​Collagen is especially popular for its beauty and anti-aging benefits.

You might recognize it as an ingredient in skincare products such as face serum, moisturizer, or body lotion. Collagen supplements come in different forms. You might see it being stirred into coffee or mixed with a protein shake, while some take it in capsule form.

But what is collagen really?

Collagen​ is our body’s most abundant protein, making up about 30%. It’s the main component of cartilage, tendons, bone, and skin. Collagen is present in healthy skin, hair, nails and joints.

Our bodies produce collagen naturally, but this ability declines with age. In fact, collagen production can begin to slow down as early as our late teens or early 20s. The good news is we can get more collagen by adding collagen-rich foods such as bone broth to our diets and by taking a collagen supplement. ​​

Three Things to Look for in a Collagen Supplement  

1. Includes all 9 essential amino acids
Choose a collagen supplement that includes all 9 essential​ amino acids. These amino acids are indispensable for your body to synthesize protein effectively.

A comprehensive collagen supplement aids in forming connective tissues, thereby supporting the health of your hair, skin, nails, and joint.

2. Uses hydrolyzed collagen
Collagen in supplements is usually called collagen hydrolysate, partially hydrolyzed collagen, or collagen peptides.

All of this means that the native intact collagen molecule has been chopped up into smaller pieces. The partial breakdown of collagen into collagen peptides makes it easier to digest and be absorbed compared to intact collagen.

3. Formulated with vitamin C
Vitamin C, a crucial antioxidant, plays a pivotal role in collagen synthesis and helps shield​ the body against damage by free radicals.

Ensuring your collagen supplement is enriched with Vitamin C can contribute to maintaining good levels of collagen in your tissues. ​

​Naturally occurring collagen comes from animals. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, that’s something you’ll want to know.

If you want to add supplemental collagen to your diet, you can see my favorite collagen supplement here. It’s a complete collagen from a grass-fed, pasture raised bovine source, along with pea protein. Unlike most products, the our formula includes all 9 essential amino acids, which is not typical. It also contains vitamin C and biotin and it’s a 100% hydrolyzed collagen for quicker absorption and digestion.

If you’d like to get even more details on collagen, you can watch the replay of Collagen Decoded webcast with our nutritional expert, Dr. Bruce Daggy in the wellness center. He shared some great tidbits! ​

Stay healthy, and feel free to contact me at Jerry@Fit4LifeLLC.com if you have any questions!

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