Did you know, as we age, our body’s ability to produce new collagen declines, and existing collagen begins to break down?

One of the most well-known benefits of collagen is its ability to promote glowing, vibrant skin. This essential protein provides elasticity to the skin, helping it to appear more youthful and healthy. But as you get older and collagen production declines, fine lines, loose skin, and dryness can occur.

By our 30s, our natural levels of collagen are on the decline. This is why we start to notice our joints creaking and our skin sagging. But by supplementing with it, people are aiming to improve everything from joint health to the appearance of their skin and their digestion.

By the time we’re 40, we are actually producing 25% less collagen.

3 MAIN HEALTH BENEFITS

• Radiant skin and strong hair and nails
• Relief from joint pain and stiffness - repair, rebuild and heal
• Help with digestive issues

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It's found in our tendons, ligaments, skin, muscles, bones, and blood vessels—and it plays a vital role in maintaining our overall structural integrity.

Aging damages collagen fibers so they lose thickness and strength. The repercussions of decreased collagen production, include wrinkles, less-supple skin, stiff joints, and losing elasticity in your tendons and ligaments.

One of collagen’s claims to fame is glowing skin. In the middle layer of your skin (called the dermis), collagen helps form fibroblasts that help new cells grow. Collagen also helps replace and restore dead skin cells.

Collagen supplements can protect your skin against aging and other signs of age, but they can also help produce other proteins including elastin and fibrillin to support skin structure.

Marine collagen has antioxidant properties that have been used in skin care products to prevent or even repair the damage caused by environmental factors, such as UV rays and low humidity, as well as damage associated with the aging process. 

• Marine collagen is primarily made of Type I and Type III collagen, which is the building blocks of our skin. The collagen in our dermis is 80% Type I and 10% Type III. 
• It helps improve sagging skin by promoting and supporting natural collagen production in the skin, minimizing the loss of elasticity, and helping skin look smoother, suppler, and more hydrated. The result is a reduction in the look of sagging skin and youthful-looking skin overall.
• Marine Collagen has been shown to have superior "bioavailability" (1.5 times more absorbent than bovine, porcine, or chicken collagen, because of its optimum (low) molecular weight) which allows the collagen to be absorbed at a higher level through the intestinal barrier into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body.

Glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline - the three most plentiful amino acids in collagen supplements - often end up in fibroblasts, special cells in your skin, and connective tissue. 

Fish collagen peptides have very specific amino acid compositions with a high concentration of glycine, hydroxyproline, and proline. When fish collagen is ingested, hydroxyproline peptides are not completely digested to free amino acids and can be detected in the blood. These hydroxyproline peptides stimulate cells in the skin, joints, and bones, and lead to collagen synthesis through cell activation and growth.

Glycine - Glycine is one of three amino acids that your body uses to make glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your cells against oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which are thought to underlie many diseases

Lycine - helps with the absorption of calcium, promotes bone growth, and helps to form collagen. However, lysine needs Vitamin C to do its job. Vitamin C is a little helper that converts lysine into a form that can be incorporated into collagen. It’s also a potent antioxidant, which reduces inflammation and the free radical damage that contributes to aging.

Proline - anti-aging effects and ability to repair damaged skin, other functions of proline include supporting the immune system, improving antioxidant status, improving gut health and nutrient absorption, supporting the metabolism, and protecting the cardiovascular system.

Vitamin C - Collagen keeps our skin firm and resilient, protecting it from wrinkling. The role of vitamin C in the production of collagen is to interact with amino acids within collagen cells. It adds hydrogen and oxygen to those amino acids, so that they may do their part in collagen production.

Hydroxyproline (a special amino acid made from proline and lysine) Hydroxyproline is a major component of the protein collagen and plays a key role in the stability of the collagen triple helix. The relationship between hydroxyproline and vitamin C is crucial for the formation of collagen. Vitamin C is necessary for the full production of hydroxyproline. Without vitamin C your body will not be able to produce the collagen it needs.

If your priority is to improve the health of your skin, hair, and nails, then you should opt for marine collagen, hands down. If your goal is to support your overall body health and recovery, then grass-fed collagen is a great option.

Content Copyright © 2022, MBK Cultivate Skin & Nutrition Wellness

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine, or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph, including a link to www.mebykatie.com.

"Information courtesy of www.mebykatie.com, Katie Marshall is a certified Medical Esthetician, Acne Specialist, Functional Nutrition Counsellor, Holistic Chef, and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. Specializing in both skin health, gut health, hormone health, and the whole body. The basic premise is that functional nutrition gets to the root of the problem and resolves the actual problem. This is different from conventional medicine which is about prescribing multiple meds to deal with symptoms, with little regard to resolving the root cause of the symptoms. Functional nutrition is more personalized, customized, and holistic. My job is to work in tandem with your medical team and be an advocate for you if necessary."

Health/Medical Disclaimer:

The content of MBK Cultivate Skin & Nutrition Wellness, either through these social media pages, websites, or any other materials distributed by MBK Cultivate Skin & Nutrition Wellness, is intended to provide helpful and informative material. Please keep in mind that all personal and professional opinions expressed on these social media pages and websites are solely my own. This site offers skin, diet, fitness, health, and nutritional information and is designed in good faith for educational purposes only. Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted practices. However, the authors, editors, and publishers are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from the application of the information in these publications and make no warranty, expressed, or implied with respect to the currency, completeness, or accuracy of the contents of the publication. You should not rely on this information as a substitute, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

I, Katie Marshall, am not a doctor or medical provider and do not provide medical advice. Readers are advised to do their own research and make decisions in partnership with their health care provider.

If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition(s) or are taking any medication(s), please consult with your family physician.

Always seek the advice of your family physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read on my social media pages or websites.

If you think you have a medical emergency, call your family physician, go to the nearest emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Reliance on any information provided by MBK Cultivate Skin & Nutrition Wellness or Katie Marshall presenting content for publication to these social media pages or websites is solely at your own risk. Administrators and Moderators are not liable for your actions.

Health Canada & FDA Disclaimer:

The advice and statements on this page have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the Food and Drug Administration.