To support the health of their skin, joints, and hair, many people take daily collagen supplements or blend collagen powder into their coffee, tea, or smoothies. Despite the rise in the usage of collagen supplements and other collagen products, the majority of people are uninformed of what collagen is and what it does in the body. Everything you need to know about collagen, including its definition, functions inside the body, and the value of collagen supplements, is covered in this article.
Why Is Collagen Vital? And what Does It Do?
Collagen is a subclass of proteins. Actually, the most common protein in mammals is the structural protein. A protein that contributes to the cellular framework is said to be structural. There are currently 28 recognized types of collagen, with type I collagen accounting for 90% of all collagen in the human body. Collagen is primarily composed of three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. These amino acids are arranged into three strands to form the triple-helix collagen structure.
Collagen is a substance found in connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage. It provides structural support for tissues and is essential for a number of biological processes, such as:
- Repair of tissues
- Immune reaction
- Mobile communication
- Migration of cells, an activity required for tissue upkeep
- The connective tissue cells called fibroblasts produce and preserve collagen. Age-related changes include collagen fragmentation, decreased fibroblast activity, and delayed collagen synthesis.
- Aging is brought on by these changes and the loss of elastin, an important structural element.
Need of collagen
Your body naturally produces collagen, which you can also acquire from supplements and food sources like fish and chicken skin. For the treatment of aging symptoms including wrinkles, dehydration of the skin, and joint discomfort, oral and topical collagen treatments like best collagen drink and face creams are well-liked.
Collagen is also available in different forms like pills, tablets, and liquids. It can be used as a supplement or added to hot and cold beverages, as well as foods like energy balls, yogurt, and oatmeal.
In the medical industry, collagen and collagen-based products are also used by healthcare professionals in the treatment of wounds, burns, and diabetic ulcers.
Additionally, due to collagen’s hydrating and anti-aging properties, cosmetics companies employ it in products like moisturizers and serums.
What Causes A Loss Of Collagen?
Your body’s natural collagen production decreases with age. Collagen is always not in a constant form, sometimes it splits. These alterations cause typical aging symptoms, such as wrinkles and sagging, dry skin. Age also causes a deterioration in the integrity of the collagen found in the skeletal system, which affects bone strength.
Although collagen degeneration and loss with age are inevitable, some food and lifestyle decisions may speed up this process. For instance, it is well known that smoking cigarettes degrade collagen, which results in skin aging, wrinkles, and loss of elasticity. It has also been demonstrated that excessive drinking speeds up skin aging by decreasing collagen formation and harming skin repair processes.
A diet high in processed foods and added sugars can also speed up the aging process by promoting the glycation process, which slows down collagen turnover and interferes with collagen’s capacity to interact with other proteins and cells in the body. Wearing sunscreen and limiting excessive sun exposure can help prevent the early indications of skin aging since excessive sun exposure reduces collagen production.
Optimum Sources Of Collagen In Food
All animals contain collagen, which is mostly present in the skin and joints of an animal. Here are a few examples of foods high in collagen.
- Animal skeletons, ligaments, and skin, such as pig knuckles and chicken skin
- Several varieties of seafood, including jellyfish and fish skin
- Products created with animal by-products, like ligaments and bones.
- Given that your body produces collagen from amino acids, ensuring that you consume adequate protein from foods like poultry, fish, beans, and eggs will help your body produce more collagen.
Your body needs additional dietary elements for collagen synthesis and maintenance in addition to amino acids. For instance, since vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, low or inadequate vitamin C levels might affect collagen production. Therefore, eating a lot of foods high in vitamin C can assist in the healthy development of collagen. For starters, consider the best collagen drink of citrus fruits, peppers, greens, and berries.
Are Collagen Supplements Harmful In Any Way?
Collagen-containing supplements are well-known for being safe and are not associated with any unfavorable side effects. However, producers frequently include collagen in dietary supplements together with other substances.
Supplements meant to enhance the health of the skin, nails, and hair may contain herbs and high vitamin concentrations that are hazardous to your body.
For example, components of dietary supplements, such as herbal extracts, may interfere with commonly prescribed medications, and some are dangerous for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Additionally, certain collagen-containing supplements might also have high quantities of minerals like biotin, which could affect testing in the lab for thyroid and heart function.
If you consume high doses of these and other vitamins and minerals for an extended period of time, you may experience health problems.
Wrapping Up
Collagen is a protein found in connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage. It has a role in crucial bodily processes like tissue repair and cell-to-cell communication as well as structurally supporting tissues. Your body naturally produces collagen, but you may also ingest it through supplements and specific meals, which may improve the health of your skin, bones, and other body parts.
Because of this, it’s important to read labels and understand the potential risks of best collagen drink that also contain other chemicals in addition to collagen, even though supplements that just contain collagen are unlikely to have any negative effects. Consult your doctor before beginning a supplement regimen if you are on any other drugs, are pregnant, or are nursing.