Hello beautiful people and welcome back to the blog! Today we’ll be talking all about collagen: what it is, why the body needs it, and the different ways to consume it. 

Firstly, what is collagen? “Known to be one of the most abundant proteins found in the human body, collagen is found in our muscles, bones, skin, blood vessels, digestive system and even tendons, making up about a third of our body’s protein composition. Their molecules are packed together to form long, thin fibrils which act as supporting structures, connecting the cells to each other” [1]. Collagen helps to keep our skin elastic, our bones strong and our skin shiny and youthful. There are also many different kinds of collagen, each with its own properties and effects on the body, though the four main types are type I, II, III and IV.

• “Type I: Accounts for 90% of your body’s collagen and is made of densely packed fibers. This collagen is what provides structure to skin, bones, tendons, fibrous cartilage, connective tissue and even your teeth.

• Type II: Made of more loosely packed fibers, it is found in elastic cartilage, which cushions our joints.

• Type III: Supports the structure of muscles, organs, and arteries.

• Type IV: Helps with filtration and is found in layers of your skin” [1]. 

In addition to helping us look youthful, collagen can help us on an internal level. Some of the benefits [3] associated with increased collagen consumption include: improved joint health, increased muscle mass, decreased bone loss, strong heart health, maintaining a healthy gut and reduced anxiety. 

Unfortunately, collagen production starts to slow around our mid-20s, and factors such as “exposure to excessive sunlight, environmental pollution, and cigarette smoke can also effect collagen reproduction” so it may be a good idea to start supplementing the stuff [2]. It is naturally found in many foods such as: bone broth, fish & shellfish, egg whites, bone marrow, berries, avocado, citrus fruit, and beans. In fact, collagen has long been toted in Chinese medicine as a miracle chemical to help women keep their skin shiny and elastic and is a big part of why dishes like Bird’s nest soup and fried duck heads are so popular. However, if these don’t sound like your cup of tea, there are simpler ways to consume collagen. 

Two of my favorite ways include: making homemade bone broth once or twice a month and mixing a collagen powder into a glass of water each morning. The former is nice because you can control the quality of bones you use (I would recommend organic and grass-fed if you are using beef bones), and the latter is convenient. For the last two weeks I have been using a collagen powder by Revive (*not sponsored) because it has types 1,2, 3, 5 & 10 and is ethically sourced. It’s still a bit too early to tell the effects of the powder but as someone who exercises as a hobby and as her job I look forward to the increase in muscle mass, healthy joints and smooth skin :) But then again, who wouldn’t like to see those effects?

So what do you all think? Has this post piqued your interest in collagen or have you been a long-time fan of it? Either way, I’d be really curious to know what you think so let me know down below :)

Thank you all for stopping by and until next week!

Xoxo,

Alexandra 

Sources:

1.Light, Zuzka. “What Is Collagen? 5 Ways Collagen Can Boost Your Health.” Zuzka Light, 18 Oct. 2017, zuzkalight.com/health-fitness/what-is-collagen-5-ways-collagen-can-boost-your-health/  

2.Qian, Zhang. “Enrich Your Skin with Collagen Food Therapy.” Archive.shine.cn, 4 Feb. 2016, archive.shine.cn/feature/ideal/Enrich-your-skin-with-collagen-food-therapy/shdaily.shtml  

3. Fletcher, Jenna. “Collagen Supplements: Benefits, Safety, and Effects.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 31 May 2019, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325344#joint-health