What Is Collagen and What It Is Used For?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found in the bones, skin, muscles, and tendons. You will discover Collagen in many other body parts, like the blood vessels, corneas, and teeth. It has many vital roles, including providing structure to your skin and helping your blood clot. Collagen has also gained popularity as a nutritional supplement and ingredients in shampoo and body lotions. There are two types of Collagens; Endogenous Collagen is the natural Collagen synthesized by the body. Exogenous Collagen comes from an outside source, like supplements. You will find Exogenous Collagen in stores and markets; they are commonly known as medical and cosmetic supplies. Collagen also helps in repairing body tissues. 

What Does Collagen Do In Our Body?

There are 16 types of Collagen. There are four main types- type I, II, III, IV.

• Type I-

90% of Collagen is accounted for by this type. It is made of densely packed fibers. Type I provides structure to the bones, skin, tendons, tissues, and teeth. 

• Type II-

Type II is found in elastic cartilages, which gives a cushion to your joints. That is why it is more loosely packed. 

• Type III-

This is the sporting structure of muscles and organs, even the arteries.

• Type IV- 

You can find this type on the layers of your skin. This type helps with filtration. 

As a human grows older, his or her body produces a lower quality of Collagen. The clear sign of this happening is your skin becoming supple or less firm. Even your cartilage becomes weak with age. 

Health Benefits Of Taking Collagen Supplements

You can eat several food items to increase your collagen intake, for example, pork and bone broth. It has a variety of health benefits. There are two types of supplements gaining popularity, Hydrolyzed Collagen and gelatin. Gelatin is created when Collagen is cooked. 

Benefits:

• Muscle Mass

A study shows that active recreational men combine collagen peptide supplements for strength training, which increases strength and muscle mass more than a placebo. 

• Arthritis

There was an animal study on collagen supplements that took place on mice with post-traumatic osteoarthritis or PTOA. The results indicated that supplementation might play a role in the disease’s progression. 

• Skin Elasticity 

Women who take Collagen as a supplement have shown improvement in skin appearance and elasticity in a study. It was also used to improve the skin appearance by decreasing lines and wrinkles on the face. 

 Some medical practitioners believe in using collagen supplements for the leaky gut syndrome as well. 

Collagen Side Effects 

Currently, there aren’t many known risks associated with taking collagen supplements. Even so, there are some common food allergens such as,

• People that eat fish, shellfish, and eggs should avoid eating Collagen to prevent allergic reactions.
• Some people have reported that collagen supplements leave a bad taste in their mouths. 
• They can have digestive side effects. 
• You can feel Heartburn or the feeling of being full. 

Regardless of all these minor side effects, Collagen seems to be a safe supplement for most of the population. 

How To Use Supplements 

Collagen peptide comes in a powder that can easily be incorporated into your food. The peptide form does not gel, so you can mix it into baked goods, smoothies, and soups if you want, without affecting thor texture. You can make gummy bears or jell-O; you can search for recipes online and find some interesting and delicious ones. 

If you are considering supplements, you should always go for a high-quality source. 

Other Uses Of Collagen 

From food to medication to manufacturing, Collagen has many uses. Collagen, for many years, was used to create glue. Even today, you can Collagen being used for musical instruments. In food products, you can see Collagen being used to make casings for sausages and create gelatin. Lastly, in the medical field, it is used as fillers in plastic surgeries and dressing for severe burns.

To conclude, Collagen is an essential protein that provides a structure for different parts of the body. A fun fact, the food and nutrients we all consume are what helps our bodies to make this protein. They are beneficial supplements that can help with your skin and muscles and reduce the pain with osteoarthritis.