The Benefits of Collagen Supplementation
It's no secret that collagen supplements are everywhere. But what's all the hype really about? For starters, we all require collagen to support healthy skin, hair, nails, immune function, joints, bones and our gut. Unfortunately as we age, the body's natural ability to produce collagen declines with each year that goes by. On top of that, there are other lifestyle factors that impact our body's ability to replenish collagen like; smoking, excess alcohol, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and too much refined sugar and carbohydrates.
So what is collagen exactly? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and can be found in our connective tissues, our skin, tendons, bones and cartilage. It is responsible for providing structural support to our tissues, and plays an important role in cellular processes like tissue repair, immune response and cellular communication.
There are many types of collagen, but according to research, types 1, 2 & 3 are most abundant in the body.
Type 1: Makes up 90% of your body's collagen and is the majority of collagen found in the skin, bones, teeth, ligaments and tendons
Type 2: Can be found in the eyes
Type 3: Also found in the skin, muscles, and blood vessels
The most common forms of collagen supplements you will find on the market today include bovine (from beef hide) which has type 1 & 3 collagen, and marine (from fish skin & scales) containing type 1 collagen.
Why we chose marine collagen in our GLOW formulation:
Our marine collagen is sustainably sourced from Canadian wild caught fish. Marine collagen has been shown in studies to reduce wrinkles, increase skin moisture, and is highly bioavailable.
Why hydrolyzed? What exactly is hydrolyzed collagen? Hydrolyzed collagen peptides is collagen that has been broken down through hydrolysis into more easily dissolvable amino acids, making it easier for your body to absorb and easier to digest.
Wildflower Superfoods collagen is a source of essential amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucines, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine and valine) for the maintenance of good health. Lysine is important for collagen formation, and is also a source of non essential amino acids (alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, tyrosine) involved in protein synthesis.
The Benefits of Collagen Supplementation:
Skin Health:
A large review of existing scientific studies found that collagen supplements were successful in increasing the skin's elasticity and hydration. Another study found that supplementing with a high quality collagen can help skin appear smoother and more firm. As well, silica (found in horsetail herb) has also been shown to improve sun damaged skin and is important for collagen creation.
Hair & Nails:
More research is needed surrounding collagen supplementation and hair growth. However there is a growing body of evidence to support that supplementation with collagen peptides may indeed help with thicker, healthier hair.
Wildflower Superfoods GLOW Collagen + Herbs contains horsetail herb because of its rich silica content. Several studies have been done showing silica's ability to support healthy, brighter hair.
There have also been studies showing collagen's benefit for healthy, less brittle nails.
Gut Health:
Most of us know by now, that roughly 70% of our immune system is in the gut, making gut health of the utmost importance. You may have heard the term 'leaky gut' being discussed lately. This happens when the protective layer in your gut lining has been damaged and is now allowing toxins and food particles to enter your bloodstream. This can cause inflammation that can lead to an array of health problems. More research is needed to confirm, but collagen may be a great tool to incorporate when working to strengthen the gut. The amino acids in collagen, particularly glycine and glutamine, are thought to support the gut helping to heal and seal off the gut lining.
Bone Health:
2018 study concluding that the silicon in horsetail offers an enhanced biosynthesis of collagen that may improve the formation of cartilage and bone tissue in the treatment of osteoporosis (Healthline). Collagen use has also been shown to reduce joint pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Two ingredients that make GLOW different:
Camu Camu Berry: Not only is camu camu high is antioxidants, it is incredibly rich in vitamin C, which is essential for collagen synthesis.
Horsetail Herb: We chose to incorporate horsetail (Equisetum arvense) in our GLOW formulation for two reasons. One, it's full of antioxidants which are important for protecting our bodies from free radical damage. Two, its rich silica content which has been show to improve hair's strength and growth.