Collagen is a Hollywood buzzword right now. Known primarily for its anti-aging properties on the skin, hair, and nails, collagen also has important health benefits for your bones, muscles, and tendons. More people are turning to collagen-rich foods and supplements to help improve bone health and increase mobility
What is collagen?
Collagen is the main protein in the body and represents more than half of our bodies’ overall protein content. Made up of amino acids (glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine), collagen is one of the key molecules that holds our bodies together, and can be found in our skin, ligaments, bones, and anywhere else connective tissue exists.
What are the benefits of collagen?
As we get older, our bodies naturally produce less collagen. We can help improve collagen levels by adding it into our diets, which helps stimulate collagen-producing cells and provides those cells with the nutrients needed for collagen synthesis.
- Joint and bone health: helps support the extracellular matrices, helping repair muscles after a workout and maintaining vital bone mass as we age.
- Beauty: stimulates fibroblast cells in our bodies to naturally produce more collagen, leading to firmer, more elastic skin, and strengthened hair and nails.
Adding collagen to your diet
Collagen comes from three main animal sources: bovine (cow), marine (fish), and porcine (pig) — which means there are no natural vegan sources of collagen. To increase collagen intake, it is recommended to eat foods such as bone broth, fish, chicken, and eggs; though a simpler and more affordable means of consuming collagen may be in the form of a supplement.
Collagen supplements typically contain one or more of the following three types of collagen:
- Type 1: prevalent in connective tissues, tendons, organs, bones, and hair, skin and nails
- Type 2: the main component found in bone cartilage
- Type 3: primarily found in bone marrow
When selecting a protein supplement, finding what works best for your diet and lifestyle is key. At Vidafuel, we offer a delicious, easy way to increase your protein intake without excess sugar or any artificial ingredients. Vidafuel Wellness Protein contains type 1 and type 3 collagen, and we’ve also added whey protein — making it a complete protein (containing all 9 essential amino acids). There is no need for a special shake or powder, as we’ve packed all that into each 2oz shot. With 16g of collagen and whey protein the Vidafuel Wellness Protein makes for a quick and effective way to meet your body’s daily protein needs.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835901/
Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz ML, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019 Jan 1;18(1):9-16. PMID: 30681787.