Collagen, Clarified – Not Just for Beautiful Skin!

It is impossible not to see a collagen ad promoting its benefits for healthy skin. But collagen supplementation is so much more than a skin supplement. Collagen can revitalize, restore, and protect the whole body!   The current research on collagen supplementation supports its use for hair, skin and nails but also shows benefits for cellulite, muscle recovery and relief from joint pain.

Collagen first emerged in beauty products because of its tremendous benefits to the skin, but it has become more than an ingredient in topical beauty products. The roots of the word "collagen" go back to the Greek word (kolla), which means glue. Collagen has a fibre-like structure and is the main component of connective tissue, including tendons, ligaments, skin and muscles.    Collagen makes up 1/3 of the body! Your body produces 16 types of collagen, but 80-90% of your collagen consists of types I, II, and III.

As you age, your natural collagen levels drop drastically from around 25 onwards. While the decline starts at a rate of 1.5 percent per year,

by the age of 60, you've usually lost as much as 80 percent of your natural collagen production levels.

As a skin supplement

Collagen works in two ways in your skin. Firstly, it supplies the building blocks for collagen and elastin production. Secondly, it holds together the cells in the connective tissue to produce collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid Collagen is a popular skin supplement because it helps provide your skin with structure (notably the plump appearance in our earlier years). Supplementing with collagen (Hydrolyzed), especially when combined with other connective supportive supplements (Hyaluronic acid, and essential Vitamins and Minerals), positively affects skin wrinkling, hydration, and elasticity. The Hydrolyzed Collagen attracts water molecules (hydrating) and acts as a free radical scavenger (reducing oxidative damage and inflammation), reducing the look of fine lines.

Collagen as Hair & Nail Supplement

Research has shown that collagen is essential in building keratin, the primary protein in hair and nails. By providing that boost of additional collagen, you may be able to support their healthy growth. Aging better does not only affect the connective tissue of the skin. Tendons, ligaments, and muscles are also composed of connective tissue and, with aging, lose their elasticity and functionality.

Collagen as a joint supplement

Collagen is the matrix for bone, so the theory exists that collagen supplements may also provide therapeutic benefits for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis by supporting the integrity of your cartilage, bone mineral density, and pain relief.

Collagen as a supplement for bone health

Your bones are made mostly of collagen, offering strength and structure. Just as the collagen in your body deteriorates with age, so does bone mass which increases the risk of degenerative joint disorders. Collagen also helps maintain cartilage integrity (the rubber-like tissue that protects your joints)

Collagen as a supplement for Heart Health

Collagen provides structure to the arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body; as the body ages, arteries become less flexible, decreasing the capacity for moving cholesterol away from the heart.

Collagen Cannot Spot Fix.

Another important takeaway with collagen supplements is that while they increase collagen production within the body, it is impossible to determine what part of the body will use the collagen peptides first. Many people take collagen supplements because they want to improve the elasticity of their skin. However, your body will prioritize and determine where you need the collagen the most first. For example, your body may first choose to heal a wound or injured ligaments before it moves on to benefit your skin. The best way to see results from a collagen supplement is through long-term use, so the body can catch up to what it needs and where it needs it.

Is this supplement right for you?

Collagen supplements are becoming more popular as people realize the natural aging process and lifestyle factors (Sun exposure, smoking, excessive alcohol or sugar intake, lack of sleep and being sedentary) break down existing collagen.   Some signs that your collagen levels have begun to decline are wrinkles and saggy skin, stiffer, less flexible tendons and ligaments. You may also notice your muscles starting to shrink or weaken. You may experience creaky joints and pain as the cartilage in your joints begins to wear down.

For your body to produce more collagen at a time when it is naturally decreasing, it must have all the essential amino acids and nutrients in the proper ratios. Using collagen supplements is an excellent choice to provide your body with the tools for collagen production, but the source of collagen you consume from supplements matters.

The body cannot easily absorb collagen in its complete form. The proteins contained in collagen need to be broken down during digestion before absorption into the bloodstream. Collagen supplements should be hydrolyzed, meaning the amino acids found in the collagen are broken down via an enzymatic process into peptides (called collagen hydrolysates). These peptides are then easily absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Once the collagen peptides have been absorbed into the bloodstream, they bind to receptors in your cells responsible for making and protecting collagen (fibroblasts).

Who Benefits from Collagen

• Those looking to address skin issues from the inside-out
• Individuals concerned with aging skin (elasticity, firmness, wrinkles)
• Individuals concerned with cellulite (decreases cellulite score and restores the normal structure of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue) 
• As part of an anti-aging protocol

Total Body Collagen can revitalize, restore and protect the whole body!

Natural Factors Total Body Collagen contains the preferred and more digestible form of Collagen (Hydrolyzed) from pasture-raised, grass-fed bovine.   Total Body Collagen powder contains Verisol® Bioactive collagen peptides, a clinically supported form of hydrolyzed collagen. VERISOL can stimulate skin metabolism and counteract the loss of collagenous extracellular matrix inside the body. The extracellular matrix is important as it helps cells attach to and communicate with nearby cells. It plays a vital role in cell growth, movement, and other cell functions essential for stability and regeneration. Total Body Collagen is a unique formula with added hyaluronic acid, L-tryptophan, L-glutamine, Vitamin C, and biotin. That helps your body optimize absorption and increase collagen production. Total Body Collagen can also be purchased in the marine-sourced formula.

Benefits of Total Body Collagen Powder aids:

• Noticeably firmer skin
• Reduces deep wrinkles in as little as 28 days
• It helps increase skin elasticity and density while reducing the appearance of fine lines and crow's feet.
• Improved skin surface structure
• Promotes healthy hair and strong nails
• Faster nail growth and less chipping of fingernails
• Reducing cellulite
• Help strengthen bones and muscles, promotes joint comfort and mobility and supports gut health

Look for the ISURA certification!

ISURA is Canada's only independent natural health supplement and food product verification and certification organization that provides mass spectrometry and non-GMO testing from seed to table. ISURA's Standard for Natural Health Products is among the world's highest. The threshold limits and other components of the ISURA Standard meet or exceed standards or recommendations for Natural Health Products set by global and national organizations. Furthermore, ISURA's analytical testing laboratories meet ISO 17025 laboratory and methodology standards, and ISURA's quality management system is ISO 9001 certified.