As we age, the collagen production in our body reduces causing our skin to sag and muscles to lose tone. Read on to find out why collagen is so important and discover which is the best collagen supplement for you!
COLLAGEN: MIRACLE OR MYTH?
Everyone knows that collagen and skin health is inextricably linked. Everything from your skin care to your supplements contains collagen. But what really is this collagen and apart from its utility in the beauty industry, does your body really need it? Let us dig deeper.
WHAT IS COLLAGEN PROTEIN?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. It is that element that gives structure to your skin, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and all other connective tissue. Along with another protein called elastin, collagen keeps our skin supple and tight. As we age, the collagen in our body starts breaking down and our body is not able to replace it at the same speed it breaks down. That is the reason why we develop fine lines and wrinkles over time.
A lot of factors are responsible for the loss of collagen apart from age, like cigarette smoke, exposure to the sun, and pollution. These can accelerate the breakdown of collagen from our skin, making it drier and older-looking.
But is that where the story of collagen ends? We have just scraped the surface (literally).
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN PROTEIN?
Keeps your heart healthy:
Collagen provides structure to your arteries and the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of the body. Without enough collagen, arteries may become weak and fragile. Weak cardiovascular health can lead to serious conditions and potential strokes.
Collagen for bones:
Moreover, collagen helps maintain the health of our bones and muscles. As early as 20 years of age, we start to lose approximately 1% of the collagen from our body and as much as 30% during menopause for women, which includes our musculoskeletal system. Experiencing joint pain in your 20s? Yes, that is a real thing. As the collagen breaks down, the density of the bones and joints cartilages is affected, which can lead to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. It puts us at a higher risk of bone fractures.
Improves muscle mass:
If you are working extremely hard on building your strength and endurance levels day and night in the gym, you cannot ignore the importance of collagen protein for muscle growth. This protein is necessary to keep your muscles strong and functioning properly. Research has shown that taking collagen may promote the synthesis of muscle proteins like creatine, as well as stimulate muscle growth after exercise.
Other health benefits of collagen:
Apart from this, collagen is known to keep your hair and nails strong and prevent them from breaking easily, heals wounds, maintains gut health, reduces anxiety and uplifts your mood.
So how do you prevent your body from losing this miracle-protein and increase it in your body?
A most effective way to increase collagen production
The answer lies in collagen supplements.
Earlier it was believed that injecting collagen in the skin as fillers was beneficial for the skin. But this has fallen out of practice. In the last few years, there have been multiple impressive studies showing that ingestible collagen protein can not only impact the appearance of your skin, but also boost muscle mass, bone health and replicate all the functions that naturally occurring collagen in the body does.
And by ingestible collagen, we do not mean collagen in your food. Although it is found in some of the food that we consume like chicken skin, pork skin, fish, bone broth etc., digestive enzymes break down the collagen protein in food into individual amino acids and peptides. However, collagen in supplements has already been broken down, or hydrolyzed, which is why it is absorbed more efficiently than the collagen in food.
As a protein source alone, collagen is excellent as it packs more protein per calorie than other sources while containing less sodium and sugar. This prevents water retention and bloating. Collagen supplements are rich in amino acids proline and glycine, which can repair tendons, bones, joints, and muscles quicker, leading to more muscle gain.
One recent study in elderly men with sarcopenia, a loss of muscle caused by aging, found that those who took 15 grams of collagen daily, in addition to lifting weights three times per week for 3 months, gained significantly more muscle and lost more fat than those who only lifted weights.
And before you reject this as the latest fad, let us tell you that the Chinese have been consuming collagen as a youth-boosting supplement for centuries. Velvet antler from deer and elk have been a part of Oriental medicine for years. It is only recently that we have been able to make these more appetizing.
WHAT IS THE BEST COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENT?
Ten Performance’s range of Recover products is liquid collagen supplements. Collagen in the liquid form is the most highly effective and easily absorbable form. These are made from All-Natural Velvet Antler Extract of elks raised on farms in the US. They contain a naturally balanced matrix of growth factors that support recovery, improve performance, rebuild damaged muscle tissue, reduce soreness, and improve energy. All these health benefits are possible because of this miracle-protein: collagen! Moreover, the antioxidants in these products aid in the easy absorption of the collagen, making it more effective.
If you are looking for the best collagen supplement, look no further.
We are committed to providing you the cleanest and most effective supplements in the world. As a trusted brand of leading Crossfit and other athletes, your pre, post and mid workout needs are all taken care of by us! Perform. Recover. Repeat. Let’s go!
