How is your day?
Let’s talk about collagen…
I know, I know-AGAIN?!
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It’s the “glue” that helps hold the body together. It gives our skin that sexy look, and helps replace dead skin cells.
In other words…IT’S THE BEST!!
As we age, our body’s collagen production naturally begins to slow down. This is what causes those nasty wrinkles, sagging skin and weaker cartilage in your joints. Of course, a bad diet, smoking and sun exposure, also contribute to depleting collagen levels (ekk).
COLLAGEN IS A BAD ASS
Our ancestors recognized that food is medicine early on.
Collagen is full of conditional amino acids like arginine, glutamine, glycine and proline. These are amino acids that are produced by your body-if you take care of it. But, when you don’t, or are sick, under stress or otherwise unhealthy, your body may not be able to produce enough of these amino acids on its own. It needs help from outside sources to get its fill.
7 Collagen Benefits
Check out these seven benefits that bad ass collagen does for you:
1. Skin and Hair
As we get older, collagen production declines-bummer! You’ll notice it physically: looser skin, more wrinkles and less elasticity. So, increasing collagen levels can help your skin look firmer, increase smoothness, and help your skin cells keep renewing normally.
2. Joints
My joints started hurting at an early age. I think it was from a car accident I was in and my former job in the restaurant business. But, as we age, we lose collagen, which makes our ligaments start moving with less ease, leading to stiffness and swollen joints. Collagen from an outside source helps to “oil” that joint-think like greasing a creaky door hinge: It’ll help your joints move more easily and less creaky. A recent study even found that collagen is an effective treatment for treating osteoarthritis and other joint disorders.
3. Leaky Gut
I know some people that have leaky gut syndrome that could benefit from collagen. Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where bad-for-you toxins are able to pass through your digestive tract. Collagen can be super helpful for this. It helps break down proteins and soothe your gut’s lining, thus, healing damaged cell walls and infusing it with healing amino acids. It will also help absorb water, keeping things moving freely in the digestive tract.
4. Boosts Metabolism
Adding collagen to your diet will give you a boost in your metabolism. Gylcine, found in collagen, helps pump sugar into your body’s tissue to increase energy levels.
5. Strengthens Nails & Teeth
You know this one, I’m sure. Collagen protein is the building block of your fingernails and teeth. Adding collagen into your diet can help keep your nails strong and your teeth healthy.
6. Detox
If you’re looking to detox, collagen is extremely helpful (think bone broth detox) Glycine helps minimize damage your liver when it absorbs foreign substances that shouldn’t be passing through it.
7. Reduce Cellulite
Whaaaat? Yes, PLZ! Who doesn’t want to get rid of those ugly cellulite? Improving your skin’s elasticity through collagen will help reduce that dimpling on your skin.
How to Get Collagen
There are different ways to get collagen into your diet. My favorites are through bone broth, and collagen powder. Here are my favorite brands here and here.
Make sure that you get your powder from grass-fed, pasture-raised cows (with no antibiotics or chemicals). Collagen can be mixed into smoothies, soups or even into baked goods to provide collagen’s healthy benefits without adding any taste to your favorite meals.
Yep, it’s tasteless.
You can also get collagen by adding animal products like eggs, poultry, and fish into your diet.
That’s my take on collagen-have I convinced you yet?
What’s your opinion on collagen? Do tell!
-love, tess
xoxo
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