What is collagen, which is one of the food supplements that has become increasingly popular in the last few years? How does it benefit our skin health and what should be paid attention to, in order to use the right product?
You can find all the answers for your curiosities about this subject in my article.
The relationship between nutrition and skin health is getting more and more important every day. With age, the amount of collagen, the main support protein of our skin, decreases with the effect of both genetic and environmental factors. As a result, wrinkles, dryness, loss of elasticity and sagging are seen on the skin. What is collagen, which is one of the food supplements that has become increasingly popular in the last few years, how does it benefit our skin health, and what should be considered in order to use the right product, you can find all the things people are curious about this subject in my article.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is the main support protein of the connective tissue, which consists of amino acids. It is found in our body especially in skin, bone, muscle, cartilage and tendons. It provides the integrity of body tissues, elasticity and firmness of the skin. There are 28 known types of collagen in the human body. Type 1 and type 3 collagen are the most abundant in the skin. From the age of 20s-30s, body collagen production gradually decreases every year. As a result, wrinkles and loss of elasticity in the skin and an increase in cellulite formation on the hips and legs are observed. Therefore, in recent years, collagen which has been taken as a supplement in different forms such as liquid, powder, tablet and capsule, is affecting skin health positively. However, to use it safely, a dermatologist should be consulted beforehand.
What are the Benefits of the Collagen on Skin Health?
Collagen is the skin’s main support protein and begins to decline with age. In many studies, it has been determined that taking a collagen food supplement slows down skin aging, reduces deep wrinkles and skin dryness, and increases skin elasticity. In one of these studies, it was determined that women who used 2.5-5 grams of collagen daily for 8 weeks had decreased skin dryness and increased elasticity compared to those who did not use it. In another study, it was found that women who used collagen for 12 weeks had an increase in skin moisture and an improvement in deep wrinkles compared to those who did not use it. In addition, there is evidence that collagen increases the integrity of the connective tissue and leads to a reduction in acne scarring and cellulite, but it has not yet been supported by clinical studies.
What Should Be Considered About Product Selection?
When collagen is taken orally, if it has a large molecular weight, it is first broken down by the digestive system and absorbed into the bloodstream. In order to overcome this obstacle in the digestive system, hydrolyzed low molecular weight, easily absorbable forms have been developed. Ideally, there are preparations that are taken in liquid form and contain hydrolyzed collagen peptides. In addition, 70% of the skin’s collagen is composed of type 1 and type 3 collagen. For this reason, products containing type 1 and 3 collagen should be preferred to support skin health. Most products on the market often contain bovine or fish collagen. Products of bovine origin are more preferred. Those with seafood allergies should avoid forms containing fish collagen. In addition to collagen, products supplemented with some substances such as hyaluronic acid, glutathione, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, biotin, copper, beta carotene increase the effectiveness even more.
As a result, collagen, one of the popular food supplements of the last period of time, improves the appearance of the skin when used correctly and consciously. In addition to skin health, collagen; prevents bone loss, increases body muscle mass, ensures healthy growth of hair and nails.
