The Benefits of Collagen

Collagen is needed as We Age

Collagen is something I have always heard about but never really applied it to me until the last few years. I remember when I was younger seeing those Skincare commercials that would come on for aging skin and not even think about them. Now I start to take notice.  Now don’t get me wrong black women age well it’s the gift of melanin.

Nonetheless, we still age and elasticity, especially for someone who has lost a significant amount of weight, are not the same.  That is what initially peaked my interest in Collagen.  I was needed something to help this mom of three reduce her stretch marks and cellulite.

So, I gave it a try, and I found so many more benefits than the vanity of tighter skin. I found that it can help with my heart, liver, metabolism and so much more and I have been hooked ever since.

Age is a Number

When you hit the mid-twenties your ability to produce collagen begins to decrease the rapidness also increases as your age does. Depending on your diet you can add it, but most people don’t eat what they need to reverse the effects of aging.

That is why I recommend it  to my clients, friends, and anyone who says, “Man your hair looks really healthy.” I have been taking Collagen as a Supplement for over two years, and my hair is the healthiest, shiniest it has ever been.  My nails don’t get brittle during season changes anymore, and my skin has improved too.  A healthy lifestyle along with Collagen can be attributed to all of these things.

Collagen is such a natural, tasteless supplement that you can add to anything and get what you need for your body to function better. I have seven reasons why I suggest that you start finding creative ways to take it or just add it to your water bottle and chug away. No matter what you do, you should add this to your routine now!

7 Reasons you Need Collagen

7.  Helps to improve skins and nails

This is what initially made me seek Collagen as a supplement.  There was a study done with two group of women ages 35-55. Group A was given a placebo; group B was given one serving of collagen daily. (Schunck, Zague, Oesser, & Proksch 2015)

After eight weeks there was a visible improvement in the women who were given the Collagen skin tightness, moisture, roughness, appearance of stretch marks and cellulite.  There were also no adverse effects on the women who ingested the Collagen for eight weeks.  Like I said before, this is why I started using Collagen, but after a few weeks, your reasons would switch. Mine did!

6.  Helps with Digestive issues

Collagen has been known to really help patients who suffer from IBS, Chron’s disease, acid reflux and other digestive problems to help reduce or eliminate the symptoms.

It is an essential amino acid. It aids the connective tissue in your digestive system which can help “Seal and heal” your digestive lining. Usually, the cause of these issues is from inflammation of these connective tissues from poor diets of processed food.

A healthy diet that is not processed and adding Collagen to your diet can help restore the damage that has been done through poor diet choices.

5. Helps to reduce joint degeneration and joint pain

As we get older, the collagen that is in between our ones and joint begin to decrease. That is was cause the joint stiffness and aches and pains that we associate with aging.

Adding collagen supplements will help ease your joint discomfort as it will add that collagen that your body needs to provide less tension and more mobility in joints.  This is also fantastic for healing joint injuries and repair. I know that using it daily has helped me to recover from my ankle injury.

There have been studies that show athletes who increased there Collagen intake suffered less severe or no pain in previously injured joint injuries. (Clark, et al. 2008)

4. Helps to Boost your Muscle Mass, Metabolism and Energy

A study showed when you combine Vitamin C and Collagen it’s almost like magic, and it helps make the Collagen a more usable source of protein that is quickly absorbed. (Borumand & Sibilla 2014)

This is great when your body is seeking protein to build muscle or increasing your metabolism and an energy boost.  The Collagen Endurance has the perfect combination that makes this a great Pre or Post workout supplement.

Now, these boosts can only be seen with exercise activity, proper nutrition, and the consistently taking Collagen supplements for at least 12 weeks. I love drinking mine while I workout!

3.  Stronger Hair, Teeth, and nails

Collagen is the protein that is basically the foundation of your hair, nails, and teeth.  The degeneration of it as we age causes these things to weaken. Taking collagen will increase collagen  in your body that will make your hair, nails, and teeth stronger.

Personally, my nails are no longer brittle when the season change. My hair doesn’t get split ends as often. I don’t know if my teeth are stronger, but if I am the only Senior at the nursing home with my own teeth. I will be grateful for the collagen I took while I was young.

2. Increase your Liver Health

This one was a shocker, but as I was looking at research studies for Collagen, I found this to be very interesting and for some people could be life-saving.  Collagen is usually found in soft tissue and connective tissue.

The same “Seal and heal” Properties it has for your digestive lining you can think of the same concept for your liver. In the case of your liver in acts as an antioxidant in your liver. Flushing out the toxins and optimizing your liver health.

There are detox diets that promote a high amount of collagen intake for several days to reduce the effects of alcohol abuse and others things that can cause poor liver health.

I don’t recommend nor do I know if these detoxes work. There are studies that show that Collagen is great to cleanse your liver and support your health. (Mato & Lu 2007)

1.Helps you have a Healthy Heart

Collagen has been found through studies to help the body release fatty buildup that can be found on artery walls. (Nutrition Review, 2016) Allowing blood to flow optimally causing less stress on  the heart and allowing it to work at it’s best!

February being Heart Health Awareness month I found that this is the most important benefit of taking this supplement.

According to The Heart Truth, “Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States.  One in four women dies of heart disease.  For African-American women, the risk of heart disease is especially great.  Heart disease is more prevalent among black women than white-women as are some of the factors that increase the risk of developing it, including high blood pressure, overweight and obesity, and diabetes.  But there’s good news too: You can take action and lower your chance of developing heart disease and its risk factors. In fact, women can lower their heart disease risk factors.  In fact, women can lower their heart disease by as much as 82 percent just by leading a healthy lifestyle.”

I would start by adding Collagen today!

What is Hydrolyzed Collagen?

It is a concentrated amino acid blend that is easier to digest, supports your bodies natural healing , doesn’t congile and is rapidly absorbed in your body for better nutrition.  It is great to help replace and repair cartilage damage and loss that is due to activity or aging.

Great Lakes gelatin is really affordable considering others in the market. It is the Original Collagen they were selling it before it was cool.  It’s taste great or actually the unflavored taste like nothing and it’s has one ingredient.  On-the-go convenient packets that you can take anywhere.

I have been trying my Great Lakes in everything from my oatmeal, smoothie bowls, soups, in my bulletproof coffee you name it.

So, if you don’t have any, grab you some, now because you should be living every day with GreatLakes Gelatin!

I also went LIVE on my Facebook Page the other day! It’s something NEW I am trying this year so I would love for you to Check it out and Subscribe and share if you found it helpful!

Do you  use Collagen? Did you know that you should be?

References

Schunck, Michael, et al. Journal of Medicinal Food, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., 1 Dec. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685482/.

Clark, K L, et al. “24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-Related joint pain.” Current medical research and opinion., U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416885.

Borumand, Maryam, and Sara Sibilla. Clinical Interventions in Aging, Dove Medical Press, 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206255/.

Mato, José M., and Shelly C. Lu. “Role of S‐adenosyl‐L‐methionine in liver health and injury.” Hepatology, Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company, 26 Apr. 2007, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.21650/full.

NutritonReview.org. “NutritonReview.org.”Nutrition Review, 18 July 2016, nutritionreview.org/2013/04/collagen-connection/.

This post was written in partnership with Great Lakes Gelatin Company and Fit Approach “#LiveWithGLG” Campaign. Although, I am being compensated my thoughts and opinions are my own check out my full disclosure policy