Many of us may remember the recommendations repeated by our grandparents to consume chicken feet decoction for the sake of our joints. In retrospect, the older generation may be right, because such a decoction was rich in collagen, which in fact is of great importance not only for the health of the joints, but also for many other tissues of the body. How exactly does collagen affect the body and can it be taken in a different, more accessible form?
Health-promoting properties
Although you can find a significant number of skeptical opinions about the effects of collagen, many people still use it. Increasing the consumption of collagen-rich products, i.e. mainly bone decoctions, meat with skin, offal or fish has a positive effect on the condition of the body's tissues. Most people try to supplement their diet with collagen due to the osteoarticular system - it is recommended especially for people who regularly practice sports, because the cartilage in such people is subject to greater mechanical stress.
However, speaking of collagen, one cannot forget about the tendons that stabilize the aforementioned joints and bone structures. Collagen is also found in bones and muscles, and in the walls of blood vessels and many organs. Collagen is also a building component of often forgotten fascia, which affect the posture and efficiency of the whole body and keep internal organs in place. As you can see from these examples, collagen is extremely important, but we can distinguish one more important function.
Collagen and the effect on appearance
Firm skin without wrinkles is another reason why you should ensure an adequate supply of collagen in your diet. The recently fashionable plant-based diet may have an adverse effect on the skin structure over time due to the lack of collagen. Despite the many advantages of using this type of diet, it is observed that as a result of excluding the entire group of animal products, the source of the protein in question is also deprived. In this way, the body is unable to replenish the collagen deficiency, which has a key impact on the elasticity and healthy appearance of the skin. Therefore, diet is critical to preventing under-production of this essential protein.
If we are able to frequently eat collagen-rich animal products, we should enjoy its high level in the body without any problems. However, frequent consumption of fatty animal products may adversely affect our figure, mainly due to an excessive supply of calories. In addition, not everyone likes meals prepared with this type of product. In such a situation, it is worth reaching for a dietary supplement, such as Arthro Sprint collagen by Aliness, which contains highly digestible fish collagen and the addition of B vitamins, vitamins D and C. The latter is particularly important in the process of synthesizing this protein. Interestingly, the capsules produced by Aliness contain collagen and vitamins in the form of a solution, which significantly accelerates their absorption.
Collagen metabolism and production
Importantly, opinions suggesting that collagen taken orally will be digested and not used by the body anyway are not entirely true. In fact, dietary collagen is digested, but that doesn't mean it won't be usable in this form. In order for the body to fully use the collagen consumed in the diet, it is enough for it to have at its disposal the components necessary to build it. It just so happens that by taking collagen with food, you provide the essential amino acids needed to build it. In addition to the proteins commonly supplemented with food, found in many products such as glycine and proline, there are also amino acids specifically found in collagen, i.e. 4-hydroxyproline, 3-hydroxyproline or 5-hydroxylysine. Thanks to this, the body is able to easily obtain individual proteins and produce collagen.
These rare amino acids, obtained in the process of digesting collagen from food, can easily participate in the synthesis of endogenous collagen, i.e. collagen not coming from outside, but produced in the body from available components. Each collagen molecule, present in various tissues, is created in such a way because a single collagen fraction is too large to be taken directly from food and delivered to the body's structures in an unchanged form.
Collagen is one of those types of protein found in almost all structures in the body. Unfortunately, due to the sources of its occurrence, some people may find it difficult to get enough of it from the diet. If we want to keep the body healthy and fully functional, as well as on well-groomed skin, we should consider supplementing this important protein. Then our joints, bones and tendons will be in good working order and the skin will keep a youthful appearance for a long time.
