![]() It’s hard to miss the necessities of collagen proteins these days. Whether it’s in the form of homemade bone broth or collagen powders, collagen-rich items are now the “go-to” product to help slow the effects of aging. Dietary collagen can be helpful for supporting the body’s collagen structures. Did I Always Have That Wrinkle? As crazy as that sounds, over the years, I’ve said that on numerous occasions staring at the person in the mirror! Collagen breakdown begins as early as in your 20s. And the breakdown continues… Year after Year……. And it gets worse. As we age the body produces less collagen as we age over time. So, it can’t “hold up” your skin as well as it used to. Some believe this is one of the reasons for aging skin, uneven skin tone, brittle nails, and other signs that give away your age. Over time epithelial & dermal layers get thinner due to loss of collagen, elastin, proteoglycans and water binding capacity. This results in wrinkles, dryness, loss of tone & elasticity, cellulite, and “crepe-like” appearance. Why would you want to support collagen and maintenance? Well, collagen accounts for as much 40% of all the protein in the human body, especially connective tissue (skin), including blood vessels. Here’s how collagen supports us as a percentage of the protein in the following tissues:
Compared to other proteins, collagen has a special amino acid combination thats crucial to your body. It’s the braid-like three protein strands woven together that lends collagen its strength as well as its flexibility, which we see in some of the tissues above. Oh yes! We stretch, run, do yoga and Pilates while our blood vessels expand and contract thanks to the structural properties of collagen. Here’s the science behind it all for the curious ones. Collagen proteins are rich in something called hydroxyproline. This is the amino acid proline, modified by adding an additional component. Hydroxyproline accounts for around 12% of the amino acids in collagen. Collagen also contains a high amount of the amino acid glycine (about 22%) which is found in the dietary protein which provides the building blocks for collagen, but ingesting pure collagen itself ensures a combination of these critical raw materials. Many of us don’t consume enough daily protein. Even those with a higher protein intake, the richest sources of collagen—animal skins, bones, and tendons—are not typically part of the modern Western diet. (Tendon soups and stews are popular in East Asia.) Fortunately, powdered collagen protein is now available, and it can be incorporated into shakes, smoothies, and other foods and beverages (including coffee). (You can use it to make homemade jello, gummies, puddings, and other gelatin desserts.) Collagen powder is also an easy (and tasty) way to get higher doses of this kind of protein than you might be able to get from sipping broth or eating chicken skin. Collagen proteins are helpful for a number of issues. Because of its primary structural role in certain tissues, collagen has been shown to help increase bone mineral density, support healthy blood pressure, improve nail growth and the appearance of skin wrinkles, and reduce some of the symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. Did you know collagen is a unique protein that…
#2 HAIR: The amino acids in collagen support the structural proteins in hair that encourage existing hair growth, thickness, and strength. #3 JOINTS: Collagen provides support to the body’s connective tissues and joints. #4 BONES: Collagen can help strong and healthy bone structure. #5 BRITTLE FINGERNAILS: Collagen supports fragile and brittle nails. #6 COLLAGEN PRODUCTION: Collagen has sources of amino acids that help the body naturally produce more collagen. #7 LEAN BODY MASS: Combined with resistance exercise, collagen supports lean muscle growth and muscle strength. #8 LIVER HEALTH: The glycine in collagen may also help support the liver. #9 ANTIOXIDANT FUNCTION: Collagen has antioxidant properties. #10 RESTFUL SLEEP: Due to its glycine content, collagen supports the quality of sleep in those who have occasional difficulty sleeping. My Collagen Choice I personally use the Whole Body Collagen (see below) because it contains 3 unique Collagen Peptide Blends:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
February 2021
Categories
All
Dr. Aristotle EconomouDr. Aristotle understands the difficulties patients go through when dealing with a personal health challenge. In 2006, an event occurred that turned his life upside down and put his years of clinical experience in wellness healthcare to the ultimate test. Over a short period, the muscles in Aristotle’s body unexpectedly became paralyzed with only the ability to slightly move his hands at the wrists and blink his eyes.
Aristotle ended up in an intensive care unit (ICU), followed by a 72-day stay in a local hospital. He was told he may never walk again. Throughout the year, his healing journey continued while confined to an electric wheelchair and requiring around-the-clock care. With help and determination, Aristotle combined modalities from Functional Medicine, Eastern Medicine and unique techniques in Chiropractic and Tui Na. This resulted in the ability to rebuild his body mind and spirit, which was the foundation to his miraculous recovery including the ability to walk again.
Aristotle then wrote the book, Change the Way You Heal: 7 Steps To Highly Effective Healing. No matter how big or small your health problem, this inspirational book shows you how to maximize your healing abilities and resources using the same methods he implemented in his own recovery. |