muscle growth after workouts. In one study, frail men took 15 grams of collagen daily and exercised, and their muscle mass and strength increased significantly more than the other group of men who exercised but did not supplement with collagen.
Collagen’s other main benefit is for heart health. The body’s arteries, which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body, contribute greatly to the health of your heart and circulatory system. Collagen provides structure for the arteries, and as the body ages and produces less collagen, arteries can become more fragile and prone to risk and potential damage.
Make sure to check out our other educational videos on natural health topics like fucoidan, natural nootropics and brain health, how to detox your body with natural foods, how to start keto, and more.
Collagen B3 supports:
- Healthy hair, radiant skin, and strong nails
- Increased energy, stamina, and focus
- Strong joints, cartilage, and tendon health
- A healthy digestive tract
Our favorite Collagen supplement:
If you’re interested in a collagen supplement, remember to look for hydrolyzed collagen from sources you trust. Our favorite collagen product (partially because we made it!) is Collagen B3. Collagen B3 uses hydrolyzed collagen sourced from pasture-raised cows without added hormones and is made in Sisel’s certified manufacturing facility. Collagen B3 contains Types 1, 2, and 3 Collagen, as well as MCT Oil for brain health, hyaluronic acid for increased skin hydration, biotin for healthy skin and nails, and more.
Visit our website to check out our hydrolyzed collagen supplement.
To learn more about collagen and specifically Sisel’s Collagen supplement – CollagenB3, listen to our podcast episode on CollagenB3.
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