WHY COLLAGEN PROTEIN IS THE FUTURE OF PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS
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GREGORY O'GALLAGHER
In the ever-evolving world of fitness, there's a new type of protein supplement that is quickly gaining massive popularity. We're talking about collagen protein. If you're wondering what collagen is, you're at the right place. In this article, we'll answer just that along with outlining the 6 key benefits of collagen.
Contents:
WHAT IS COLLAGEN?
The word “collagen” is derived from the Greek word for glue. It was named so for its ability to turn to soluble gelatin when heated in water. Collagen is a structural protein that acts as a building block for our bones, teeth, muscles, skin, joints, and connective tissues. Think of it as the glue that holds your body together.
The most abundant protein in the body, collagen makes up more than one-third of our total protein. Collagen is the protein responsible for skin elasticity. Human bodies create collagen naturally. However, the production of this protein slows down with age. As a result, a person's skin begins to lose some of its capability to bounce back into shape, a process that many call "elasticity." As this occurs, wrinkles begin to form. People who want wrinkle-free skin and an array of other health benefits often look for collagen supplements.
Although collagen is poised to become the future of proteins, it used to be an integral part of our ancestors' diet. In nature, collagen is found exclusively in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. Our ancestors used to utilize the whole animal and make broths which is why they were able to reap complete benefits of naturally obtainable collagen. Since that's not the case any more, collagen supplements have been created to fill in the much-required gap.
BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN
1. Promotes Healthy Hair & Skin
Collagen is a major component of your skin. It has a role in strengthening skin plus it benefits elasticity and hydration. As you age, your body decreases the production of collagen, leading to hair loss as well as dry skin and the formation of wrinkles. Studies have shown that collagen peptides or supplements containing collagen may help slow the aging of your skin by reducing wrinkles and dryness. The wrinkle-reducing effects of collagen supplements have been attributed to their ability to stimulate your body to produce collagen on its own. And also taking collagen supplements may promote the production of other proteins that help structure your skin, including elastin and fibrillin.
In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, female subjects that took collagen hydrolysate supplements over an eight-week period saw a remarkable improvement in skin moisture, dermal elasticity and less skin roughness. Whether you're 25 or 55, collagen contributes to a radiant skin and luscious hair, and who wouldn't want that?!
2. Helps Relieve Joint Pain
Collagen helps maintain the coherence of your cartilage, which is the rubber-like tissue that protects your joints. As you get older the amount of collagen in your body decreases, the risk of developing degenerative joint disorders such as osteoarthritis increases. Studies have shown that taking collagen supplements may help improve symptoms of osteoarthritis and reduce joint pain overall. Studies have theorized that supplemental collagen may accumulate in cartilage and stimulate your tissues to make collagen. They have suggested that this may lead to lower the inflammation, for better support of your joints, and reduced pain.
3. Prevents Bone Loss
Your bones are made mostly of collagen, which gives them structure and helps keep them strong. As collagen in your body declines as you age, bone mass does too. This may lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, which is characterized by low bone density and linked with a higher risk of bone fractures. Researchers have shown that taking collagen supplements may have certain effects in the body that help inhibit the bone breakdown that leads to osteoporosis. BMD (Bone mineral density) is a measure of the number of minerals, such as calcium, in your bones. Low BMD is associated with weak bones and the development of osteoporosis.
4. Boosts Muscle Mass
Muscle tissue is composed of collagen, as it contains between 1–10% of collagen. This protein is necessary to keep your muscles strong and functioning properly. Studies suggest that collagen supplements help boost muscle mass in people with sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass that happens with age. Studies have suggested that taking collagen may promote the synthesis of muscle proteins such as creatine, and may also stimulate muscle growth after exercise. More studies are necessary to investigate collagen’s potential to boost muscle mass.
5. Promotes Heart Health
Collagen provides structure to your arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Without sufficient collagen, arteries may become weak and fragile. This may lead to atherosclerosis, a disease characterized by the narrowing of the arteries. Atherosclerosis has the potential to lead to heart attack and stroke.
6. Can Improve Gut Health
When talking about collagen, most people would equate it with skincare, but younger-looking skin is only where the benefits of collagen begin. Collagen can also play an important role in building and maintaining healthy connective tissue throughout your digestive tract. Maintaining a strong digestive tract and stomach lining is extremely important for the prevention of a condition known as “leaky gut.” Leaky gut happens when there are damages in the barrier lining of your intestine. This condition may allow food and waste particles to pass into the bloodstream, causing inflammation. Leaky gut can cause bloating, gas, stomach cramps, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), as well as sensitivity to foods that are wheat-based, high in sugar and contain gluten. Collagen improves gut health because it contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine, glutamine, and proline which can be beneficial to the intestinal tract as well as the stomach.
THE BOTTOM LINE
So if collagen is such an essential aspect of our overall health while also presenting some major perks where our appearance is concerned, why are we just hearing about it now? (And by "now" we mean within the past few years.)
Collagen, itself, certainly isn't anything new to our diets, as it's always been present in many of our favorite foods, like homemade chicken soup, but the main idea is that there has been a lack of education around collagen protein and its importance to the overall health of our bodies. Recently, its popularity has helped shed light on its benefits and why our bodies need it.
This is why we have launched our own Collagen Protein - Kino Collagen. Once you start using Kino Collagen, you’ll notice drastic improvements both in the gym and from a general health standpoint. Kino Collagen is incredibly filling i.e 90 calories per serving which is why adding it to your diet can support deficit and help you get in the lean movie star shape that you're working so hard for. In addition, we've cracked the code on giving protein an amazing taste. Our Blueberry Muffin flavor tastes like heaven.
Take the informed leap and join thousands of Kino Warriors who use Kino Collagen for their daily protein requirements as well as for the army of additional health benefits!
