The richest protein in the body is Collagen. Collagen is the one-third part of the protein present in the body. The types of collagen are 28 in number. The level of collagen in the body decreases during the 30s-40s age. The reduction in collagen level does not only affect the skin but it also affects many parts of the body inside. The body’s 30% protein is built by collagen.
Importance of Collagen
The production of cells, connective tissues, and many more are done by collagen which is important for the body. The main collagen benefits are:
- Maintain joint health
- Additional growth in hair, skin, and nails.
- Reduce the aging signs
- Improves digestion function
Causes of Collagen Loss
Collagen is a protein that is naturally found in the body and provides various benefits to our body. There is a time when collagen starts decreasing in the body.
The loss of collagen mainly starts during menopause in women. In the first five years of menopause, women lose approx. 30% of the collagen. The occurrence of wrinkles starts when the skin is damaged from the sun and the level of collagen in the skin becomes very low.
What are Benefits of Collagen?
Collagen is used in various parts of the body because it is a protein and helps in maintaining almost every body part. The level of collagen can rise by eating healthy food. Let’s discuss some of the collagen benefits in the body.
1. Improves skin health
The main component in our skin is collagen which makes skin healthy and glowing. Collagen is used to maintain hydration and elasticity of the skin. With the growing age, the body will not produce more collagen which can lead to wrinkles.
The collagen benefits for skin do not only make the skin glowing but also provides smoothness. Today in the market collagen supplements are present. The collagen supplements help in reducing the wrinkles and ageing marks and helps in the production of collagen.
- Collagen supplement of 2.5-5 grams’ collagen in it will show less skin dryness if eating for 8 weeks.
- If the women are drinking collagen supplement beverages for 12 weeks, then it improves hydration in the skin.
- Collagen supplements help the body to reproduce the collagen by itself.
Collagen2. Relieve joint pain
Cartilage is a rubber-like tissue that helps in joint protection and collagen is the one that helps to maintain cartilage. It helps easy and smooth joint movement.
With age the collagen production decreases which increases the pain in joints. The movement of the joint becomes very difficult. Collagen is a protein so it surely consists of amino acids. For relieving joint pain collagen contains glycine and proline.
- Collagen supplements reduce joint pain and rise collagen production.
- Athletes intake collagen supplements for reducing joint pain so that they can run easily.
- Collagen supplements stimulate the tissues for producing collagen.
3. Formation and growth of bones
We know that calcium is the one that maintains bones healthy but that’s not the full truth as maintaining the health of bones is one of the major collagen benefits.
About one-third, part of your bones is maintained by collagen. By adding collagen protein in your daily food helps to make bones healthy and maintains flexibility. The collages use to maintain the structure of the bones. The collagen supplements reduce the breakdown of bones and increase the production of collagen in the body.
4. Improves heart health
Arteries which carry blood from blood vessels and transfer it to the rest of your body is structured by collagen. Collagen is the one that improves and maintains the structure of arteries.
When the collagen level decreases, the arteries become weak and fragile. This will become a problem for the heart as the blood flow slows down. The amino acid named Proline found in collagen benefits in fat deposition in arteries and repairs the tissues as well.
5. Maintains gut health
The collagen helps in maintaining gut health. The collagen supplements help to repair leaky gut. The food particles, toxins, and infection all pass through the leaky gut which causes inflammation. The addition of collagen in your diet helps if you are suffering from an autoimmune disease. The microscopic fold in the intestinal wall is made up of collagen.
6. Improves hairs and nails health
There are various collagen benefits for hairs and nails. Collagen helps in improving the health of hairs and nails. As I have already discussed that with age collagen production in the body decreases. This is because of hair loss and brittle nails problems increase.
The collagen makes the hair appear shiny and voluminous. The strength of your nails also increases if you add collagen in your diet. The collagen repairs the growth of hairs and nails. The collagen supplements are also one way that helps in hairs and nails grow longer and stronger as well.
7. Weight management
Weight management is even improving by collagen. The collagen as mentioned earlier builds the muscles and body mass. The collagen intake helps in fat-burning from the body even when you are not doing anything or at rest.
The addition of collagen in your diet helps in maintaining weight. The collagen supplements give you a feeling of fullness for managing weight. No study till now claims that collagen supplements intake reduces your weight.
8. Liver function and detoxification
The glycine which is present in collagen helps in the detoxification process. The function of the liver is to remove toxins from your body which is helped by collagen. The collagen benefits the liver function properly and detoxifies toxins that damage the liver. The collagen is used for restful sleep which relaxes the mind and body.
Sources of Collagen
The collagen supplements should be added in your diet as it resolves various body problems. The collagen benefits are already discussed which is covering almost full-body repairing.
CollagenIt is not necessary that you have to buy collagen supplements from the market and then you will eat. The collagen can also add in your diet by day to day food like –
- Wild salmon
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Fish
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Garlic
- Avocados
Also Read: Collagen Boosting Foods
