How to realize that you are lacking collagen and what to do about it

Rexy Product Director at Protein Rex

What is collagen and why do you need it? How do you know if you’re lacking collagen? Where do you get it?

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in the body. It is present in all tissues and is responsible for their strength: it is necessary for joints, tendons, muscles and blood vessels. It is collagen that helps us to stay young and active, so it is often called the protein of youth. But as we age, collagen reserves in the body are depleted. We understand how to make up for the lack of this important protein and prolong youth.

What is collagen

Collagen is a special filamentous protein, the main component of all connective tissues in the body. It is responsible for the beauty of the skin, hair and nails. Collagen has a lot of useful properties: it gives elasticity and elasticity to the skin, accelerates the regeneration process and protects bones from destruction, and tendons – from microtrauma. Collagen is also believed to improve mood, control weight and influence the quality of sleep.

As we age, our own collagen production decreases, skin and muscles lose elasticity and wrinkles appear. Bones become brittle and joints become less mobile. After about age 30, a person begins to lose about 1% of protein per year. In women, with the onset of menopause, collagen production decreases by 30% in the first five years. Additional factors in the decline of collagen are unhealthy lifestyles: smoking, lack of sleep, stress – all of which leads to the release of the hormone cortisol, which destroys collagen fibers.

Read more about why collagen is so important for skin health in the article at the link.

There are now 28 types of collagen in nature. Regarding its origin, it can be divided into animal and marine, but there is no significant difference between them. The only difference is the source of origin. Marine collagen comes from fish, and animal collagen comes from cows. The protein structure of these types is practically no different between them, but the cost of products with marine collagen, as a rule, is much more expensive.

How to realize that you are lacking collagen

The easiest way is to look in the mirror. Dry and flabby skin, premature wrinkles – all these are signs of low levels of the protein in the body. Brittle nails and hair are another obvious symptom of collagen deficiency. With severe deficiency comes joint pain, as well as injuries during workouts.

The good news is that collagen stores in the body can be replenished with proper nutrition and special supplements.

Where to get collagen

Collagen is best absorbed by ingestion. Applying it to the skin as part of creams, masks and other care products does not give such a significant effect. This is due to the fact that useful substances are maximally effectively assimilated through the gastrointestinal tract, and collagen is no exception.

To help the body produce collagen, it is important to include protein-rich foods in the diet: bone broths, eggs, fish, cold cuts. About other products that stimulate the production of collagen, read in the material at the link.

For a noticeable effect, a person needs about 5 g of collagen per day. To get the daily norm of collagen, you need to drink at least 170 g of bone broth. In today’s world, it is almost impossible to eat like this, so you can include collagen supplements in your diet. As a rule, they are already enriched with additional elements for better absorption and stimulation of production: vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and others.

Collagen in supplements can be chosen in any convenient form: drinkable; powder; in the format of collagen bars, which have relatively recently appeared on the market. In addition to collagen, the latter contain superfoods and vitamins, are convenient to take with you, and are pleasant to taste, unlike other forms of collagen supplements.