Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and accounts for about 1 third of its protein composition. It’s one of the major building blocks of bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen is also found in many other body parts, including blood vessels, cornea, and teeth! You can think of it as the “glue” that holds all these things together. In fact, the word comes from the Greek word “kolla” which means glue. And the French word for glue is “colle” so says my French Canadian born Husband!!
It consists of three twisting molecules that twist like a twisted rope. There are at least 16 types of collagen. Here are the four main types and their functions:
Type I: This type accounts for 90% of your body’s collagen and is made of densely packed fibers. It provides structure to skin, bones, tendons, fibrous cartilage, connective tissue and teeth.
Type II: This type is made of more loosely packed fibers and is found in elastic cartilage, which cushions joints.
Type III: This type supports the structure of muscles, organs and arteries.
Type IV: This type helps with filtration and is found in layers of your skin.
Many of us begin noticing a decrease in our collagen production around the age of 30 when our skin begins to lose elasticity, our joints begin to ache, and our digestion starts to suffer. That’s why collagen is quickly becoming one of the most popular supplements on the market.
One of the best ways to make sure you’re getting enough collagen in your diet is through a high-quality, clinically studied collagen peptide supplement. In fact, these have been found to help improve your health and well-being– better than diet alone. However, with so many collagen products currently available, it can be hard to distinguish which brands are effective… and which are just trying to take your money. I’ve found some options first hand that I love and so I wanted to share! Always sharing good things! Too many marketing schemes out there that you cannot trust that are in it just for the money!!
Let’s also take a look at what damages your body’s collagen?
⁃ Aging (Your body repairs and builds collagen daily but as you age the process naturally slows down)
⁃ Sun Damage (UVAs penetrate deep layers and damages your natural collagen fibers). Wear sunscreen and cover up!
⁃ Environmental pollutants (which increases the oxidative stress)
To help mitigate these things and the impact to our bodies, we need to be consuming an antioxidant nutrient diet. So that includes many vitamins such as vitamins A , C, E and we need phytonutrients. Vitamin C is very important. People with vitamin C deficiency (called Scurvy) would have bleeding gums, loose teeth, etc. We all need a lot of vitamin C!
I was so diligent to make sure I was providing my body with amazing nutrition with our dense nutrition shakes (this means only 240 calories but with 24 grams protein, 23 vitamins and minerals, including trace minerals which our bodies are dying for ….and no longer available in our food chain, adequate fats, carbs, and just enough natural sugar to fuel our brains)!
However, I missed the boat on the collagen until recently when I sought out additional education. We need to keep educating ourselves and others!
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I’ve recently added some great options into my regimen for increasing my collagen production. My most favorite and most powerful is the collagen elixer which is infused with a blend of marine collagen peptides and powerful botanicals. Ingredients: Synchronised marine collagen (5g per serve), vitamin C, biotin, zinc, goji, aloe vera, acerola berry, chamomile.
Another is a post workout repair orange drink that can be used as a daily functional 
drink. It contains 3 types of collagen peptides, tart cherry, turmeric, manesium, Vitamin C, and Potassium. All the essentials PLUS! These are the exact forms of collagen that our bodies can utilize optimally. I love the addition of the tart cherry (we all have those relatives that swear the tart cherry helps them manage their arthritis) and I know how amazing turmeric and the other extra nutrients are for our overall health.
Then on days that I don’t work out, or I’m doing a cellular cleanse and giving my digestive system a break (so my body can do it’s own repair work as God intended), or I just want something delicious and warm, I very much enjoy our Bone Broth with Collagen Peptides. It comes in two flavors, Roasted Chicken with Herb and also Vegetable Flavor. I am hooked on the Chicken and Herb!
Our Bone Broth with collagen is not your every day homemade bone broth. It is naturally occurring protein with vitamins, minerals, gelatin, and collagen. Specifically it consists of Amino Acids (3 types of protein in Peptides form) plus 80 mg of Vitamin C. The peptides are rapidly absorbed and stimulates our own with collagen synthesis and production. You can enjoy this daily with 60 calories per serving.
Regarding homemade bone broth, which is economical when you have the opportunity to make it yourself. It will not have all these components and will not have the same impact on your own collagen production. What it will have are many unknowns! Such as not knowing its sourcing, and that it most likely will contain pesticides, herbicides, hormones etc. that come along with it. That is why I choose this option!
If you are considering a collagen supplement, I would highly recommend incorporating a blend of these amazing and tasty options into your regimen. I am retired now but if I were still working away from home everyday, I would consider it a treat to have these in my desk to sip on mid afternoon each day. The Orange Repair is great blended with some ice or on the rocks. The bone broth just warms me up on a cold day or when I just need some pampering. And the Elixir tastes so good and refreshing that I really want more every time I consume a bottle!
I am so happy with my choices and my results and I know you will be too if you give them a try. Here are some of my progress photos. It’s the real deal!!
Living Healthful 
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