Collagen is the most abundant protein in all mammals, including humans. This protein is found in bones, skin and connective tissues, representing almost 33% of our total protein mass.
Why is collagen intake necessary?
It is in this context that gelatin was born, which is nothing more than the cooked collagen of those foods that are considered to be indigestible. This gelatin is formed by different amino acids that are synthesized for their subsequent production of collagen. Although the human body is capable of producing its own collagen, this does not mean that it doesn’t need to have an additional contribution to its diet. In fact, there are several reasons that make it necessary to increase the intake of collagen:
- The human body does not produce enough glycine to synthesize collagen.
- Glycine is an amino acid that, in certain situations, is considered essential, so the body’s ability to synthesize it is even more affected.
- The older we get, the more collagen synthesis is reduced.
Increase collagen with food and supplements
This necessary increase of collagen that our body needs can be produced by two different ways: food and supplements. In fact, like we said in one of our articles, we can help our skin just through nutrition just introducing collagen into our diet.
It is always more advisable to introduce collagen with natural food, however, in some situations supplements are recommended to facilitate the arrival of this protein to the bones and cartilage, as this protein is difficult for our body to assimilate. Hydrolyzed collagen (a process by which molecules decrease and reach tissues earlier) is recommended if you suffer from joint pain or you are in the process of recovering from an injury.
Benefits of collagen for our health
Whether you use natural food to increase your body’s collagen level or combine it with supplementation, there are many benefits to our health and our body:
- Improves the health of your skin: As we get older, expression lines or wrinkles are more visible on our skin. Collagen reduces these signs of aging, providing greater strength to your skin and producing a visible rejuvenation. In this article you can learn more about the benefits that collagen provides to our skin.
- It benefits the tendons, joints and muscles: this protein benefits people who suffer from conditions such as joint pain, as is the case of the elderly and athletes. In addition, it transmits greater strength to the muscles and improves the body’s recovery after injuries.