I’m often asked this question and the answer is it depends on what you want it do to?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and primary building block of skin, hair, nails, joints, gut and a lot more. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, which can lead to visible signs such as wrinkles, joint pain, and hair loss.
28 different types of collagen have been identified in the human body and this is a quick over-view of the 6 main types found in widely available supplements:
?Type I. Makes up 90% of the body’s collagen. Used to provide structure to skin, bones, ten-dons, ligaments, the cornea [eye], teeth, muscle, cartilage and connective tissue.
?Type II. Found in cartilage - the flexible tissue that cushions joints.
?Type III. Found in skin, blood vessels, muscles, arteries and the walls of the digestive sys-tem.
?Type IV. Found in the layers of skin.
?Type V. Found in skin, hair, nails, the cornea, lungs, liver, bones and tissue of the placenta.
?Type X. For healthy bone formation.
Some beauty collagen supplements I’ve seen don't specify which type it contains, although most good brands do. So do check the packaging.
There’s lots more to know about collagen, such as best sources, best format, what additional nutrients are needed to ensure it’s absorbed properly etc. but I’ll save that for another post.
I’ve been taking collagen for over a year now [one that contains all 6 types], primarily because of my achey thumb joints, which didn’t respond to the nutrition only approach, and now no longer ache!
Finally, two clients that started taking my brand also noticed reduced sugar cravings, which is a bonus! ?
Any questions about collagen, get in touch!