Collagen pills, powders, drinks and lotions are very popular today and they are advertised as the ultimate skincare from within, but do they work?
A lot has been said about collagen products used in the beauty industry and if any of these is true, collagen may be the ultimate anti-aging product. However, there are several aspects you should really take into account before getting your powder, drink capsule or cream.
A guide to Collagen Supplements
How do they work
When our collagen declines wrinkles start to appear, our bones and joints become weaker and we could suffer from leaky gut.
- Supplements are said to reduce the rate at which our collagen breaks down –from 25 on, the production of new collagen significantly declines.
- Collagen supplements improve the production of collagen
- They also help the body make hyaluronic acid and improve skin hydration
- It is said that they reduce fine lines and wrinkles and support hair, joints and bones
- They help heal leaky gut
It is said that they reduce fine lines and wrinkles and support hair, joints and bones
When collagen supplements are absorbed by the gut into the bloodstream, collagen and amino acids provide building blocks for new collagen fibers to be formed and they also stimulate the production of new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Types of collagen
Collagen Type I:
If you are looking for collagen to better your skin, hair, nails joints and bones, Type I is the one you have to look for. It is said to be the kay matrix building protein in our skin, giving it structure and firmness.
Collagen Type II:
This type of collagen will mainly help joints and cartilage –it is used if you suffer from arthritis.
Collagen Type III:
This is the type that is found in the early stages of healing and later is replaced by type I collagen.
Hydrolyzed collagen
Collagen is broken into small peptide chains to make it easier for your body to use, this is how hydrolyzed collagen is made and it might be the only kind of collagen that can better your skin.
The dose
It is recommended a daily dose of 10g of hydrolyzed collagen reduce the rate at which collagen breaks down and improves the skin’s collagen production. To make it more bioavailable –easier for your body to use– it is better to couple oral collagen with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or omega 3 antioxidants.
The source
Collagen can come from cow bone and cartilage, from fish scales or eggs. There is also some type of supplements made from genetically modified yeast or bacterial sources –this is vegan.
The most effective types
Liquid supplements are thought to have the best bioavailability, followed by powders. Capsules have a lower dose, so to get the required dose, you would have to take around 10 capsules a day.
Collagen skin creams
The molecule of collagen is too large to penetrate the skin and to have an impact on the skin. However, they can however be good moisturizers.
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