Collagen: the secret key to youthful skin and well-being

Nowadays the beauty industry offers a lot of products that promise to preserve youthful skin. While we cannot halt the inexorable march of time, modern technology allows us to mitigate the signs of aging. And collagen is one of the most popular beauty products to save good condition of the skin. Actually, it is like glue that holds our cells together and gives elasticity to our tissues. Collagen is an essential protein in our skin, hair, nails and bone structure and gained significant attention from customers and science society also. In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about collagen supplements.

What is collagen?

Let‘s start from the beginning. We could describe collagen as a type of protein and it is the most abundant structural protein in the human body. Indeed, collagen constitutes approximately 30% of the total protein content. That is a lot! There are several types of collagen, but in human body type I collagen is the most significant, making up around 90% of collagen. Types II and III are also important, each serving specific functions.

In general, collagen is essential for these processes in our bodies:

–          Tissues repairing;

–          Immune response;

–          Cellular migration and communication (2, 3, 4);

–          Blood clotting;

–          Wound healing;

–          Protecting the nervous system (5).

We obtain collagen from food sources, it is found in beef, fish, chicken, bone broth, eggs. Unfortunately, the amount of collagen decreases when we grow older. So the good idea is to use food supplements. Well known supplement producer BIOFITUS offers high-quality supplements containing type I and type II collagen or combination of collagen and hyaluronic acid.

How collagen works?

You need to know that our bodies naturally produce collagen, but this process slows down as we age. In addition, you can also consume some collagen through food sources or collagen supplements. While cosmetic products with collagen can benefit the skin locally, supplements can provide advantages for the entire body and beauty.

Collagen is crucial for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration, also it plays a vital role in joint health and promoting immune response. High collagen level helps to prevent wrinkles and keep skin hydrated, improve texture and elasticity. This protein works at cellular level at hairs and nails growing process, skin regeneration. Essentially, collagen acts like natural support in solving the damage of tissues.

How to use collagen?

The first step to assure collagen amount in your body is a balanced diet. Your diet should include animal products and proteins. Bones, skin of animals or fish skin can be beneficial sources of collagen. (6)

If your skin looks dry, has lost its elasticity and vitality, your hair is dry and falling, and your nails are brittle, this could be a sign that you are lacking collagen. Food supplements come in various forms: hydrolyzed collagen, undenatured collagen and gelatin (7, 8, 9). All types of these supplements are derived usually from animal sources.

We have to mention that collagen supplements aren’t the most delicious substances, but you can mix collagen powder in various beverages and food (for example, juice, yogurt or oatmeal). On the other hand, capsules or liquid collagens are a quicker way to absorb it without bad taste. BIOFITUS offers liquid collagen supplements and guarantees sweet taste or you could choose collagen and vitamins combination as capsules.

However, remember that there are no miracles. Collagen supplements need to be consumed for a longer period, for example several months, only then will they be effective and you can enjoy the result.

How to maintain collagen production?

As we mentioned, diet factors can significantly affect your body’s collagen production. However, you can’t ignore your lifestyle factors. There are few examples of collagen reducing bad habits:

–          Smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol (10, 11, 12);

–          Consuming fast and unhealthy food (13);

–          Keeping to a diet, lacking high quality protein and plant based foods (14).

Get rid of these bad habits! It is an opportunity to feel better and look more beautiful and younger. Just let the collagen do its job and enjoy the results!

A balanced regime of rest and work, good sleep quality and more physical activity are helping to maintain the collagen production process. However, it is also good for the whole body and well-being.  Do not forget the expression: a healthy soul resides in a healthy body!

Does collagen have potential side effects?

Collagen supplements (regardless of the type) are safe to consume. Nevertheless, some minimal side effects were reported: some consumers may experience digestive discomfort or upset stomach, particularly when taking high doses. Allergies to collagen supplements are very rare, but to minimize the risk, it is recommended to choose high quality products and always follow the dosage.

Collagen supplements should be purchased only from a trusted supplier or pharmacy. It is also useful to search for information about the manufacturer on the internet, to inquire about the concentration of the supplement and certificates. Trusted manufacturers provide information clearly and openly, which promotes trust. Therefore, if there are still unanswered questions, it is worth considering whether to buy a food supplement or not.