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Collagen is a type of protein and is the most predominant in the human body, accounting for about 30% of our protein. Think of it as the body’s “glue” that helps to provide structure to
our skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and even our organs. Collagen is vital for our skin elasticity, strong bones, healthy muscles, as is also necessary for the integrity of our gut barrier, to name a few benefits.
From about the age of 30, the body’s production of collagen naturally declines about 1% less every year. As women reach menopause and experience hormonal changes such as lower estrogen levels, this can also cause a further loss of collagen levels. This means that by the time menopause is reached, the body has naturally lost about a third of its collagen supply and the rate of loss increases to 2% every year. Other environmental factors such as sun exposure and pollution also help to speed up our collagen loss too.
The good news is that a number of studies have shown that supplementing with collagen can go a long way in making up for the amount we naturally lose as we age. To expand The Healthy Chef collagen range, we’ve added a new edition: Pure Collagen. It’s nothing but the purest 100% hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides from grass fed sources.
Generally speaking, collagen is a large molecule that isn’t the easiest to absorb in its natural state. However, the process of hydrolysing breaks down the collagen into much smaller particles that are easily dissolved and absorbed by the body. In fact, 90% of the collagen in Healthy Chef Pure Collagen is absorbed by the body just a few hours after ingesting it, making it highly bioavailable. It’s flavourless, making it so easy to mix with any liquids throughout the day – hot or cold.
In keeping with our commitment to ethical and sustainable solutions, we’re proud of the fact that Pure Collagen is from grass-fed cows that are raised in accordance with strict regulations, which ensure ethical treatment with less negative impacts on the environment. A natural grass fed diet also means less exposure to potentially harmful toxins like growth hormones, steroids and antibiotics, also resulting in a cleaner end product.
There are different types of collagen, and coming from bovine sources means that Pure Collagen contains Type I and Type III collagen. Read more below about the areas of health that Pure Collagen can benefit.
Skin Health
One of the most well-known facts about collagen is that it’s responsible for giving skin its youthful elasticity and smooth texture. With this discovery came a fad trend for topical creams containing collagen, but did you know that collagen is actually produced within the deep layer of the skin, called the dermis? This means that applying collagen to the skin does little to penetrate deep below the surface and reach where it’s needed. Studies have shown it’s much better to drink or ingest collagen peptides.
In particular, the Type I collagen present in Pure Collagen is known for minimising fine lines and wrinkles. Research studies performed on a group of over 1000 participants ranging from the ages of 20-70 showed that after just 90 days of supplementing with hydrolysed collagen, the participants had reduced signs of ageing, specifically through enhanced skin hydration, fine wrinkle reduction and even an improvement in skin elasticity.
Supporting Fitness With Amino Acids
A high intake of protein is vital for optimum fitness and sports performance, as protein repairs and strengthens muscle tissue. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and bovine collagen features an impressive profile of 19 amino acids.
You may have heard about essential and non-essential amino acids: we need to receive the former from our diet as our body cannot make these, while our body can produce the latter if we receive the essential ones. Pure Grass Fed Collagen has high levels of 7 of the 8 essential amino acids as well as plenty more non-essential ones that aren’t usually in complete proteins, so it’s excellent to take alongside a high quality protein supplement like Healthy Chef Organic Pea Protein or Pure Native WPI to increase your amino acid intake.
Non-essential amino acids still play a very important role in body tissue growth + repair, so don’t be fooled by the name – they shouldn’t be discounted if you are after the best support for your muscles + recovery.
Pure Collagen has very high levels of three non-essential amino acids in particular - hydroxyproline, proline and glycine – which are present at levels 10-20 times higher than other proteins thanks to them comprising over half of collagen. Studies have shown that glycine can provide muscles with energy and help to prevent against muscle wastage associated with ageing.
Gut Health
The Type III collagen present in Pure Collagen is naturally the most abundant in our large intestine, making it a great supplement to help restore gut health. As consuming Pure Collagen delivers amino acids like glycine and glutamine straight to the gut, they can be utilised by the body to help strengthen our gut wall.
Our gut wall is not a fixed barrier, but rather made up of cells called “tight junctions” which have small holes or gaps between them that allow beneficial particles to pass through and be absorbed into the bloodstream, while keeping out harmful particles that should be excreted out. In this way, Type III collagen helps to ensure the gut can perform this function by maintaining and restoring the integrity of this barrier and keeping “tight junctions” close together.
Try Healthy Chef Pure Collagen today and see the results for yourself. Want to read more about our complete range of collagen? Click here.