{"id":2547,"date":"2018-12-22T12:21:23","date_gmt":"2018-12-22T12:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/?p=2547"},"modified":"2019-01-12T22:25:24","modified_gmt":"2019-01-12T22:25:24","slug":"all-about-collagen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/?p=2547","title":{"rendered":"All About Collagen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Your body has many cells, parts, and systems and many of them are held together with collagen. The most abundant protein in your body is all about connection and strength. That\u2019s because collagen\u2019s adhesive qualities are only matched by its ability to provide structure and strength.<\/p>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock \">\n<p>This impressive protein deserves a lot of discussion. From collagen and skin to its production process, what follows are all the facts you need to know about collagen. Thirty to be exact. (It\u2019s so important, a list of 10 or even 25 just wouldn\u2019t do.)<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You\u2019re made of a lot of protein. And you already know collagen is the most common. But about 30 percent of your body\u2019s proteins are one type of collagen or another. (Patience! You\u2019ll read all about the different types in number 19.)<\/li>\n<li>Collagen isn\u2019t just important for humans. Your animal friends rely on it just as much. That makes collagen the top dog of proteins in the animal kingdom.<\/li>\n<li>The roots of the word \u201ccollagen\u201d go back to the Greek word\u00a0<em>k\u00f3lla<\/em>, which means glue. And now all that talk about connections and adhesive effects starts to make a little bit more sense.<\/li>\n<li>Saying collagen is found throughout your body is kind of an understatement. It\u2019s a structural element of bones, muscles, tendon, and ligaments. Collagen and skin are always talked about together, because it\u2019s a major component of your largest organ. But that\u2019s just the start. Collagen is also found in:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding first avia-builder-el-1 el_after_av_textblock el_before_av_one_half column-top-margin\">\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock \">\n<ul>\n<li>blood vessels<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/qa\/which-nutrients-best-support-healthy-vision\/\">the cornea of your eye<\/a><\/li>\n<li>teeth<\/li>\n<li>cartilage<\/li>\n<li>discs between your vertebrae<\/li>\n<li>the digestive tract<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>The fibrous nature and strength of collagen make it an ideal protective casing for your kidneys and other organs.<\/li>\n<li>Let\u2019s take collagen\u2019s prevalence one step further. It also helps connect cells all over your body to each other. So, it\u2019s large scale\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/bone-health\/\">bones<\/a>, ligaments, and organs\u2014all the way down to the cellular level.<\/li>\n<li>Why is this such an important structural protein in animals? First, collagen is thermally stable. Second, it has a lot of mechanical strength. Third\u2014and maybe most surprising\u2014it can interact with other biomolecules.<\/li>\n<li>Age is about the only thing that can stop collagen from being amazing. (There are a few other things you\u2019ll learn about later, too.) The older you get, the less collagen you make. And what you do make is not as high-quality as the collagen of your youth. This impacts the appearance of skin, the maintenance of joint health, and much more.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_half flex_column_div avia-builder-el-3 el_after_av_one_half el_before_av_textblock column-top-margin\">\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock \">\n<h2>HOW COLLAGEN AND SKIN ARE LINKED<\/h2>\n<p>Collagen is important everywhere. But nowhere is this more evident than in your skin. Collagen is key to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/science-of-skincare\/\">your skin\u2019s appearance<\/a>. And your skin produces a lot of collagen. So, they\u2019re frequently talked about together.<\/p>\n<p>This structural protein is so important that it makes up 75 percent of your skin\u2019s dry weight. It also gives your skin strength and elasticity. It provides the stable structures upon which your beauty is built.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why much of the skincare conversation is about collagen in one way or another. It\u2019s probably second only to moisture when you talk about the science of skin health, structure, and care.<\/p>\n<p>Collagen is most prevalent in the second layer of your skin\u2014the dermis. Two types of collagen make up the structural elements and connect the middle\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/skin-layers\/\">layer of skin<\/a>\u00a0to the epidermis above and hypodermis below.<\/p>\n<p>Since so much of your skin\u2019s structure depends on collagen, it plays a big role in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Adequate collagen production makes skin look smooth and firm. It makes skin appear youthful and vibrant.<\/p>\n<p>Then it\u2019s no wonder that your body\u2019s ability to produce healthy amounts of high-quality collagen depends on your age. So look for ways to support healthy collagen production for the appearance of younger, firmer, smoother skin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock \">\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li>Not to scare you, but this process of collagen decline starts in your twenties or thirties. Sooner than you thought (and hoped), right?<\/li>\n<li>When it comes down to it, proteins are just groups of amino acids. Collagen is no different. It features the triumvirate of glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.<\/li>\n<li>The production of collagen starts with procollagen\u2014the substance secreted by your cells. It goes through processing in two parts of your cell, the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi body.<\/li>\n<li>This whole process doesn\u2019t happen without\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/qa\/vitamin-c\/\">vitamin C<\/a>. So, add another important item to vitamin C\u2019s to-do list.<\/li>\n<li>People used to think collagen was only the product of fibroblasts\u2014common cells in the connective tissue. But a variety of different cell types make the protein because it can be stretched without tearing apart.<\/li>\n<li>The structure of a collagen protein is what gives it the unique strength your body needs. It\u2019s a triple helix\u2014three chains twisting around each other.<\/li>\n<li>There are 1,050 amino acids in each of the three chains that make up collagen. And they\u2019re held together with hydrogens\u2014the smallest atom.<\/li>\n<li>Glycine is amino acid that takes up the middle of the triple helix structure because it\u2019s the only one that can fit.<\/li>\n<li>These long fibers don\u2019t just exist as single protein ropes. Collagen can come together to form striated horizontal sheets.<\/li>\n<li>Type I collagen is stronger than steel\u2014on a gram-for-gram basis. All of this extra science will help you understand why.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2548\" src=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-300x170.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-100x57.jpg 100w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-150x85.jpg 150w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-450x255.jpg 450w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1-320x181.jpg 320w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Pilat-Paul-Violin-1.jpg 572w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Collagen is in your skin and connective tissues, providing structure and strength all over your body. Its utility doesn\u2019t end there. This pervasive protein is also used in two interesting, and very different ways. It\u2019s a sausage casing and makes up the strings of musical instruments.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ol start=\"19\">\n<li>Type I collagen? How many are there? Sixteen different types exist in your body. And they each have different structures and function. That\u2019s a lot of variety for one protein.<\/li>\n<li>But most of your collagen is type I, II, III, or IV.<\/li>\n<li>In fact, about 90 percent of your collagen is type I. That\u2019s the strongest type because it\u2019s made of fibers densely packed together. It\u2019s a structural component of bones, skin, tendons, cartilage, teeth, and other connective tissue. And can stretch\u2014a lot, without breaking.<\/li>\n<li>Type II collagen isn\u2019t quite as densely packed as type I. But it\u2019s perfect for cushioning joints.<\/li>\n<li>Your muscles, organs, and arteries rely on type III. And type IV can help with filtering and is more of two-dimensional sheet that\u2019s found in your skin.<\/li>\n<li>No matter what type of collagen, age is the ultimate enemy. But sugar and other refined carbs can also hamper your collagen\u2019s repairing capabilities. Now you have one more reason to limit sugar in your diet.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/protecting-skin-sun\/\">The sun is also an enemy of collagen<\/a>. Ultraviolet radiation diminishes collagen production, so always practice safe sun exposure.<\/li>\n<li>Here\u2019s reason 10,000 not to smoke: It\u2019s bad for collagen production, too.<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s not all doom and gloom for your collagen production, though. Several widely available and easily obtained nutrients have been shown to help maintain healthy collagen production:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Vitamin A (try sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, and mangos)<\/li>\n<li>Vitamin C (found in citrus fruits, red pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomato)<\/li>\n<li>Copper (you\u2019ll find it in organ meats, shellfish, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate, asparagus, and black pepper)<\/li>\n<li>Anthocyanidins\u2014the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/askthescientists.com\/phytonutrients\/\">phytonutrient<\/a>\u00a0(plant pigment) the gives blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries their deep colors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"28\">\n<li>Stocking up on the amino acids is another way support your body\u2019s ability to manufacture this important protein. Glycine can be found in many protein-rich foods, including pork, beef, and chicken. If you\u2019re looking for proline, turn to egg whites, dairy, mushrooms, asparagus, and almost any food with protein. Eating amino acids won\u2019t guarantee an uptick in collagen, but it\u2019s worth a shot\u2014and already part of a healthy diet.<\/li>\n<li>Bone broths are typically rich in collagen. That makes sense when you consider that they\u2019re made by boiling animal bones. And, as you know, bones and the connective tissues that surround them have plenty of collagen. Gelatin is also basically just cooked collagen.<\/li>\n<li>A healthy, balanced diet is a great foundation to help your body keep cranking out the collagen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong>IN CONCLUSION, COLLAGEN IS YOUR COOLEST PROTEIN<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Now you know at least 30 things about your most abundant, important protein\u2014collagen. Even if that was a little bit of information overload, just remember these three things:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collagen glues you together.<\/li>\n<li>No matter which of the 16 forms it takes, collagen is strong and fibrous to support structures throughout your body.<\/li>\n<li>Living a healthy lifestyle is a great start to supporting healthy collagen production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Don\u2019t just hoard all this wonderful information about collagen. Share it with your friends and family. Introduce them to all the things that make collagen such an integral part of the human experience, because it provides the glue to keep your body together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"flex_column av_one_full flex_column_div first avia-builder-el-6 el_after_av_textblock el_before_av_textblock column-top-margin\">\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock \">\n<h2>THE PROS AND CONS OF COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTATION<\/h2>\n<p>Collagen is starting to catch fire. It\u2019s become a buzzword around the health and wellness industry. But how helpful is collagen supplementation?<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a balanced breakdown of the pros and cons of collagen supplementation to help you decide whether it\u2019s right for you or worth your money.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro<\/strong>: Collagen peptide powders are easy to use, convenient, and dissolve into liquids and other foods without adding much flavor. But make sure it comes from a high-quality source and not from a provider using cheap, random animal parts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Con<\/strong>: Collagen supplements aren\u2019t guaranteed to be absorbed and used in the way you intend. Like any protein you eat, collagen supplements are broken down into their amino acids and put back together how your body sees fit. That means it may not be reconstructed as collagen, so your levels may not raise significantly. Collagen is also low in some\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Essential_amino_acid\">essential amino acids<\/a>, so make sure to eat other good sources of complete proteins.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro<\/strong>: You don\u2019t have to turn to expensive powders or pills. Regular gelatin and homemade bone broth can be cheaper alternatives that are still packed with collagen. Gelatin is essentially just collagen that\u2019s been cooked. Bone broth is made from boiling collagen-rich materials. That means both options provide the amino acids needed to produce collagen. But you need to check your sources. And remember that more collagen ingested doesn\u2019t always equal more collagen in your body.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Con<\/strong>: Collagen is a large molecule. Too large, in fact, to be easily absorbed by your skin. That fact makes collagen creams and other cosmetic products that contain the protein a bad bet for increasing levels in your skin.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pro<\/strong>: There have been a few studies that have showed promising results for skin elasticity in women, muscle mass, and joint function in athletes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Con<\/strong>: There aren\u2019t many studies on collagen supplementation. And those that have been done are in small populations. More thorough, large-scale research about absorption and benefits will paint a clearer scientific picture about collagen supplementation.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-2538\" src=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/48374007_1954934811477400_4393357862810681344_n-e1545150793115.jpg 463w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Purchase the amazing Copper Face Magic from our <a href=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/?product=copper-face-magic\">online store<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"av_textblock_section \">\n<div class=\"avia_textblock \">\n<h2><strong>REFERENCES<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/collagen#section10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/collagen#section10<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/262881.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/262881.php<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news-medical.net\/health\/What-is-Collagen.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.news-medical.net\/health\/What-is-Collagen.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK21582\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK21582\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2846778\/#!po=29.2969\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2846778\/#!po=29.2969<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/eatclean\/collagen-supplements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/eatclean\/collagen-supplements<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/time.com\/5034102\/collagen-supplement-powder-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/time.com\/5034102\/collagen-supplement-powder-benefits\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.health.com\/nutrition\/collagen-supplements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/www.health.com\/nutrition\/collagen-supplements<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vogue.com\/article\/ingestible-collagen-supplements-risks-benefits-skin-bone-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.vogue.com\/article\/ingestible-collagen-supplements-risks-benefits-skin-bone-health<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your body has many cells, parts, and systems and many of them are held together with collagen. The most abundant protein in your body is all about connection and strength. That\u2019s because collagen\u2019s adhesive qualities are only matched by its<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/?p=2547\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9855,"featured_media":2549,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition","category-products"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9855"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2547"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2554,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2547\/revisions\/2554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simpletruths.me.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}