Why take Collagen? Don't we Naturally Produce Collagen? To understand why you may want to take a liquid collagen supplement, first you're got to understand what collagen is and why we have it in our bodies. Collagen is the most plentiful protein in your body - it's in your muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, organs, blood vessels, skin, and more. Collagen is the central structural component of extracellular connective tissue, which provides elastic qualities to tissues, like your skin. There is no way to measure your current collagen level in your body, but you'll be able to tell when it's decreasing as you get older when you notice things like increased wrinkles, lines, and drier skin. Collagen is what keeps your skin from sagging and gives you a plump, youthful look. To make collagen naturally your human body must have amino acids that it gets when you eat protein-rich food, along with vitamin C, zinc and copper. However, even if you eat healthy, as you age your body will no longer absorb nutrients as well or synthesize them as efficiently, which results in collagen loss. Clinical research shows that starting in your mid-20s you'll slowly begin to lose collagen. Then during the first 5 years of menopause, women can lose up to 30% of their overall collagen production, and this lack of collagen production can accelerate the visual affects of aging.
Collagen supplementation, like using a liquid collagen product, is one way to try to counteract the effects of slowed collagen production in your body.
Collagen and Vitamin C for repair of tendons and ligaments No one likes to be out of action due to injury, but with the right nutrition and rehabilitation program, you can be back on your feet in no time. Collagen peptides have been proven as a nutrition solution to support strong and flexible tendons and ligaments in athletes, contributing to high performance and fast return-to-training. Recent studies have helped to fine tune dosage recommendations and nutrient combinations to enhance its effectiveness. As the body produces lower-quality and volumes of collagen as we age, master athletes may benefit from prophylactic collagen supplementation.
What does collagen do? Collagen is one the major structural protein and building blocks made within your body. Collectively, collagen comprises 30% of the body’s protein as amino-acids, specifically glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine. Collagen provides structure and acts like a glue to your skin, hair, skeleton, tendons, muscles, ligaments, corneas, teeth and blood vessels. There are 16 different types of collagen within the body, all with slightly different roles but 80 – 90 % of the collagen in the body consists of types I, II, and III. Together all forms of collagen serve the same purpose; to help tissues withstand stretching. Although all forms are essential in the body, research tends to focus on types I-III when it comes to athletes. Let’s explore these three types in a little more detail. Type I collagen forms the reinforcing rods in bone, cartilage, tendons, teeth and connective tissue and is the most dominant form within the body making up 90% of all collagen. It is also the collagen that forms scar tissue. Type II collagen (also known as hyaline or articular cartilage) is the major collagen in elastic cartilage and is the gel like substance designed to provide cushioning and allow joints to absorb shock. Its rigid macromolecules provide the strength and compressibility that allow it to resist large deformations in shape during movement. Type III collagen supports the structure of muscles, organs, and arteries.
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