· By Clara Short
Why Everyone Has Turned to Ingestible Skincare
The biological processes that support healthy skin start from within. Collagen - one of the most important factors in healthy skin - is a structural protein found throughout the body. As you age, however, the body's stores of collagen decrease.
Thankfully, breakthroughs in medical science have discovered that it is possible to restore collagen production. Among the many methods investigated, ingestible collagen support is promising.
To find out more about collagen and its function in the skin, check out the information below.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a structural protein found in blood vessels, bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, skin, and internal organs. There are many types of proteins in the human body, but structural proteins have functions supporting the body's structure. For example, they maintain cell shape and help form bone and cartilage.
Collagen is essential to the structure of the human body due to its strength. In fact, type I collagen is stronger than steel.
Types of Collagen
The human body contains 16 different types of collagen, but the main ones found in collagen supplements include type I, type II, and type III.
Type I, the type stronger than steel, is fibrous and exists in the bones, ligaments, tendons, teeth, connective tissue, hard cartilage, and skin. Type II is less fibrous and more elastic, found in elastic cartilage. Type III is also found in skin, as well as blood vessels, muscles, and internal organs.
Collagen Over Time
Collagen is susceptible to damage over time, inhibiting collagen productions and exacerbating signs of ageing. Particular behaviours, like smoking, sun exposure, drinking, drug use, sugar intake, and pollution, can speed up this process.
There are many theories explaining why the human body produces less collagen as it ages. It may be due to cell regeneration slowing down, oxidative stress increasing, DNA becoming damaged, more inflammation, telomeres shortening, or a combination of these. However, external factors are much more powerful.
How Is It Ingested?
Collagen peptides are a popular beauty product now, often found in powder or capsule form. Peptides are smaller, broken-down parts of the collagen protein. Once broken down, the body is better able to absorb it.
A diet change can also support collagen production. Foods rich in animal collagen, like animal meat and bone broth, provide proteins with the same amino acids as human collagen. These include glycine, proline, lysine, and hydroxyproline.
Nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, copper, and manganese are also essential and can be found in leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Purchasing Collagen Supplements
Many consider collagen to be the secret elixir of eternal youth, and for good reason. One of the reasons people lose their 'baby face' is due to the breakdown of collagen. Woe were the days when we complained about baby fat and chubby cheeks -- we didn't know just how beneficial they were.
To purchase our collagen powder or other products from our ingestible skincare line, take a look at our product page.