We've all heard about the use of collagen powder in skin care and in particular, ageing skin. Initially, I had no idea what it was, where it came from or even whether it was natural.
Discovering that Collagen also supports muscles and joints, as well as other tissues, in the body intrigued me. I'd just torn my calf muscle badly and decided it was time research this supplement more fully.
I hope I'll answer some of your questions about Collagen here and why it supports many aspects of our health and wellbeing.
What exactly is Collagen?
To put it simply, Collagen is the term given to 3 specific amino acids which we require for the tissues throughout our bodies to function well. These amino acids are present within the parts of animals that we rarely eat in the west these days (skin, tendons etc)
A good article which elaborates upon exactly what Collagen Peptides are is this one by Baptist Health
Changes in diet over the centuries
Hundreds of years ago, people cooked meals using all parts of the animal and so the human diet consisted of more collagen anyway.
The typical meat these days diet includes some amino acids but not the three present in Collagen Peptides.
Bone broth is an example of something people have used to provide a collagen boost at home.
Introducing Collagen Supplements
However a fully dissolvable and tasteless collagen powder is much higher in collagen and obviously cuts out the hassle. It is usually made using pig skin or bovine hide and if that puts you off - gelatine found in sweets is often made of the same animal parts.
Other Dietary Requirements which Support Collagen Production
An important point is that as well as requiring Collagen itself we must have the nutrients responsible for our bodies to process and utilise that collagen. These are vitamin C, Zinc and Copper.
So do some googling and discover your favourite foods rich in those nutrients. Zinc is found within meat itself but nuts, seafood, wholegrains, cereal and dairy products are also high in zinc. Copper is also found in these same foods.
Vitamin C is obviously present within citrus fruits but potatoes, broccoli and peppers also have high vitamin C content.
Aging and Collagen
After the age of 40 our own collagen production slows down. Meat and Seafood won't top that supply up unless we are accustomed to eating the skin on meat or things like liver, kidneys etc. This has prompted the production of collagen supplements.
Other benefits of Collagen
From gut health to mental health, heart health and bone health as well as skin, muscles and joints, the strength and structure of our bodies tissues relies upon collagen.
The skin is an organ highly dependent upon Collagen which will look less supple or more wrinkled should we be deficienct in Collagen.
Healing abilities of Collagen
Studies prove that things like arthritis, Sarcopenia (muscle wastage), skin regeneration, blood pressure, dental issues, wound healing as well as injury repair improve significantly with the intake of Collagen supplements.
Collagen present in animals or fish (even after they die) is capable of bonding with and integrating with our own bodies collagen. I find this miraculous.
Wound Healing and Dressings using Collagen
Collagen is commonly used in wound dressings in hospitals because it bonds with our own tissues and acts to repair the skin as well as reducing scarring.
Studies and Research into benefits of Collagen Supplements
You can read about the very promising and conclusive health studies carried out in relation to collagen supplements in the National Library of Medicine . It's a pretty detailed report but I enjoyed skimming through it and identifying the outcome of each study.
The results definitely suggest that Collagen is much more than a beauty product.
Arthritis and Collagen
An interesting study compared the use of Collagen supplements with Glucosamine supplements when taken by arthritis sufferers. The outcome was that Collagen offered greater pain relief and mobility than Glucosamine did on its own.
My podiatrist is fully behind the intake of extra Collagen. This came up in conversation while he was creating a calf muscle exercise regime for my Achilles damage.
I add two spoonful's to either a hot or cold drink every day. My skin, blood pressure, bones, teeth, brain and digestive system will use that collagen to it's advantage as well. Our bodies know how and where to utilise anything we injest.
Peace of mind as we age
Maybe it's just peace of mind that we all need. Aging is very natural but loving life is also very natural. Health and mindset play the most significant roles in our capacity to feel good - and it does show.
The evidence regarding muscle repair and joint support is impressive and worth reading about, especially if we hope to remain as strong and as active as possible in mid to elderly age.
Buying Collagen Supplements
You can read people's reviews and buy Hydrolised Collagen powder on Amazon if you feel you could benefit. This 500g tub was priced at 16.99 when I bought it (34p per day).
My knee pain also seems to have largely disappeared. I put the pain down to age or tendon damage and didn't expect it to go away. The extra exercise and muscle support I now have is likely to have helped but extra collagen will also improve my joint health given the evidence.
Homemade Collagen Moisturiser
Aging skin takes longer to regenerate. Collagen creates a clearer, brighter, younger looking complexion, not because we are changing anything or hiding anything. We are simply nourishing ourselves with something the skin is dependent upon.
This article offers a recipe for a simple collagen moisturiser but basically the very same powder we injest will dissolve into our any moisturiser. Just like the wound dressings, collagen will bond to the skin and nourish it or repair it.
I already mix up my own moisturiser because I enjoy the process. Here's what I include for my own dry skin. Oily skin recipes would differ.
Emollient like aqueous cream.
Carrier oil like almond oil, jojoba oil or extra virgin olive oil.
Essential oils like Rose and Frankincense (both great for aging skin)
Sun tan lotion (because this also slows down the damage the sun does to skin).
A few spoonfuls of collagen powder.
Job done ✅
When I added too much Collagen powder it became very sticky. If you do this just added more oil or emollient. Making our own moisturiser is easy, saves money and allows us to include the best ingredients for ourselves.
I'm de not saying I look 25 by the way and my wrinkles are still a factor but the health, suppleness and glow of my skin is probably more noticable than before.
Next up at Your Natural Warrior
I think that wraps up my thoughts on Collagen. The next article I'm focussing on explores the mental health benefits of martial arts. And another topic I'm researching/writing highlights the effects of ego driven behaviour in the workplace.
I am still setting up Your Natural Warrior Store for those interested in my creative side as well.
See ya soon 🙏❤️
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