Collagen

Need a helping hand to fend off the signs of aging? No need to spend a fortune on botox injections or plastic surgery!

There is a natural method to delay this deadline: the use of collagen. This abundant protein in the human body (skin, cartilage, tendons, etc.) plays a big role in keeping skin young and delaying the aging process.

What are the benefits of collagen? Which collagen to choose for the beauty of the skin? What are the selection criteria ? Here we will tell you everything you need to know about this incredible anti-aging active ingredient!

Have you ever heard of collagen? It takes its name from the Greek word “Kollagen” formed by two words “Kolla” and “gene”. The first means glue and the second indicates an element that generates.

Collagen is a structural protein formed by amino acids. It is one of the essential constituents of the body . It is present in each of our cells, in our skin, our tendons, our cartilages and our ligaments.

Collagen plays a major role in the body since it ensures the cohesion, elasticity and regeneration of all tissues . Without this protein, the body cannot function optimally and it ages too quickly.

Normally, our body makes it itself… But unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Indeed, from the age of 25, collagen reserves become depleted and this inexorably leads to the aging of the entire body. And this phenomenon accelerates over time and becomes more pronounced at menopause.

How to fight against this sneaky enemy? By increasing your collagen intake!

Bovine collagen is extracted from cow skin, sterilized and then liquefied. Like marine collagen, it also has an anti-aging action... But the big downside: it is absorbed by the body which will eliminate it, taking with it the beneficial effects...

Marine collagen, on the other hand, is extracted from fish and shrimp. It is more effective than bovine collagen because it is lighter and therefore better assimilated by the body . In addition, its formula is much closer to human collagen. Unlike bovine collagen, it is not eliminated by the body; its beneficial effects are therefore more lasting .

The beneficial effects of collagen don't just stop at skin elasticity or hair health. They also encourage certain body functions and help prevent certain diseases:

• By containing amino acids, collagen prevents gastrointestinal disorders;
• It supports the conversion of vitamins, which helps maintain the body's vitality;
• This protein encourages detoxification of the body;
• The amino acids it contains help prevent fat accumulation and promote cardiovascular health.

When talking about food supplements, it is good to rely on facts and not simple statements.

Thus, various studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the latter. You can find some summaries (in English) in the open access scientific journal Bentham Open .

But there are others. Like that of Professor Ehrhardt Proksch , in 2014, which demonstrated the reduction of wrinkles by around 18% and firming of the skin.

Or that of Dr Do-Un Kim : carried out double-blind in 2018, it also demonstrated the beneficial effect on the epidermis.

Collagen is certainly essential to the body and the skin, but its overdose can be harmful. Therefore, it is important to respect the indicated dosage.

Concerning the oral dosage, the recommended dose to obtain its benefits on the skin, hair and nails is 1000 mg per day .

Good to know: the assimilation of collagen is facilitated by vitamin C, thanks to the latter's anti-oxidant properties. You can therefore combine the intake of collagen with that of a supplement based on vitamin C (or, for simplicity, you can opt for a formula already providing vitamin C).

Do you want to get a collagen supplement? To make the right choice, here are the selection criteria to look out for:

• Select a supplement based on marine collagen. As we have seen, this type of collagen has a structure quite similar to that of human collagen and is better assimilated than bovine collagen.

• Determine the type of collagen sought (I, II or III). If you want to take a cure to benefit from its anti-aging effects, it is better to turn to type I or III collagen.

• Opt for hydrolyzed collagen. In this form, it has better assimilation by the body and better bioavailability. It acts from the inside for maximum action.

• Check the dosage. Don't be fooled by formulas that say "collagen" but contain too little of this protein to be effective. For noticeable effects, a daily dose of 1000 mg of marine collagen hydrolyzate is adequate.

• Pay attention to traceability. For optimal purity and traceability, it is best to opt for a patented form of collagen. When this is not the case, how can you be sure of the composition of the collagen you are ingesting? This is particularly why we opted for Naticol® collagen , which is obtained exclusively from two fish, pangasius and tilapia, composed of 95% pure marine collagen. In addition, thanks to its low molecular weight, the assimilation of this collagen by the body is simply excellent!