Getting old can be daunting. It seems to happen in the blink of an eye. One day we are out at the beach, soaking up the rays and working on our tan, and the next we are worried about those extra lines and wrinkles that are popping up uninvited. In an ideal world, we could hit the pause button at 30 and continue getting wiser without the ‘older’ part mixed in. But, let’s face it, getting old isn’t all that bad. There are plenty of things to look forward to that come with age. We should be embracing it, rather than fighting it. This doesn’t mean we can’t look for a little help along the way. Known as the ‘Fountain of Youth’, collagen is a word you have likely heard somewhere along the way when it comes to smoothing out your skin and staying young. It has quite an interesting reputation, with plenty of mixed reviews depending on where you look. While most people understand that collagen has something to do with your skin, not many actually know what exactly it is. Here’s everything you need to know about collagen, and exactly what benefits it has to offer.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein that is found in the connective tissue of animals – including us humans! In fact, it makes up 80% of our skin, working with another protein called elastin to help keep our skin elastic. As we age, our bodies naturally start to reduce the production of collagen, leading to dry skin and wrinkles. Collagen is made up of more than 100 amnio acid units, which is extremely high. These high units can help nourish your skin and support all the connective tissues in your body. There are actually at least 16 types of collagen, but the most common you will come across are Type I, Types II and Type III. These three types make up 80 to 90% of all collagen in your body.
Type I: this one is the most abundant in your body, found in your nails, hair, skin, digestive system and ligaments.
Type II: this type is found in your cartilage.
Type III: this type often works together with Type I to strengthen the elasticity in your skin, lugs, circulatory system and connective tissue.
Benefits Of Collagen
There is no doubt that collagen supplements have become extremely popular in recent years. The fact is, the benefits go beyond just improving your skin and helping slow down the aging process. They also extend to joint pain and more. Here are some of the key benefits that collagen can offer:
- Improve skin health: we all want to slow the aging process, don’t we? Collagen strengthens you skin and can also help keep it hydrated. As you age, the amount your body produces dwindles, which leads to dry skin and wrinkles. By taking supplements, you can help boost the levels in your body and slow the aging process.
- Relieve joint pain: another side effect of age is the increased risk of developing degenerative joint disorders such as osteoarthritis. Taking collagen supplements has been shown to improve your symptoms and reduce the overall pain.
- Boost muscle mass: between 1% to 10% of our muscle tissue is made up of collagen. Sarcopenia is a loss of muscle mass that can occur with age. Taking collagen supplements can help boost muscle mass in those experiencing this.
- Prevent bone loss: your bones are mostly made from collagen. Once again, with age, your bone mass starts to decrease. This puts you at risk of bone fractures and more. Collagen supplements can help stop this bone breakdown.
How To Absorb Collagen
Knowing just how beneficial collagen supplements can be for our bodies, what is the best way to absorb them? You have plenty of options with pills, creams, liquids and powders all available for you to test out, but not all are created equal.
Pills: these are a popular choice, but do require you to remember to take each day.
Creams: these often can’t be absorbed deep enough into the skin to be effective.
Liquids: can often be expensive and not taste the best.
Powders: these are the most popular choice, as they can be mixed into a smoothies, coffee or water.
Collagen Powders
Our Brilliance Collagen Booster is the perfect way to support your natural collagen production. Made from 100% pure bovine collagen, you are getting all the benefits in the easiest form to absorb. Simply add to your morning coffee or smoothie and start enjoying all the benefits. Remember, there is nothing wrong with getting old. It’s a natural part of life that also comes with many perks. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t delay the inevitable as much as possible… Plus, it comes with plenty of other benefits for our overall health, so it’s a win-win!