Collagen is becoming more and more popular and many wonder whether it is a new publicity stunt or a real novelty in skin and body care. Not many people know that collagen is also important for muscles, bone, and heart function. Therefore, it is important to learn about the many benefits of collagen for your body
What is collagen?
Probably everyone has heard of collagen and its importance for joints or skin. Collagen is an insoluble protein, one of the most abundant proteins in animals. You may be surprised that collagen makes up about 30% of the body’s proteins and is found in various tissues, such as tendons or bones. Like other proteins, collagen is made of amino acids, namely glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine. There are more than 16 types of collagen, but the majority, more precisely 80-90% of collagen in the body is type I (skin, bones, tendons, dentin, ligaments, interstitial tissues), II (cartilage, vitreous)and III (skin, muscles, blood vessels).
Negative factors affecting collagen
Collagen levels change with age due to various factors. These factors disrupt collagen synthesis or accelerate its breakdown.
- Age (collagen levels naturally decrease with age)
- Excessive stress
- Smoking (leads to wrinkles and also slows wound healing)
- Vitamin deficiency, such as vitamin C
- Consumption of a lot of sugar (excess sugar in the diet affects the ability of collagen to recover)
- Excessive sun exposure (Ultraviolet rays can reduce collagen production)
- Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, can cause collagen damage
The benefits of collagen
Collagen is part of various tissues and in addition to the skin and cartilage, you can find it in blood vessels, bones and joints. Therefore, there are several reasons to consider taking extra collagen.
1. Collagen slows down skin aging – it improves the overall appearance and health of the skin by moisturizing it and reducing wrinkles. The delay in skin aging with the help of collagen has been proven in various studies. Collagen has also been linked to the prevention of acne and other skin problems, although this has not yet been scientifically substantiated.
2. Collagen supports the functioning of the joints – human joints are protected thanks to healthy cartilage, which is maintained by collagen. Nutritional supplements can be a source of collagen to supplement its decreasing levels with age.
3. Collagen protects bone health. It is one of the important components of bones and helps maintain their strength. Bones weaken and thin with age, leading to problems, including osteoporosis.
4. It supports muscle growth – muscles are also a tissue, part of which is collagen, more precisely it makes up 1 – 10% of muscle mass and muscles need it to function properly. There is even scientific evidence of an increase in muscle mass with the addition of collagen.
5. It is important for the heart and cardiovascular system – according to research, collagen is important for supporting heart health. It helps to significantly reduce the hardening of the arteries and lower the level of LDL cholesterol.
Improving the functions of muscles, bones, cartilage and heart through additional intake of collagen is the subject of much scientific research. Despite the promising results, further studies are needed to fully confirm some of the benefits of collagen. Although some of the benefits mentioned above have not been confirmed by studies, they mention the effects of collagen on healthy nails, hair, and good digestion or on calm mood and anxiety. Collagen is very popular today and we may soon see other and better justified benefits of its use.
Comments