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August 13 2018

What is Collagen?

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What is Collagen?

Collagen, one of the most abundant proteins in our bodies, is necessary for healthy skin, hair and nails. It is a polypeptide that is composed of a great number of amino acids, nineteen to be exact! Of these amino acids, hydroxyproline and proline are particularly high in number. All of the amino acids that make up this protein are found in the body’s connective tissue, and because of this, collagen is often referred to as the “glue” holding our bodies together. Actually, the word originates from the Greek term “kolla gen,” meaning “glue producing.”

Collagen is often known as hydrolyzed gelatin because of the process that gelatin undergoes (hydrolysis) to form it. With age our production of it declines, causing the deterioration of our bodies, and our skin, hair, and nails, in particular. These parts of our body rely heavily on the connectivity that it provides to maintain their healthy appearance. By adding collagen back into the picture, you could be actively restoring your once youthful glow, and especially be helping the health of your skin, hair and nails.
Collagen is accessible to you in many forms as it can be added into foods, beverages, and dietary supplements. It can be easily incorporated into your life and the results will surely not fail to meet your expectations. Even though having more of it is not necessarily an absolute necessity, it has many benefits that make it worth including to your daily intake of nutrients. It can make you appear younger and healthier by being a major combatant of age and rejuvenating your body.

Your skin, hair and nails all contain this protein in them and the addition of it can help maintain this healthy look. When your levels are high you will definitely know because your skin will be glowing, your hair will be growing and thickening, and your nails will be stronger than ever.

Skin

Collagen is one of the dominant elements in your skin’s makeup. Its presence in your system is crucial in order to maintain the smooth appearance and natural elasticity that age may destroy. Collagen depletion is at fault for elastosis, a process where the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. Age causes this decrease, which can make your skin sag due to this lessening of its elasticity. It can also cause other noticeable side effects like evident wrinkles and fine lines. This thinner skin with less stretching ability causes sagging, wrinkles, cellulite, stretch marks and even scars.

Increasing your collagen intake could help restore the elasticity, smoothness, firmness, and moisture that your skin may be lacking. By ingesting it, either in your diet or in supplement form, collagen can reduce bothersome wrinkles and lines, as well as other signs of aging. The more you have in your skin the more your body is able to repair your skin cells and provide you with the smooth and soft exterior that age took, or will continue to take, away from you.

Collagen for Beautiful Skin | LNI

Along the same lines, cellulite and stretch marks appear with age because of your significantly thinner skin. A lack of this protein is again at fault for the heightened visibility of this dreaded skin dimpling. Improving the elasticity of your skin will definitely help to hide annoying stretch marks and cellulite by smoothing them over. Collagen can help rebuild and restore the areas of your skin that have led to the appearance of cellulite and other undesirable and apparent skin troubles.

Collagen has also been known to aid in the disappearance of scars and filling out the expanses of skin that they may take up. It contains a particular amino acid that is necessary for the restoration of damaged tissue called arginine. Scarring more easily, especially from acne, is a result of aging that is again linked to limited amounts of the protein in the skin.

Hair

Collagen is one of three major building blocks that helps healthy hair to grow. Minerals, keratin, and collagen are vital for having shining locks, the appearance of thickness, and overall growth. One way to reverse the aging process (on what’s flowing from your scalp at least) is to make sure you consume more of this particular protein.

Collagen is also known to battle against the creation of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are molecules that are naturally produced and are known to cause many complications for your hair.

Collagen for Shiny, Healthy Hair | LNI

A lack of it can cause dry, thin, and brittle hair. The quality and texture of your hair is sure to see some major improvements with the more collagen that you ingest, especially as you age. Both supplements and topical treatments can be beneficial to the improvement of your hair and the thickness of your hair follicles, which suffer great damage caused by the production of free radicals. The growth of your hair is also improved along with its overall shine, thickness, scalp coverage, and volume.

It not only helps to improve your hair but it even assists in its regeneration in instances where you may have lost it. A main problem caused by free radicals is that they can lead to hair loss. Collagen actively fighting their production is extremely beneficial to those who wish to generate more hair in areas where they are lacking. Another example of its heroism in terms of hairless individuals is that it contains lysine. Lysine is an amino acid that is known to reduce 5-alpha reductase, which is a huge determinant linked to male pattern baldness.

The presence of it in your hair should be welcomed as it helps to cultivate healthy attributes like those discussed above. Collagen even prevents split ends, further contributing to your hair’s wellness. If you choose to include this protein in your diet then you will see great results with the appearance and the general enhancement of your hair.

Nails

Your nails are similar to your hair because they are mainly made of the same three things; minerals, keratin, and collagen. If you have noticed the splitting and peeling of your nails, it is likely because you have an insufficient amount of collagen. Noticing any weaknesses to your nails along with this splitting and peeling, like overall fragility or any signs of breakage are typical when dealing with low amounts of it. Brittleness, tearing or breakage, or any other evident signs of weakness should signal you to look into increasing your collagen levels. Adding more of this protein to your nails can drastically improve their strength and rebuild them, counteracting any damage done by the process of aging.

Collagen for Strong, Healthy Nails | LNI

Collagen is found in many other areas of the body aside from the three mentioned above like your bones, muscles, blood vessels, tendons and digestive system. It benefits such a wide range of areas that it seems clear why you should get your body reacquainted with this important protein. It supplies the structure and form to our skin, and is a foundation to the growth and strength of our hair and nails. Though aging can’t be counteracted, including collagen in your diet can surely make it seem that way. If you are looking to age more gracefully and flaunt your health in the appearance of your skin, hair and nails specifically, then collagen is your solution.

February 10 2018

7 Natural Sources for Collagen Production

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Natural Sources for Collagen Production

Replenish What You’ve Lost

Collagen is an important dietary component. As the most abundant protein in the human body , it provides structure to everything from out hair to our skin, bones, ligaments, nails, tendons and more. If your hair has a shine to it and your skin has an intangible glow, your collagen levels are likely high.

But nothing good ever truly lasts forever, and by the time we turn 40 we have lost 10% to 20% of our collagen . This protein is also under constant attack from some naturally occurring enzymes within our bodies. Even environmental factors such as pollution or the sun play a role in its gradual depletion.

Thankfully, there are a number of foods that we can turn to in order to help replenish some of what we’ve lost. While many supplements exist, their nutrients are not as easily absorbed by the body as natural sources.

Our 7 Favorite Natural Sources for Collagen Production

1 GELATIN – Gelatin is one of the most plentiful sources available because gelatin is a cooked form of collagen , primarily made from the boiled connective tissue of cows and pigs. It is one of the fastest routes to collagen replenishment, as it is easily digested and absorbed by the body.

While it might be tempting to grab a cart-full of supermarket Jello, that’s not going to get you the best results. Supermarket gelatin is incredibly processed, so any actual health benefits you could reap from it have been stripped away. It’s important to check out what kind of gelatin you’re buying , so that you can make an informed and healthy choice.

2 BONE BROTH – Bone broth is exactly what it sounds like. Broth made from the bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints of animals. By boiling down bones and connective tissue, you’re releasing pure collagen , along with a number of other beneficial amino acids, electrolytes, and proteins. Beef bone broth works wonders for skin health, while broth made from the bones of chickens and turkeys helps the joints.

3 DARK GREEN VEGETABLES – All green plants produce a pigment called chlorophyll. This both makes them green and assists in photosynthesis. While chlorophyll help plants to convert sunlight into energy, consuming it can also help the human body produce procollagen, a precursor to collagen. Dark green veggies are rich in vitamin C, which stabilizes the enzymes that contribute to collagen break down. Spinach and kale are excellent examples of this.

4 CITRUS – Citrus is a wonderful source of vitamin C, which will help the amino acids lysine and proline convert to collagen within the body. Vitamin C also helps neutralize free radicals , one of collagen’s greatest enemies. This valuable natural vitamin also acts as an antioxidant to protect against toxins we regularly take in from food, water, and the air. It is especially helpful with skin cell regeneration, so stock up on some oranges!

5 EGGS – The yolk and eggshell membranes of chicken eggs contain collagen. Egg whites are also rich in glycine and proline , two amino acids that are the main components of collagen. Eggs also have a high concentration of sulfur, which is required for collagen production. Sulfur helps to eliminate environmental pollutants and toxins which break down the protein. From membranes containing collagen to amino acids that produce it, to protection against toxins, eggs are a collagen production super food.

6 SULFER – We spoke a bit in the last section about the importance of sulfur in the production of collagen. This trace mineral is present in a great many foods, such as beef, poultry, and dairy. All of these are excellent sources of the necessary sulfur. But vegetable sulfur sources contain organosulfur, which is not present in animal food products. Onions, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and garlic are all great choices. Garlic even provides lipoic acid and taurine which can rebuild damaged collagen fibers.

7 RED FRUITS & VEGGIES – Red fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, beets, and peppers help protect the body’s collagen supply by acting as a natural sun block . This occurs thanks to an antioxidant called lycopene, which exists in all red fruits and vegetables. Lycopene helps to protect skin against the harmful effects of the sun which can lead to the destruction of collagen.

Lycopene is also believed to aid in collagen synthesis, though concrete evidence of this has yet to be discovered . Tomatoes also contain vitamin C which, as stated earlier, helps to produce collagen and protect against the toxins that destroy it.

By keeping some of the foods listed here in your daily diet, you’re helping to win the fight against collagen depletion. You’ll be shocked at how great your skin and hair will look and feel when collagen production is made a priority in your life.