Collagen is a protein that’s found in the body. It’s mainly found in the skin, hair, and nails. It also makes up a lot of our muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Collagen is an essential protein that helps keep our hair strong, nails healthy and skin looking youthful. Our bodies don’t produce enough collagen to maintain these important functions as we get older. So it’s important to take steps to help keep your skin healthy by consuming collagen 

The main four types of collagen and what they do are:

• Type I   This type makes up 90% of your body’s collagen. …
• Type II  This type is found in elastic cartilage, which provides joint support.
• Type III This type is found in muscles, arteries and organs.
• Type IV This type is found in the layers of your skin.

What does collagen do?

The main role of collagen is to provide strength to different parts of our bodies like skin and bones; it also protects other cells from outside harmful substances by constructing a barrier around them.

It is a type of protein that gives strength, elasticity, and form to different types of tissues, such as bone, skin, and cartilage.

Collagen is responsible for giving strength to the bones by providing them with structural rigidity. It also helps in the formation of scar tissue. It also helps form tendons and ligaments by connecting muscle fibers to bone cells.

It also makes up the gut lining, blood vessels and other tissues throughout the body. Collagen has many jobs in the human body but it mainly acts as glue to stick tissues together making up a scaffold of sorts that wraps around muscles and joints.

Collagen also helps to protect other cells and tissues in the body by forming a physical barrier against pathogens or toxins. Collagen has an important role in keeping skin healthy, strong and youthful-looking.

What happens to collagen as I age?

As you become older, your body creates less collagen and the collagen you already have degrades more quickly. Compared to when you were younger, the collagen is also of lower quality. After menopause, women’s collagen production significantly declines. After age 60, everyone typically experiences a reduction in collagen production.

Can I recognize a decrease in my body’s collagen levels?

Collagen is what helps our skin to look healthy and vibrant. So, when we notice reduced levels of collagen, we need to find out about the possible causes and take action.

• Protein deficiency: A lack of protein can lead to wrinkles, hair loss, dry skin etc.
• Lack of water: Water is vital for skin health because it carries nutrients deep into the skin where they are needed most. 
• As we age, collagen production in our skin slows down. This leads to wrinkles, lines and saggy skin.
• Exposure to sun and UV radiation
• Natural aging process in the body
• muscle pains, muscle shrinkage, and muscle weakness
• less flexible and more rigid tendons and ligaments.
• Osteoarthritis is joint pain brought on by damaged cartilage.
• loss of movement brought on by stiffness or joint injury.
• gastrointestinal issues brought on by a thinned digestive tract lining.
• Issues with blood circulation.

What can I do to stop the loss of skin collagen and delay the aging process?

Wear sunscreen every day to reduce the signs of aging skin. Collagen is harmed by UV light exposure. Make use of sun protection products with an SPF of 30 or higher. When outdoors, put on a wide-brimmed hat, UV-protective sunglasses, and airy long-sleeved shirts and slacks. For further protection, look for clothing with a UV protection factor label. Skip the tanning bed.

Consume a diet that is well-balanced, such as the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seafood with just a small quantity of dairy, meat, and eggs.

Collagen peptides: what are they?

Small fragments of animal collagen are known as collagen peptides. It is impossible to absorb collagen in its whole. It needs to be divided up into more manageable peptides or amino acids. Supplements for oral collagen are available as tablets and powders. They often have two or three amino acids in them. They are offered for sale as hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides. Your digestive system helps you absorb collagen peptides.

Does consuming foods high in collagen raise my body’s collagen levels?

The main dietary source of collagen is meat and meat products which provide about 18-36g per kg per day (or about 1g/kg/day) for adults depending on the type of meat consumed. However, eating collagen-rich foods does not necessarily lead to increase in your collagen level in your body because it has little direct influence on your collagen levels.

Is eating collagen-rich food really as good as taking a supplement?

Eating collagen-rich foods does not increase the collagen level in your body. Your body produces collagen naturally and it has nothing to do with the food you eat.

One study found that when you eat more than 16 grams of hydrolyzed collagen peptide, the level of free form amino acids in your blood increased. The study also found that when you eat more than 16 grams of hydrolyzed collagen peptide, your blood glucose levels will also increase.

The Health Advantages of Collagen Supplements

Supplementing with collagen has several positive health effects.

• Skin health may improve.
• It could help with joint pain.
• Bone loss may be avoided.
• Muscle mass may be increased.
• May benefit heart health
• Other health benefits like Hair and nails, Gut health, Brain health and weight loss.