What is collagen? The effect of collagen and how to supplement collagen for the body

Collagen is a very important substance that determines the rejuvenation and firmness of the skin, besides there are many uses of collagen for the human body. So what is collagen and how does it work and how to supplement collagen for the body ? Will be answered shortly.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a protein that functions as the glue that holds tissues in the body together. Therefore, without collagen, our bodies would be disjointed parts.

Collagen accounts for up to 30% of total protein and 80% of connective tissue in the human body, so this is a very important and necessary substance in creating amino acids for skin, nails, hair, bones, joints, etc.

In addition, collagen is proven to be safe and highly effective in skin repair and regeneration, so it is highly recommended by medicine.

When we are young, our facial skin will be smooth, but when we are old, we will sag and many wrinkles because the quality of collagen is reduced. So, if you want to maintain a youthful look, add collagen to your body!

What types of collagen are there?

What types of collagen are there?

There are 16 different types of collagen, but in general there are 4 main types: type I, II, III, IV.

Type I collagen

Type I collagen is an important building block of skin, bones, tendons, cartilage fibers, and teeth. They make up 90% of collagen in the body and are composed of dense fibers.

Type II collagen

This type of collagen has a loose and unstable structure like type I collagen, which is found in elastic cartilage, cushioning joints.

Type III collagen

Its main role is to support the structure of muscles, organs and arteries.

Collagen type IV

Found in the layers of the skin.

Benefits of Collagen Supplements

Improve skin health

In addition to the ability to connect cells under the skin together, making the skin smooth , collagen also increases elasticity , preventing the skin from sagging. In addition, collagen also prevents the formation of wrinkles on the skin, helps the skin not to age and is always full of vitality.

Besides, because of its ability to support the skin to produce new cells, collagen will quickly heal scars and fade dark spots effectively.

Improve heart health

Collagen has the effect of preventing the risk of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction .

Prevent bone loss

Besides, collagen is also a substance that plays an important role in the structure of bones and cartilage. Helps to make bones stronger and stronger.

Helps relieve joint pain

Thanks to its ability to maintain the integrity of cartilage, like a rubber layer that protects joints.

Once the amount of collagen in your body declines as you age, the risk of degenerative joint diseases, arthritis will gradually appear.

Some studies have shown that collagen supplements help improve joint problems such as pain and inflammation.

You can start supplementing with collagen from 8-12 grams daily for pain relief.

Increase muscle mass

Muscle tissue is made up of 1% to 10% collagen. Collagen makes muscles supple, strong and physically active.

Many studies have shown that muscle mass in people with age-related loss of muscle mass is increased with collagen supplements.

Researchers have shown that the use of collagen promotes protein synthesis, as well as stimulates muscle growth after exercise.

Other health benefits

The addition of collagen helps to reduce brittle nails. In addition, collagen also stimulates nails and hair to grow faster.

Some studies have shown that collagen also promotes a faster metabolism.

In addition, collagen also increases the ability of the brain to function , and helps the immune system work more efficiently.

Let’s find out 8 parts that are easy to age prematurely after the age of 25 that women should pay attention to.

The process of losing collagen in the body

• After the age of 30 , the amount of collagen in the body will gradually decrease in both quantity and quality, causing the skin to lose its elasticity and quickly form wrinkles .
• Besides, bone and cartilage tissue is also less flexible , problems with blood pressure and atherosclerosis will gradually appear.
• In addition, collagen depletion also causes vision loss . The shine and strength of nails and hair also diminish over time.
• The skin is no longer smooth, has no elasticity, has veins and blood vessels, darkens, wrinkles easily appear in the corners of the eyes, corners of the mouth, hands, …
• Fingernails are weak and break easily. Hair is dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.
• Dry eyes, reduced vision, dark circles, and possibly many small white dots in the white part of the eye.
• Muscles and joints become sore and tired.

Watch now : Warning signs that your body is aging too fast

Factors that destroy collagen

Age

Age causes collagen to be affected

According to research, when entering adolescence (age 20 and older), collagen production rate begins to decrease by 1% per year , depending on the different body of each person.

The body always balances the production as well as the loss of collagen, at the age of under 20, the amount of collagen produced is more than it is lost. From the age of 20 and up, this process gradually reverses positions for each other. The sad thing is that we can’t completely stop this process from happening.

Consume a lot of sugar

Consume a lot of sugar

High sugar content inhibits the enzyme involved in collagen production and reduces the elasticity of these fibers, thereby causing collagen deficiency as well as reducing the elasticity of the skin due to the structure of collagen fibers. destroyed.

Smoke

Effects of smoking

Undoubtedly, smoking is inherently very harmful to health. One of the harmful effects of smoking is premature aging of the skin . This is because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen reaching tissues, causing them to damage and die, thereby forming wrinkles.

Sunshine

Sunshine

UV rays from the sun will reduce the amount of collagen in the body. It causes damage to the DNA of collagen-producing cells as well as promotes the production of free radicals that adversely affect collagen in the skin.

Autoimmune disorder

Autoimmune disorder

Autoimmune disorders are genetic factors that greatly affect the body’s normal collagen production, causing the body to eliminate the amount of collagen tolerated from the outside.

How to add collagen to the body

Supplement collagen with food

To strengthen collagen for the body in the age of over 30, you can supplement with oral medications prescribed by your doctor. In addition, it is necessary to have a reasonable diet and follow a healthy lifestyle, limit the use of alcohol and stimulants such as tobacco, …

Foods that are naturally rich in collagen include dark green vegetables such as:

• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Red tubers and fruits like carrots and bell peppers

• Fruits rich in vitamin C
• Omega 3 rich foods
• Soybean food
• Garlic

Collagen is found in the connective tissues of animal foods, for example in chicken or pig skin. In addition, collagen is abundant in bone broth when boiled chicken bones or bones of some other animals.

Other foods that help replenish collagen include pork, beef, chicken, seafood, milk, legumes, egg whites, wheat germ, dairy products, cabbage, asparagus, mushrooms.

Do not forget that in addition to foods that help replenish collagen, there are also foods that cause aging that make you age quickly.

Milk powder is also a suitable food source to supplement collagen every day. In particular, the lines of milk powder to prevent osteoporosis are supplemented with more collagen to help prevent osteoporosis from a young age.

Supplement Collagen with functional foods

Collagen powder and tablets

Collagen powder and tablets

You can supplement collagen with supplements in powder or tablet form . Considered a fairly popular trend in recent years, some scientific evidence shows that oral and powdered collagen supplements can reduce the appearance of aging.

However, the point of view of scientists also states: “Collagen powder is a type of protein. When we eat it, the body digests it like any other source of protein, like chicken or fish. The collagen powder won’t go directly into the skin and plump it up.”

Creams and oils or collagen masks

Apply collagen mask

Creams, oils, or masks containing pro collagen are said to have a skin-smoothing, collagen-replenishing effect. However, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence on this issue. Because collagen is such a large molecule, its ability to penetrate directly into the skin is controversial.

Solution containing collagen

Some people choose to drink bone broth or collagen solutions packed from animal bones . This method does provide a good amount of collagen to the body, but they have not been shown to help in preventing skin aging.

Applying a mask from natural ingredients such as cereals, eggs, green tea powder, … is also a way to supplement collagen for the skin.

Is taking collagen good?

Taking collagen is perfectly fine. Collagen will support metabolism and eliminate harmful toxins in the body.

When drinking or supplementing Collagen from food, the body will absorb and break down Collagen into Amino Acids (or Amino Acids). This Amino Acid is then absorbed to support the production of anti-aging and anti-aging collagen throughout the body.

To ensure optimal digestion and absorption of Amino Acids, it is recommended that you take Collagen on an empty stomach, at least 20-30 minutes before each meal.

However, you need to be persistent in taking collagen to see results. To know if taking collagen does not need to take a long time to see the change of the skin. Besides, the cost of collagen supplements is quite high.

Therefore, in addition to supplementing Collagen from food sources or taking medicine from the inside, you should also combine it with products that prevent the aging process from the outside such as:

• Skin creams : lotions containing vitamin A and ingredients like retinol and tretinoin will help promote collagen production.
• Serums : Vitamin C serums are also great for collagen production.
• Moisturizing : Look for moisturizers that contain ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that help increase elasticity and smooth fine lines.
• Sunscreen : choose one with SPF and UVA protection to prevent damage caused by free radicals.

Collagen is very important for everyone’s health and especially for women. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to choosing foods that provide collagen in your daily meals!

Explore more:

• The “golden” foods that help supplement collagen super good for the skin
• Drinks that help the body increase collagen production
• Beautify skin with vegetables

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