If you love taking care of your health, you might be aware of collagen, the latest buzzword in the health and fitness world. In Australia, you will find tubs of collagen powder in every grocery store. With the growing health consciousness in the country, this essential protein has gained immense popularity. The current market is enriched with a wide variety of collagen supplements in Australia. Before buying one, you need to know everything about collagen- what it is, its structure, and its benefits.
What is Collagen?
Many people think collagen is found in the skin because its beneficial impact on the skin is known universally. No doubt, this protein contributes to the youthfulness of your skin, but its benefits are not limited to skin only. Collagen is one of the main building blocks of the skin. This protein is also found in human bones, tendons, ligaments. 75% of the skin’s support structure is made of collagen. You can intake it from various food sources, such as meat, eggs, fish (especially sea-fish), beans, and dairy products. These foods contain different amino acids that your body needs to make collagen. Apart from these, bone broth and gelatin are other collagen-rich foods.
Structure
Collagen is made of three amino acids- glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Each collage molecule looks like a triple helix. These molecules pair with another collagen molecule in the skin to build a mesh-like network in the dermis. It grows microscopically in elongated fibrils. Apart from tendons, ligaments, and skin, it is also found in the cornea, blood vessels, intervertebral disc, digestive tract, and cartilage.
The collagen present in muscle tissues serves as a primary element of endomysium. Up to 2% of the muscles are collagen, while almost 6% of the total muscle weight is collagen. Some supplements of packaged foods contain hydrolysed gelatin, which is also one type of collagen.
Collagen supplement, easy-to-digest source of protein
Your body keeps working on breaking down protein from foods such as meat (chicken or beef). These days, many people suffer from digestive issues, including burping or stomach pain after having a meal. Most collagen supplements are hydrolysed. It implies that collagen found in the supplement is broken down through a process to get digested without any complications. That’s why using supplements to meet collagen requirements is a better way to boost your diet.
Slows down aging
Collagen’s positive impact on the skin is perhaps one of its most well-researched benefits. A review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology revealed that 11 studies were conducted on more than 800 patients taking up to 10gm of collagen every day. These studies showed remarkable improvement of their skins. It slows down the process of aging to make your skin look youthful and improves skin elasticity.
Reduces joint aches and pains
Sometimes joint pain makes moving and exercising difficult for a person. It can obstruct your path to your goal. It has been found that many people are taking collagen supplements in Australia to get rid of joint aches and pain. It provides support to connective tissues and reduces joint pain after exercise.
By following a healthy diet chart including enough protein, you can easily meet your body’s collagen requirements. If you think that your diet does not contain sufficient amino acids to produce collagen, you can think of buying collagen supplements. Before purchasing a product, learn about your body’s requirements.
