No matter what anyone says, appearances do matter. People judge us by how we look at the first meeting, so it is essential to leave a good impression. Looking good is not just about pleasing other people. When you are aware that you look good, you also feel good.
However, when we grow older, it becomes more challenging to maintain a youthful and healthy appearance. Stress, pollution, and time all take a toll on our overall health, reflecting on our looks. Taking vitamin and mineral supplements help in maintaining good health and appearance, but most of us forget to supplement our diet with collagen.
What is Collagen?
Coming from the Greek word “kolla,” which means glue, collagen plays a significant role in our body. Our entire body is made of fibrous protein—hair, skin, nails, bones, teeth, muscles, organs, tendons, joints, and more. Your skin is elastic because of collagen. Collagen protects your body’s joints and tissues. Even your digestive tract benefits from collagen since it helps reduce gut inflammation and aids in proper food digestion.
Does the Body Produce Collagen Naturally?
- The body naturally produces collagen, but when you reach your 30s, it starts to slow down.
- In your 40s, your body loses collagen faster than the body can naturally produce it.
- When you reach your 60s, your body’s collagen levels are depleted by more than 50%.
To replenish collagen in your body, you should start consuming collagen-boosting foods. If you are not fond of bone broth, there are other options. Make sure to include the following in your diet: meat, oysters, eggs, citrus fruits, berries, beans, and leafy green vegetables.
Getting enough collagen from your diet can be challenging, especially if you have limitations in your diet. Taking hydrolyzed collagen helps boost the body’s capability to produce collagen with the help of amino acids. There are a variety of collagen supplements available in the market, so you can start reaping the benefits of this vital protein.
How Your Body Benefits from Collagen
Many people have no idea what collagen is and how it can help the body. Here are the reasons to increase your daily collagen intake:
- Improves Skin Health
The largest organ of the body is highly is susceptible to damage and infection. Taking your daily dose of collagen protects your skin from dryness, sagging, and wrinkles. One of the most common reasons people add collagen to their diet is to improve skin health. Supplementing your diet with collagen increases your skin’s elasticity and texture. Collagen is also known to hasten the healing of wounds, as well as the reduction of scars.
- Strengthens Your Gut
The anti-inflammatory properties of collagen help in treating a leaky gut and other digestive disorders. Some health practitioners believe that collagen can help in rebuilding the lining of a damaged intestine because of its amino acids. A healthy intestine results in better digestion of nutrients, which benefits your immune system.
- Relieves Joint Pain
Older people start to suffer from arthritis or inflammation of the joints. People with higher levels of physical activity can suffer from joint pain as well. Collagen relieves joint pain and promotes healthy tendons, ligaments, and bones. By taking collagen daily, you can prevent the deterioration of the cartilage that protects the joints.
- Prevent Atherosclerosis
Some theories claim that increased collagen intake can reduce the onset of heart-related conditions like atherosclerosis. Arteries that clog or harden over time can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Collagen may help prevent atherosclerosis by repairing the arteries and prevent them from hardening due to fat deposits. Plus, collagen can increase good cholesterol, which can help prevent heart diseases.
- Detoxifies the Liver
The liver is the organ that helps in removing toxins from the body. These toxins, however, can damage the liver over time. Collagen contains glycine, a type of protein that helps in the detoxification of the liver. The glycine in collagen also promotes better sleep, which benefits your overall health.
- Better Weight Management
The glycine found in collagen is not only beneficial to your liver, but it may also help prevent weight problems. Glycine promotes lean muscle tissue, which in turn boosts your metabolism. Collagen can aid in weight loss by making you burn calories faster. The protein in collagen keeps you feeling full longer, thus preventing overeating and helps in better weight management.
Conclusion
To make sure that your body has the right amount of collagen, you can opt to take collagen supplements or include collagen-rich or collagen boosting food items in your diet. To maximize the benefits of collagen supplementation, you should minimize sugar and carbohydrate intake. You must also avoid too much sun exposure and stop smoking if you do. Collagen is not only vital for a youthful appearance—it helps prevent and treat various health problems.
