Collagen is the newest beauty ingredient that everyone is talking about, And no wonder, Collagen has various positive effects on your body.

It improves your skin’s moisture balance and elasticity and keeps your bones, tendons, and joints strong and flexible. In short, there are plenty of benefits.

But first, what exactly is collagen, its benefits and side effects, should I take extra and if so which type is good, especially what type of collagen Is best for aging skin I would love to write all about it.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and one of the most important building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

The strong and resilient connective tissue is made using the fibrous structure so that it can withstand the strain. Although your body naturally produces collagen, its production decreases as you age.

With age, collagen in the deep layers of the skin changes from a tightly organized network of fibers to a loose, disorganized maze.

Additional factors that cause production to decline more quickly are sun exposure, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of sleep, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Environmental exposure can also damage collagen fibers, making them less thick and strong, leading to wrinkles on the skin’s surface.

Why Use Collagen?

Our body produces collagen itself, but after the age of 25, the body becomes less and less able to produce collagen itself. After 50 years, collagen is no longer produced by our bodies.

Collagen is not produced by our body, which results in cellulite and wrinkles. The decrease in skin elasticity and the sagging and thinning of the skin of the elderly is also partly due to the decrease in collagen.

This decrease also causes muscles and joints to become less flexible. As a result, your body becomes stiffer and you are unable to move as easily.

Collagen And Elastin

Collagen is found in the skin. The top layer of the skin is the epidermis, where the skin cells are located. Below this is the dermis ( dermis ) and subcutaneous connective tissue ( hypodermis ).

This is where important parts of your skin are located, such as blood vessels and hair follicles. There is a lot of elastin and collagen in between. Elastin is a protein that ensures the elasticity of the skin.

The dermis consists of approximately 30% collagen. Collagen and elastin together ensure the firmness, suppleness, and elasticity of the skin.

Collagen plays a key role in skin elasticity and regeneration. It also helps with joint and bone health, keeping the body flexible and strong.

As we get older, from the age of 25, the natural production of collagen decreases. This leads to signs of aging such as wrinkles and reduced joint flexibility.

Why Take Extra Collagen?

Even though your body produces collagen itself, the amount of collagen decreases as you get older. From around the age of 25, your body produces less and less collagen.

You can see this in your skin. Your skin becomes sagging and lines and wrinkles appear. Around the age of 50, your body produces almost no collagen at all. Taking extra collagen can help keep your skin supple and slow the formation of wrinkles.

3 Benefits Of Collagen?

In addition to the benefits for your skin, collagen has even more benefits for your health and your sports performance:

Good for your joints

Collagen is important for strong, healthy joints. Collagen contributes to the elasticity and maintenance of your cartilage, the rubbery tissue that protects your joints.

Taking extra collagen helps to increase the body’s production of new collagen and maximize its production.

There are currently many studies into the effect of collagen on supporting the joints and reducing pain in joint pain. The results are promising.

Improve sports performance

Do you exercise a lot and would you like to improve your performance? In combination with a healthy diet, collagen can help build and strengthen your muscles.

Collagen contributes to increasing your strength, and lean body mass and helps reduce fat mass. It also contributes to recovery after physical exertion.

The greatest benefit is shown when collagen is taken about an hour before exercise, according to research.

Healthy skin, hair, and nails

Several studies have shown that taking extra collagen has positive effects on the health, elasticity, and moisture balance of your skin. The result? Smoother, firmer skin with fewer wrinkles and fine lines. In addition, collagen ensures healthier and stronger hair and nails.

Which Collagen Types Exist In Our Body?

There are different types of collagen. The first three types of collagen are the most important.

Collagen type 1: Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin elasticity and hydration. Not only does it help rebuild your muscles, eyes, bones, and spine, but it is also good for strengthening your nails and helping grow stronger, thicker hair.

Collagen type 2: Makes up the majority of the protein molecules in your cartilage, the connective tissue that protects your bones at the joints, the discs in your spine, and the eyes, which helps maintain joint health.

Collagen type 3: Found in large quantities in your intestines, muscles, blood vessels, and the uterus. It is usually used together with type I collagen for intestinal healing and to improve skin elasticity and hydration.

Type 1 comprises 90% of the collagen in our body. Depending on the origin, a product contains certain types. For example, collagen taken from cattle contains types 1 and 3 collagen, important for the growth and repair of bones, tendons, and skin.

Fish collagen mainly contains type 1, fish collagen also contains hydroxyproline. This amino acid is an important component of the skin, the walls of blood vessels, and other connective tissues.

Of all types, Type I is the most important for connective tissue. Type I is the best choice for most people and most applications.

What Is Type 1 Collagen Good For?

Type 1 collagen plays a crucial role in skin health and repair. It promotes skin elasticity and hydration, helps reduce wrinkles and dryness, and supports the skin’s natural recovery process.

People who want to rejuvenate their skin and combat the signs of aging can benefit from supplements of this type.
Type 1 collagen is also essential for bone health. In this way, it supports bone density and structure. This is especially important for elderly and postmenopausal women, who may face the risk of bone loss and osteoporosis.

Additionally, this type of collagen contributes to the health of tendons and ligaments, which are crucial for the body’s mobility and flexibility. An adequate intake of CI can help keep tendons and ligaments strong and healthy.

Collagen type 1 is also known as:
Hydrolyzed collagen
Bovine Collagen
Collagen Peptides
Collagen type-1 should not be confused with Keratin (another protein for skin, hair, and nails).

What Foods Contain Collagen?

Many foods contain a lot of collagen. Compared to the past, we now consume much less collagen because we no longer use the parts of the animal that contain a lot of collagen. Collagen powder is a great way to get collagen.

Collagen can be found in various foods, such as bone broth, gelatin, fish, and protein-rich meat.
Sources of Collagen:

• Meat: beef, pork, chicken.
• Oily fish: salmon, tuna, sardines.
• Gelatin: Gelatin is made from collagen-rich bones, tissues, and tendons of animals.
• Bone broth: broth drawn from the bones of cattle or fish.

What Types of Collagen Powder Are There?

We distinguish between vegetable and animal collagen. Vegetable collagen often contains ingredients that stimulate collagen production in the body. So this is not collagen, because collagen is always animal since collagen is not produced by plants.

With animal collagen (cattle or cow) and fish collagen. These are pretty much the same. However, fish collagen has the advantage that its structure is most similar to the collagen that our own body produces.

As a result, the body absorbs fish collagen slightly better than cow collagen.

How Sun, Sugars, And Smoking Destroy Collagen?

Several factors can influence its operation. Some factors can positively influence and promote the functioning of collagen, while other factors disrupt its functioning.

Positive Impact

Vitamin C strengthens the effect of collagen in the body.

Hyaluronic acid promotes the hydration of the connective tissue in the skin, through the active ingredient acetyl-glucosamine, and it retains moisture. Scientists have seen that 120-240 mg of hyaluronic acid per day can provide more hydration to the skin after just 8 weeks.

You can also eat collagen-rich foods and take collagen powder or supplements. Eat collagen-rich products such as chicken, beef eggs, broth, and gelatin.

Eat fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamin C (this strengthens collagen action) and antioxidants that protect against free radicals. Avoid too much sugar, alcohol, UV light, and caffeine.

Negative Impact

Too much sun exposure can cause UV damage in the skin and loss of collagen can affect the skin’s structure. UV damages collagen due to DNA damage to the cells that produce collagen. In addition, more free radicals are produced that damage collagen.

Eating sugar causes collagen proteins to stick together and blood sugar levels rise, reducing the elasticity of the collagen.

Smoking causes damage to the cells by free radicals in the skin. In addition, smoking damages collagen and elastin, which causes sagging skin and wrinkles.

Caffeine, like alcohol, is broken down as quickly as possible in your liver. Caffeine intake produces the stress hormone cortisol, which inhibits collagen production.

Does Collagen Have Side Effects?

Collagen is a body’s substance. It has no side effects and is considered safe. If someone does experience a side effect, this may be the result of pre-existing allergies or exceeding the recommended dose of 15 grams per day.

What is collagen suitable for?

Collagen is suitable for everyone and useful for everyone. It helps maintain healthy hair and nails. It also helps improve the hydration and firmness of the skin.

Cream, pills, powder? What works against Skin Aging

Many collagen creams promise to firm the skin and contain collagen fibers. It is better not to use these creams, because they may not work. Collagen is too large to pass through the skin and cannot be absorbed.

Creams that destroy the protective layer of the skin to improve absorption also do not ensure that the collagen protein can be absorbed into the connective tissue. It is therefore better to take it through food and a supplement.

In addition, ensures sufficient fluid to hydrate, omega-3 fatty acids that have an anti-inflammatory effect, vitamin A for the health of the skin and connective tissue.

Antioxidants that protect the skin against free radicals, and vitamin C for skin improvement stimulate the functioning and production of collagen.

Beauty Has No Age

Collagen seems to be a promising supplement against skin aging. Yet just one scoop of this powder is not enough. A balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important for the natural production of collagen.

Moreover, ensure sufficient collagen intake through food and support your body from the inside and outside.

It’s important to note that before incorporating any supplements into your routine, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional to ensure they align with your individual health needs.

FAQs

Can I take collagen supplements during my pregnancy?

Collagen is a body’s protein that occurs naturally in food. Therefore, it should not pose any health risks. However, there is little research available on the use of collagen supplements during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Therefore, always consult your doctor before taking supplements during pregnancy.

What are collagen types 4 and 5?

Collagen Types 4 and 5 have distinct roles in the body. Type 4 collagen serves as a major component of the basement membrane, providing essential structural support to various tissues.

Type 5 collagen is often found alongside Type 1 collagen and is involved in regulating fiber formation.

What are collagen types 4 and 5?

Collagen Types 4 and 5 have distinct roles in the body. Type 4 collagen serves as a major component of the basement membrane, providing essential structural support to various tissues.

In contrast, Type 5 collagen is often found alongside Type 1 collagen and is involved in regulating fiber formation.

Is Type 1 or Type 3 collagen better?

The choice between Type 1 and Type 3 collagen depends on specific health goals. Type 1 collagen is abundant in the body and crucial for the health of the skin, bones, tendons, and other connective tissues.

On the other hand, Type 3 collagen, often found alongside Type 1, is particularly important for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness. Both types are commonly recommended together for comprehensive skin benefits.

Which collagen is best for mature skin?

A combination of Type 1 and Type 3 collagen is often suggested for mature skin. This combination addresses the dual needs of firmness and elasticity, contributing to a more youthful appearance.

Which is the best collagen 1, 2, or 3?

The determination of the best collagen depends on individual health goals. Type 1 collagen supports skin, hair, and nails, while Type 2 is primarily associated with cartilage and joint health. Type 3 collagen contributes to skin elasticity and firmness.

Many collagen supplements on the market combine these types to offer a holistic approach to overall health and wellness. It is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating any supplements into your routine to ensure they align with your individual health needs.