Many people have asked themselves; How does skin hold it’s shape? How can it be so flexible, strong, and soft all at the same time? Well, your skin has a special power, and that power is a protein called collagen. Collagen makes up 30% of the protein in your body, which is crazy if you ask me. It’s an important building block for all kinds of different tissues. Collagen also makes up 70–80% of the dry weight of your skin! So, it’s an important protein, but how does your body get it? What is collagen for? How can you add more collagen? Let’s jump into those questions and learn all about what collagen is for.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein found in your skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and more. It’s an important structural piece of all those tissues. Compared to other proteins, collagen has a lot more proline, hydroxyproline, and glycine. This could explain what makes collagen so unique. Because of this, your body needs these amino acids to synthesize collagen. You’ll also need the proper amount of vitamin C, zinc, copper, and manganese. You see, when you’re young, your body produces collagen at full strength.
As you get older, though, your natural production of collagen decreases. This is totally normal. In fact, your collagen levels peak around ages 25-35 and then begin dropping after that. That’s why people can start to develop wrinkles and other symptoms of collagen loss during their 40s and 50s. To prevent some of these effects, many people use collagen supplements. That’s because taking collagen can help support your body’s natural collagen production. That may seem obvious, but it’s true! Think of it as providing the materials your body needs to make your own collagen.
It would be no different than providing someone with wood to build a house. Your body treats exogenous collagen the same! You’re giving your body the specific amino acids and nutrients it needs to make collagen. That makes producing collagen naturally easier for your body.
What is Collagen for?
Collagen Can Support Anti-aging Skin Health. Collagen makes up most of your skin and helps give your skin its moisture and structure. There are other proteins involved too, but collagen is the most prominent.
Collagen Can Support Joint Health
Collagen is also found in your cartilage which is an important part of each of your joints. It’s one of the proteins that helps cushion your joints. As you make less collagen throughout the years, the collagen in your joints can break down too. That can lead to the development of osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of arthritis.
It’s also one of the reasons most of the people dealing with joint pain are older. They have less collagen in their joints, leading to pain and other problems over time. The “wear and tear” from everyday life causes the cartilage to break down. The problem is they’re not making enough collagen to replace it. Eventually, this can even lead to some of your joints being bone-on-bone. That hurts!
As I mentioned earlier … If you are going to repair something in your body, you must give your body the materials it needs to do so. Taking collagen gives your body what it needs to rebuild broken-down cartilage. If you want to stay away from joint pain, this could be a great strategy!
Collagen Can Support Bone Strength
Strangely enough, collagen is a major component of your bone mass. I would have never guessed that if I didn’t already know it to be true. When collagen breaks down in your bones, that can make them more brittle. Adding more collagen to your body can have the opposite effect, making them stronger. In fact, research has found that taking collagen can increase the density of your bones. In addition to all the minerals that make up your bones, collagen plays a role in bone strength. With older women having a higher risk of osteoporosis, taking collagen may be a very good idea. It could potentially help to prevent some of the loss of bone tissue that causes it.
Collagen Can Support Muscle Mass
When you work out, you’re creating micro-tears in your muscle fibers. This breakdown is what signals the body to repair and grow new muscle.
Collagen Can Support Hair and Nail Strength
Collagen also makes up large portions of your hair and nails. That’s why it’s usually advertised for hair and nail health!
Foods With Collagen
When your body stops making as much collagen, you may want to look for ways to boost your collagen intake. While a high-quality supplement will have the highest concentrations of collagen from different types … Some foods are high in collagen as well.
Here are some examples of foods high in collagen:
- Bone broth
- Pork skin or rinds
- Fish skin
- Organ meats
- Gelatin
Stopping Collagen Loss
It’s impossible to eliminate collagen loss. You also can’t entirely prevent the effects of collagen breakdown. However, it’s possible to slow it down and minimize some of the effects. Here are some tips for preventing collagen loss:
Check Your Diet
The food you eat can be a way to prevent collagen loss. If your diet isn’t right, you won’t be doing yourself any favors. Try eating a variety of fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy. The more you mix things up, the more likely you’re getting a wider range of the nutrients you need.
Adjust Lifestyle Factors
Your lifestyle also affects how quickly collagen breaks down. Avoiding smoking and alcohol can help preserve your collagen levels for longer.
Take Care of Your Skin
Caring for your skin can also help preserve your natural collagen levels. Using sunscreen and proper water intake are key ways to care for your skin.
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