forté-life facts
Keeping up with collagen
Seven reasons why a daily dose of collagen protein is good for your entire body
Think collagen and you think skin. But there’s so much more to the power of collagen. Scientists are continually uncovering amazing benefits of collagen supplementation to support everything from gut and digestive wellness to bone and joint health.
Comprising 90 per cent of your connective tissue and organic bone mass and 70 per cent of your skin; collagen is the body’s most abundant protein – it’s the glue that holds your body together. But the bad news is from your early 20s, collagen production declines and steadily continues to decrease – and by the time you hit your 60s, your collagen levels have halved. Unfortunately, this means more wrinkles, saggy skin, joint stiffness, weaker bones and thinner hair.
But there is a solution – supplementing with collagen may help prevent and reverse the effects of its loss and support your entire body – inside and out. Here’s seven reasons why getting more collagen in your diet will make your body happy.
1. Weigh up the benefits
Collagen keeps you fuller for longer than many other proteins, so you eat less – helping you to maintain a healthy weight. Consider adding a good daily dose of collagen protein into your diet – such as a scoop of forté-life into your morning coffee – studies suggest including collagen may increase satiety after a meal, which is especially good if you’re watching your waistline.
2. Show off your skin
Collagen reduces skin wrinkles and hydrates skin – it’s the essential component of the dermis layer. One study found that women who drank a beverage mixed with a collagen supplement daily for 12 weeks experienced increased skin hydration and a significant reduction in wrinkle depth. By strengthening the skin’s dermis layer, collagen also plays an important role in hiding cellulite and eliminating stretch marks and acne scars.
3. Time to nail it
The health benefits of collagen apply to hair, nails and teeth too. Taking collagen may increase the strength of your nails by preventing brittleness and stimulating your hair and nails to grow longer. Without adequate collagen, the total number and thickness of hair follicles reduces; while collagen loss with age can cause increased tooth sensitivity and decreased tooth strength – its the major structural component of teeth and the connection between teeth and gums.
4. Boost your bones
Bone collagen absorbs the energy from any impacts, yet we lose up to 50 per cent of our bone strength during ageing due to collagen breakdown. The more collagen in your bones decreases fracture risk. Studies have found that collagen-based supplements may help improve bone strength and reduce joint pain, stiffness and inflammation that can be associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis.
5. Juice up your joints
Collagen improves joint mobility and flexibility; and supplementing with collagen may improve those motions in anyone – from arthritis sufferers to athletes. Researchers believe supplemental collagen may accumulate in cartilage and stimulate your tissues to make collagen, which may lead to lower levels of joint inflammation
6. Make more of your muscles
Collagen protein powder’s high amino acid content is ideal for pre-and-post-workout nutrition as it supports the body’s protein needs during and after exercise. Collagen is also required to heal muscle and connective tissue injuries. There is some evidence that collagen supplementation may promote the synthesis of muscle proteins and stimulate muscle growth after exercise
7. Get gut health goodness
Collagen is a crucial support for a well-functioning digestive system, to prevent heartburn and ulcers, and help break down food particles to move through the GI tract. It may also help repair the intestinal lining, which is vital in treating irritable bowel syndrome and a ‘leaky gut’. Supplementation may help restore your body’s collagen supply for digestive relief.
Keeping up your collagen is as simple as the enjoyment of your daily cup of coffee. From a long black to a latte, adding forté-life to your daily coffee uplifts your mind and strengthens your body to help you perform at your peak. It’s the glue that holds your body together.
References
· M Veldhorst, et al. A breakfast with alpha-lactalbumin, gelatin, or gelatin+ TRP lowers energy intake at lunch compared with a breakfast with casein, soy, whey, or whey-GMP. Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;28(2):147-55. Cited in N Avena, Can Collagen Really Help You Lose Weight?, Psychology Today, March 17, 2018, accessed 6 March 2020.
· M Borumand, S Sibilla, Effects of a nutritional supplement containing collagen peptides on skin elasticity, hydration and wrinkles, J Med Nutr Nutraceut 2015;4:47-53, accessed 6 March 2020
· D Hexsel et al, Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2017 Dec;16(4):520-526. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12393. Epub 2017 Aug 8. Accessed 6 March 2020
· J García-Coronado, et al, Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Int Orthop. 2019 Mar;43(3):531-538. doi: 10.1007/s00264-018-4211-5. Epub 2018 Oct 27. Accessed 6 March 2020
· A Bello, S Oesser, Collagen hydrolysate for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other joint disorders: a review of the literature. Curr Med Res Opin. 2006 Nov;22(11):2221-32. Accessed 6 March 2020
· D Zdzieblik, et al, Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2015 Oct 28; 114(8): 1237–1245. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515002810. Accessed 6 March 2020