What is collagen?
Collagen is a type of protein that makes up the connective tissue in your body. Connective tissue is found throughout your entire body, with the exception of bone marrow and blood vessels. It's what holds your muscles together, supports your organs and keeps them healthy, it even helps keep you looking young!
Collagen makes up 70% of skin, 20% of bones and teeth, 10% of tendons and ligaments (which connect bones to other structures or move joints), while also being present in blood vessels & heart valves as well as some internal organs such as lungs & kidneys.
What causes collagen loss?
While you can't completely prevent collagen loss, you can take steps to slow it down. Here are some of the most common causes of collagen loss:
- Age: As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen. This is why older people tend to have more wrinkles than younger ones do.
- Sun exposure: UV rays from the sun break down elastin, another protein in your skin that helps keep it firm, and lead to premature ageing and wrinkles on your face as well as other parts of your body like hands and feet.
- Smoking: Tobacco smoke contains chemicals called free radicals that damage collagen-producing cells called fibroblasts in the dermis layer of skin, this damage leads to wrinkles on both sides of your face as well as sagging jowls around your jawline if you smoke often enough, which is why many smokers look older than their actual age.
Who is at risk for low collagen levels?
Not everyone is at risk for low collagen levels. In fact, low collagen levels are more common in women than men.
However, there are some things that can increase your chances of developing a deficiency:
- Diabetes - People with diabetes are more likely to develop lower levels of collagen since the disease affects how much insulin their bodies produce and how well this hormone works on their cells.
- Smoking - Smoking has been shown to damage connective tissues throughout the body by causing them to break down faster than normal due to oxygen deprivation caused by smoking itself or other toxins inhaled through secondhand smoke inhalation.
- Poor Diet - Eating too many processed foods can lead directly into low levels because these foods contain high amounts of refined sugars which cause an increase in inflammation throughout our bodies causing premature aging signs like wrinkles/fine lines etc...
To keep your collagen levels healthy, eat a balanced diet and supplement with collagen powder.
To keep your collagen levels healthy, eat a balanced diet and supplement with collagen powder. Collagen is a protein that helps to keep skin elastic, so it's important to include plenty of high-quality sources in your diet. Foods that contain collagen include:
- Chicken, turkey and beef - all three meats are rich in the amino acid glycine which has been shown to promote healthy skin and hair growth.
- Fish - salmon contains omega 3 fatty acids which help reduce inflammation throughout the body (and thus improve skin quality).
- Eggs - this food contains lysine which helps maintain collagen production as well as sulfur-containing amino acids needed for healthy hair growth.
However, it's not guaranteed you will get enough collagen just from these foods alone. So it's recommended to start supplementing with collagen when you're reaching your thirties. Adding a collagen powder to your daily routine, and taking it consistently will help increase your collagen levels.
Collagen supplements are available in many forms and flavors.
Collagen supplements are available in many forms and flavors. Collagen powder is a great way to add collagen to your diet, especially if you're trying to get your dose of collagen without eating meat or fish. You can mix it into smoothies, coffee and oatmeal or soups!
Sacred Glow Co. has a collagen powder for every lifestyle. You can add one of our Collagen Creamers to your morning coffee or tea, have a Collagen Whey Protein shake after a workout or mix it into your smoothie, make a refreshing drink with our Marine Collagen, or add our Unflavoured Collagen Peptides to pretty much any food or drink that you like.
Conclusion
Collagen is a key component of your skin, bones and joints. As we age, our collagen levels decline, leading to wrinkles, joint pain and other signs of aging. Collagen supplements are available in many forms and flavours. If you're looking for an easy way to boost your body's natural supply of this important nutrient, then consider adding a collagen powder into your daily routine!