Lucy Tavares from O’Nutricia Collagen shares all you need to know about the latest beauty beverage.
THERE’S A LOT OF HYPE surrounding ingesting collagen orally. It’s one of the most abundant proteins in the human body, containing 18 amino acids, including all eight of the essential amino acids your body needs. But as you age, your production of collagen decreases.
WHAT IT IS
Collagen comes from the Greek word kolla meaning glue. It provides a structure that enables your cells to grow and flourish. From the age of 25, your collagen levels start to decrease, leading to a dry, thinning skin, more prone to fine lines, wrinkles and a lack of firmness.
It’s one of the building blocks in your body that gives your skin its structure. Without it, your skin would have no support structure and appear as if it was ‘falling off’.
Collagen makes up over 70% of the protein found in your skin. Your skin has three layers: the epidermis (the outermost layer), the dermis (the middle layer), and your hypodermis (the deepest layer). While each layer’s crucial, the dermis layer’s held together by collagen and made up of fibroblasts, which are skin cells that provide structure and strength to your skin. Collagen helps to keep your skin plump and resilient, youthful and wrinkle-free. When it reaches your skin, you use it to make more collagen. Over time, this visibly improves your skin’s hydration and texture, amongst other healthy changes. Your skin will be healthier and better able to heal overall.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS
• Strengthens and improves the health of your hair, nails and even your teeth.
• Helps heal a leaky gut (intestinal lining).
• Reduces joint pain and degeneration.
• Protects your cardiovascular health.
• Improves your liver’s health.
• Boosts your metabolism, muscle mass and energy output.
• Overall skin health: better skin hydration, reduced stretch marks and improved skin elasticity.
COLLAGEN PEPTIDES VS HYDROLYSED COLLAGEN
The word peptide comes from the Greek word peptos meaning digested, derived from pessein meaning to digest. Collagen peptides are collagen proteins, broken down into smaller particles.
Peptide form (specifically in smaller chains of two or three amino acids), allows the body to absorb collagen easily and send it towards targeted tissue. It’s easily digestible and an absorbable source of protein. Hydrolysed collagen’s composed of low-molecular-weight, small peptides, meaning it’s both highly digestible, and easily absorbed and distributed in your body. A collagen peptide is a gelatine broken down into smaller particles. Hydrolysed collagen doesn’t show any gel strength at all due to its much lower molecular weight.
SIX WAYS TO IDENTIFY THE BEST COLLAGEN
Choose one with few and simple ingredients, that’s colourless, flavourless, packed in a cGMP facility, and contains no additives or E numbers.
1. 10 000mg of hydrolysed collagen per serving.
2. Hydrolysed collagen peptides are more digestible and easily absorbed.
3. Check the label for unnecessary fillers. It should only contain real ingredients. 4. Must contain a mass of collagen peptides.
5. Is the packaging environmentally friendly?
6. Choose a trusted and recognised brand
AN ADDITION TO YOUR MEAL
Skincare starts from the inside out. Collagen-rich foods include spinach, kale, fish, chicken and beef. You could add powdered collagen to your coffee or smoothie, or hot tea at night. You could also add it to baked dishes such as muffins, pancakes or bread.
ALTERNATIVES:
• A pre-or post-workout shake
• Soups, sauces and condiments
• Ice-cream
• An omelette or scrambled eggs
WORK IN PROGRESS
Most people feel fewer aches and pains after 15 days of continuous usage. After a month of consumption, your skin’s hydration, nail strength and gut health may improve. It takes three to six months for your hair’s health to visibly improve.
For the best and long- lasting results, you should include collagen as part of your daily nutrition, and continue to do so for a minimum of three consecutive months. To enhance your uptake, you should also take Vitamin C in conjunction with hydrolysed collagen peptides. Results may vary between individuals; everyone’s unique in their constitution.
