COLLAGEN. If you want
to keep your beautiful skin,
you should know how
it works.

80 to 90 percent of all collagen in the body consists of types II, III, and I. Type I collagen is found in the skin, tendons, organs, and bones.

In the past, humans consumed much more collagen than we do now.  Older generations prepared home cooked meals consisting of broths and  gravies using the bones of the animals that they consumed for meat. Collagen is found in the ligaments, tendons, bones, skin of animals and is also found in tougher cuts of meat that contain large amounts of connective tissue. Although these parts of animals were staples in our diets many years ago, modern diets are typically lacking in these types of collagen rich foods.

As we age, collagen production begins to decrease regardless of external factors like lifestyle choices and exposure to pollution and UV radiation.This is called intrinsic aging, After the age of 20, collagen production in the skin drops by about 1 percent each year, causing our skin to develop wrinkles and become less resilient. This is due to the aging of fibroblasts, the cells that produce collagen in the skin. Elastin, the protein that helps the skin to stay taut and bounce back also declines, further impacting the skin’s appearance.

Our skin becomes thinner and loses its ability to remain firm and plump. At the same time, sweat and oil glands that normally keep the skin hydrated begin to malfunction, leading to dry, dull complexion.  Wrinkles and sagging skin, which are classic signs of aging, can result from the reduced elasticity of the skin as we age. Due to the decreased production of elastin and collagen, our skin loses its ability to stretch and return to its original position, leading to wrinkles and a saggy appearance.  When we are younger, oil-secreting glands keep our skin moisturized by providing a protective, hydrating layer. As we grow older, these glands shrink, and the skin is no longer able to stay properly hydrated. This further promotes the look of drooping skin and signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.

As we grow older, gradual changes occur that lead to telltale signs of aging in the skin like wrinkles and uneven skin tone. This is in part due to genetics, however lifestyle choices have a substantial influence over how well we age.  Extrinsic aging refers to environmental damage and lifestyle choices such as UV radiation from the sun and exposure to pollutants like cigarette smoke. This type of aging also affects collagen production in the skin. UV radiation from the sun accelerates the aging process by damaging collagen fibers while concurrently causing an abnormal accumulation of elastin. This sunlight-induced accumulation of elastin damages collagen and fuels the aging process.  Unhealthy habits like smoking can enhance the destruction of collagen fibers. Research has shown that cigarette smoking decreases the production of collagen by up to 22%.

Your diet also has an effect on the rate of which your skin ages. A diet that is heavy in sugar and refined carbohydrates like breads, cakes, and pasta, will accelerate the aging process in the skin. When we consume sugar, it attaches to proteins in the body forming molecules called advanced glycation end products.  These molecules build up over time and destroy proteins in the body. Both collagen and elastin are extremely susceptible to glycation and become hard and brittle from structural damage. Glycation also inhibits collagen from regenerating properly, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle.

While unhealthy habits like too much sun damage, smoking, and a sugar laden diet can lead to the premature destruction of collagen, healthy habits can increase collagen production in the body.  Procollagen, which is the precursor to collagen, is synthesized by combining two amino acids called glycine and proline. Vitamin c is necessary for the conversion of procollagen to collagen. By providing your body with excellent sources of vitamin c like bell peppers, oranges, kale, and strawberries, you will be providing your body with the resources necessary to produce healthy amounts of collagen. Consuming highly bioavailable forms of protein like eggs, meat, seafood and legumes is another way to increase collagen production.

Although there are many different types of collagen on the market, marine collagen has been proven to be far superior to other collagens derived from cows or pigs.  Most collagen supplements contain collagen obtained from the skin and bones of cattle and pigs. However, many concerns have been raised over the safety of these types of collagen proteins because of certain diseases like mad cow disease, foot and mouth disease, and several viral infections, which can be transmitted through animal sourced proteins.

Marine collagen is extracted from the scales of fish like cod and salmon, and is a safer, more bioavailable option than bovine or porcine collagen. In fact, research has shown that marine collagen is absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently by the body than other forms of collagen derived from cows and pigs. Due to the fact that marine collagen is absorbed and utilized so effectively by the body, it is considered to be the best, most highly bioavailable source of collagen.

In order to reach the deeper layers of the skin where collagen is synthesized, hydrolyzed collagen must penetrate the intestinal barrier to reach the bloodstream quickly. Marine collagen is absorbed and utilized rapidly and more efficiently by the body than any other type of collagen.

Marine collagen peptides are unique in the fact that this type of collagen is very similar in structure to human collagen and is highly biocompatible to human tissues. Marine collagen has a low molecular weight, meaning that it is small in size. Because of this fact, it can be easily absorbed and digested by the human body, however it cannot be absorbed topically by skin. Marine collagen peptides increase collagen production in the body by increasing the gene expression of several collagen-modifying enzymes, leading to an increased production of collagen by fibroblasts. Supplementation with marine collagen has been shown to reduce skin wrinkles and even protect the skin against UV damage from the sun.

In its natural form, collagen is composed of large particles that are too big to penetrate the skin, making most topical beauty products containing collagen ineffective. However, taking collagen in supplement form allows collagen particles to be absorbed through the intestinal wall. Hydrolyzed collagen has been broken down into smaller pieces called collagen peptides. The body absorbs and utilizes hydrolyzed collagen more easily than collagen in its natural state.  Hydrolyzed marine collagen is far superior to other forms of collagen due to its high rate of absorbability and the fact that the body easily absorbs and assimilates marine collagen.

Being a type 1 collagen, which is the same collagen that is found in human skin, marine collagen has been shown to benefit the skin in several ways.  Research has show that supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen increases the hydration of the skin, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and increases skin elasticity. One research study found that women who supplemented with hydrolyzed collagen for 8 weeks had a 20 percent reduction in the depth of their wrinkles at the end of the study.

Modern day diets are lacking in natural forms of collagen like the connective tissues and skins of animals. This means less collagen being consumed and utilized by the body to support natural collagen production. Paired with an increase in sugary foods and beverages, and environmental exposure to things like pollution and UV radiation from the sun, this has a disastrous effect on skin health. Stress can also play a major role in skin aging. Chronic stress (intensive daily exercise – like intensive cardio and running – often manifests in the body as chronic stress) has been shown to lead to an increase in inflammation in the body and cause damage to DNA, resulting in premature aging of the skin. Taking a marine collagen supplement can safeguard your skin from the effects of stress, sun damage, and inadequate dietary collagen by providing your body with a boost of this vital protein.  While collagen supplementation can benefit the entire body, the most noticeable and desired effects are seen in the skin. If you are looking for a safe and effective way to reduce signs of aging (and prevent the signs of future aging) like sagging skin and wrinkles, a marine collagen supplement could be your next favorite beauty product.

The problem with some of the collagen  powders and capsules out there is that they don’t provide enough collagen (the amounts proven by trials to make an actual difference to your skin) in them.  There are some well know powders and tablets and, even, gummy bears out there. But they do not contain the doses your skin requires for collagen to make a visible difference.

Sugar is one of the major causes of collagen degradation. However, so many well know collagen drinks stubbornly put collagen together with sugars and sweeteners and additives in their  processed liquids.