13 Facts and More about Collagen that You Must Know Before Taking any Collagen Supplement

Your body has so many bones muscles and tissues. And many of them are held together with #collagen. This most abundant #protein in your body provides connection and strength to our entire body. To say that collagen is found throughout your body would be an understatement. It’s a structural element of #bones, #muscles, tendon, and ligaments.

Collagen and #skincare are always linked together, primarily because it’s a major component of your largest organ, the skin.

Here are some facts you need to know about collagen, from collagen itself, types, and its production process (some are a bit technical, but I will TRY to make it less nose-bleeding as I can)

 1. The word “collagen” comes from the Greek word kólla, which means glue, the name was derived based on the function collagen which is to connect. 

2. It was already mentioned that collagen is the abundant protein in our body. About 30 percent of your body’s proteins are one type of collagen or another. We'll get to the types of protein a little on to the article.

3. Collagen is not only found in the skin but also found in the blood vessels, the cornea of the eye, teeth, cartilage, discs between your vertebrae, and the digestive tract. 

4. Collagen makes an ideal protective casing for your kidneys and other organs. 

5. Why is collagen such an important structural protein in animals? First, collagen is thermally stable, meaning it less susceptible to temperature changes. Second, it has a lot of mechanical strength. Third - maybe most surprising—it can interact with other biomolecules. 

6. Age is an archnemesis of collagen. There are a few other things which you’ll learn later, too. The older we get, the less collagen our body make, and is not as high-quality as the collagen of our youth. The obvious effects can be seen in the appearance of skin, and can be manifested in the decline of joint health, among other. This decline in the process of collagen production starts in your twenties or thirties. 😱😱😱 

7.  Our body produces collagen. The production of collagen starts with procollagen—the substance secreted by your cells. It goes through processing in two parts of your cell, the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi body. This whole process doesn’t happen without #vitaminC. That is why vitamin C is also an essential component in #skincare. Add this as one of the many reasons why you should have more than sufficient amount of #VitaminC.

8.  The structure of a collagen protein is what gives it the unique strength your body needs. It’s a triple helix—three chains twisting around each other. There are about 1,000+ amino acids in each of the three chains that make up collagen. And they’re held together with hydrogens—the smallest atom. Glycine, one of the amino acids that make up collagen takes up the middle of the triple helix structure because it’s the only one that can fit. These long fibers don’t just exist as single protein ropes. Collagen can come together to form striated horizontal sheets.

9.  Type I collagen is stronger than steel—on a gram-for-gram basis. Collagen is in your skin and connective tissues, providing structure and strength all over your body. Its utility doesn’t end there. This pervasive protein is also used in two interesting, and very different ways. It’s even used as sausage casing and makes up the strings of musical instruments!

10. If there is Type I collagen, then How many types cam there be? Sixteen different types exist in your body. And each have different structures and function. But our body is mostly composed of collagen types I, II, III, or IV. About 90 percent of your collagen is type I, which is the strongest type because it’s made of fibers densely packed together. It’s a structural component of bones, skin, tendons, cartilage, teeth, and other connective tissue. And can stretch—a lot, without breaking. Type II collagen isn’t quite as densely packed as type I, and it is mostly found in our joints. Our muscles, organs, and arteries rely on type III. And type IV can help with filtering and is more of two-dimensional sheet that’s found in your skin

11. Aside from age, which is the ultimate enemy of collagen, no matter what the type is, here are other "enemies" of collagen which can negative affect collagen production in our body: 

• Sugar and other refined carbs can also hamper your collagen’s repairing capabilities. Now you have one more reason to limit sugar in your diet. 
• The sun is also an enemy of collagen. Ultraviolet radiation diminishes collagen production, so always practice safe sun exposure. 
• Smoking bad for collagen production, too. Actually, smoking is bad for the health. why do people continue smoking despite the fact that all of us actually know that it is bad?? 

12. If there are enemies, there are actually allies of collagen. There are several available and easily obtained nutrients that can help maintain healthy collagen production: 

• Vitamin A from sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, and mango
• Vitamin C found in citrus fruits, red pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomato
• Copper - you’ll find it in organ meats, shellfish, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate, asparagus, and black pepper 
• Anthocyanidins— a type of phytonutrient that gives blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries their deep colors.

13. Stocking up on the amino acids is another way support your body’s ability to manufacture this important protein. Glycine can be found in many protein-rich foods, including pork, beef, and chicken. If you’re looking for proline, turn to egg whites, dairy, mushrooms, asparagus, and almost any food with protein. Eating amino acids won’t guarantee an uptick in collagen, but it’s worth a shot—and already part of a healthy diet. Bone broths are typically rich in collagen. That makes sense when you consider that they’re made by boiling animal bones. And, as you know, bones and the connective tissues that surround them have plenty of collagen. Basically, a healthy, balanced diet is a great foundation to help your body keep cranking out the collagen production. Living a healthy lifestyle is a great start to supporting healthy collagen production.
REFERENCE/S:

https://www.askthescientist.com