The benefits of collagen are almost too many to count.

Increasing muscle mass and bone strength, easing joint pain, improving skin and hair health…the list goes on.

WHAT IS IT?

So, what exactly is collagen?

Basically, it’s a protein that our body makes. It’s produced from certain foods and we can also take it through collagen supplements.

We naturally create collagen via the consumption of foods with certain amino acids. If you want to impress at a barbecue, the main amino acids in forming collagen are proline, glycine and hydroxyproline.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It’s what’s known as a structural protein, meaning that it supports our bones, muscles, hair and skin.

Think of it as your body’s glue.

Collagen accounts for roughly one third of our bodies’ protein. It’s the most dominant protein in the vital network of tissues that holds our bodies’ cells and structure together.

Safe to say, it’s fairly important.

BENEFITS PLEASE

Muscles

A major benefit of collagen is the role it plays in our muscle recovery and strength. It supports the structure of our muscles and tendons, which has a double payoff.

Firstly, collagen strengthens our joints, which helps prevent injuries and strains. It also aids in recovery, after a session of exercise.

This means that thanks to collagen, our muscles and tendons are healthy and able to perform to their optimal levels. This leads to increased muscle strength.

Bonus!

Skin

Collagen is a major component of our skin’s dermis. The dermis is our thick middle layer of skin. It’s responsible for protecting our skin, releasing and absorbing heat and maintaining our skin’s touch sensations.

Collagen helps the dermis to function smoothly – healthy dermis, healthy skin.

Strong collagen levels also assist in skin tissue repair that might come from sunburn or injury. It’s also important in maintaining skin elasticity, which fights sagging.

This is especially evident as we age, and our skin relies more and more on collagen to maintain its vitality.

Sold? We are.

Bones and joints

Our bones and joints have large components of collagen. Just as a skyscraper needs a steel frame for support, our structural system needs collagen.

Collagen provides the support that our bones need for mineralization. This is the process where minerals such as calcium are deposited into our bones to keep them healthy.

Naturally, as we get older, our bones weaken and lose their density, which makes collagen even more important.

Hair and nails

Collagen is packed with amino acids that also produce other proteins in your body. One of these is keratin, which is the support network for our hair and nails.

Just as with our skin, collagen works towards preventing hair damage and aiding in its repair. It supports the blood vessels that supply our hair and nails with nutrients. These nutrients help with hair regrowth, moisturization and overall hair and nail health.

GREAT, SO HOW DO I GET IT?

As we mentioned earlier, the body makes protein from certain amino acids. These amino acids are found in a wide range of foods that a normal healthy person consumes regularly.

There are also plenty of collagen supplements out there as well, with these becoming more important as we get older.

Food sources

These are some of the foods highest in the collagen-producing amino acids:

• Fish and other seafood
• Meat – beef, chicken, pork
• Berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, you name it
• Beans, nuts and lentils
• Vegetables – especially broccoli, asparagus and mushrooms

Most of us eat at least some of these foods on a regular basis. Not only are they packed with those all-important amino acids, but they’re also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.

Drinks and Supplements

As we get older, our bodies find it harder to make collagen. It also become more scattered, and more difficult to synthesize throughout our bodies.

This is when collagen supplements can be a huge boost to the system. They all come with the vital amino acids.

They include but are not limited to:

• Pills and capsules
• Powders to be added to drinks
• Gummies – candy-like capsules
• Pre-made drinks with amino acids

Our bodies’ ability to produce collagen usually starts to decrease sometime in our 20s.

This is hardly a dramatic process. Most of us are barely aware of it.

However, if you notice creaky joints, damaged skin or muscle tiredness, you could certainly benefit from more collagen in your diet or in supplement form.

Until recently, the “C word” was most commonly associated with plastic surgery and cosmetics.

But, the benefits of collagen are for us all – regardless of age – and seriously worth pursuing.

Image courtesy of Jill Wellington on Pixabay