Collagen - What it is, Benefits and how to Replace it

Collagen is a protein that gives structure, firmness and elasticity to the skin, and that is produced naturally by the body, but which can also be found in foods such as meat and jelly, in moisturizers or in food supplements in two capsule presentations or powdered.

This protein is very important to keep the cells firm and united, being not only important for the skin but also for other tissues such as the integrity of the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints, improving their health.

When Should I use collagen?

when the concentration of this protein decreases in the body, causing symptoms such as:

• Decrease in the thickness of the hair strands;
• Increased sagging and loss of skin elasticity;
• Emergence of wrinkles and expression lines;
• Stretch marks appearance;
• Thin and dehydrated skin;
• Decrease in bone density as in cases of osteopenia and osteoporosis;
• Weakness of the joints and ligaments.

When these symptoms are present, collagen supplementation such as Flex-n-move in capsules or Fortigel or Super Collagen powder may be necessary, which will help balance the levels of collagen in the body.

These collagen-rich products can be especially important after 50 years of age, when there is a drastic reduction in collagen production, which over time leads to an increasingly aged appearance. However, these products should only be used with the accompaniment of your doctor or nutritionist, as many hydrolyzed collagen supplements have a combination of different amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Main Benefits of Collagen

Some of the main benefits of collagen for the body are:

• Prevents the appearance of cellulite;
• Strengthens nails;
• Strengthens hair and improves its appearance;
• It reduces the appearance of stretch marks;
• Increases skin elasticity;
• Prevents and retards the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines.

In addition to the above, collagen by giving firmness to the skin preventing the appearance of cellulite, and helping in its treatment if you already have it, since with a firmer skin the cellulite nodules tend not to appear as much.

How to Replenish the Collagen

To replenish the collagen in the body, you can make a diet rich in this nutrient, foods with a high content are:

• Red meat;
• White meats;
• Jelly.

The best way to combat aging is to keep the skin very firm, consuming these foods daily or ingesting dietary supplements of hydrolyzed collagen in capsules, powder or tablets, which will help replenish the levels of collagen in the body.

However, it is important to consume the collagen always together with foods rich in vitamin C such as orange, kiwi, pineapple or milky, since this vitamin is responsible for allowing the absorption of collagen in the body. This is why it is recommended to ingest the collagen capsules or powder together with an orange or kiwi juice, to ensure that the collagen is properly absorbed by the body.

Collagen Supplements

Collagen supplements can be ingested in the form of capsules, tablets or powder, and some examples are:

• Flex-n-move: Collagen in capsules that also contains in its composition Hyaluronic Acid and Chondroitin Sulfate;
• Fortigel: Collagen powder with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin K, Calcium and Magnesium;
• Super Collagen by Neocell: collagen powder supplement.

These supplements can be purchased at pharmacies, natural products stores or online stores. Treatment with these supplements should be carried out for a minimum period of 9 months, with a maximum daily dose between 8-10 g of collagen being recommended. See how hydrolyzed collagen treatment should be done in How to take Hydrolyzed Collagen .