How to Choose the Best Collagen for Healthy Skin and Joints?

Collagen is growing in popularity and you'll certainly be interested to know if it's an exaggerated hype or a breakthrough in skin and body care. Did you know it's also important for muscle, bone and heart activity? Collagen levels naturally decline with age and it is recommended to start using it before you are surprised by the first wrinkles.

What is collagen?

Few people have probably never heard of collagen and its importance for joints or skin. However, from the beginning, collagen is an insoluble protein that is one of the most abundant proteins in animals. You may be surprised to learn that collagen makes up about 30% of the body's protein and is found in various tissues, such as tendons or bones. Like other proteins, collagen is composed of amino acids, namely glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine. There are more than 16 types of collagen, but the majority, more precisely 80 - 90% of collagen in the body, is type I, II and III.

Type II Collagen

How does collagen come to us?

It is interesting to follow the development of the collagen supplements market because although Chinese women have known about it for centuries, Western civilization is lagging behind. To be more precise, it has lagged behind, but interest in collagen is currently rising astronomically. The boom occurred in the United States in the 1980s, when collagen was part of an expensive injectable used to fill in lips and soften facial contours. Nearly 40 years later, the form of collagen and its availability have changed. Today it is part of various beverages, shots, mixtures, female supplements, and also available as a separate powder. The demand for collagen is growing, so would it be beneficial to know the best source of this protein, or more precisely, the source of youth?

The benefits of collagen

Collagen is part of a variety of tissues and you can find it not only in the skin and cartilage, but also in blood vessels, bones or ligaments. Therefore, there are several reasons to consider collagen supplementation.

1. collagen slows skin aging - collagen improves the overall appearance and health of the skin due to its moisturizing and wrinkle-reducing properties. Several studies have shown to slow down collagen-induced skin aging. Collagen has also been linked to the prevention of acne and other skin problems, although this has not been scientifically proven.

Joint support function - The body owes its joint protection to healthy cartilage, which is supported by collagen. Nutritional supplements can be a source of collagen to replenish its declining levels as we age.

3. protects bone health - Collagen is one of the key components of bones and helps maintain their strength. As we age, bones weaken and become thinner, leading to the development of problems including osteoporosis.

4. It supports muscle growth - Muscles are also tissues, part of which is collagen, or more accurately 1-10%, which muscles need in order to function properly. There is even scientific evidence that collagen supplementation increases muscle mass.

5. Importance to the heart and cardiovascular system - According to one study, collagen is important in promoting heart health. It helps significantly reduce arterial stiffness and lower LDL cholesterol.

What type of collagen to choose?

In addition to parameters such as source, form and price, the choice of collagen is also related to the purpose. It depends on whether you are interested in supporting joints and cartilage or improving the condition of your skin. There are 3 types of collagen that predominate in the human body - Type I, II and III. The first type is suitable for improving skin health. The second type represents 50% of the protein in cartilage and is therefore ideal for supporting joints and cartilage. It is no coincidence that children's skin is rich in type III collagen, which is why they have such delicate skin. This type of collagen is naturally replaced by the first type over the course of life. It is important for human skin, nails and hair

So if you're looking for a combination supplement - focused on Type II Collagen - and if you want to support your quality skin - collagen type I. For ideal skin health, the product should contain 90% type I and some type III. We have mentioned it many times, but the market offers a variety of products of quality, form, content and last but not least, other components. When choosing, keep in mind that many supplements are complex. You will often find minerals and vitamins among them, which should not be ignored. Therefore, be sure to check the ingredients, which will best tell you how much collagen will be consumed in the dose of the product.

Why hydrolyzed collagen?

Simply put, hydrolyzed collagen undergoes hydrolysis. In this process, collagen fibers are cut into small chains of amino acids - collagen peptides. Enzymes and high pressure steam are used for this purpose. Natural collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed by the body and are therefore hydrolyzed. This form is unique because collagen peptides are much smaller and can deliver usable doses to the body. It is based on the science of peptides being absorbed into the bloodstream in this form. Most importantly, however, they enter a layer called the dermis, which is under the skin. The dermis is responsible for the elasticity and strength of the skin. Collagen Peptides enter this layer, where they trigger the formation of collagen in the skin. Not all collagen supplements contain a hydrolyzed form of collagen, and they may not even contain collagen. Instead, you will find proline, hydroxyproline and glycine. These amino acids make up only 50% of the amino acid content of collagen structure, and each collagen molecule requires 18 amino acids in the right amount and ratio. Hydrolyzed collagen contains the complete sequence of amino acids directly. Therefore, it is logical to choose a collagen source that does not lack the necessary components.

Collagen is a protein that is important not only for healthy skin and joints. Its production decreases with age, so supplementing with collagen helps maintain healthy and supple skin. Today, it is used in a variety of products, so it is useful to know its importance, the best sources and the negative factors that affect it. We trust that you learned all you need to know about collagen in the article, because in this case, the sooner the better.