{"id":32498,"date":"2019-03-01T16:37:53","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T14:37:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/?p=32498"},"modified":"2019-06-20T10:34:07","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T08:34:07","slug":"collagen-101-what-is-the-hype-all-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/collagen-101-what-is-the-hype-all-about\/","title":{"rendered":"Collagen 101: What Is The Hype All About?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re the type who peruses wellness websites or enjoys leisurely strolls through health shops on a regular basis (which, since you\u2019re here, we\u2019re guessing you are), you may have noticed the \u2018new\u2019 wonder kid on the supplement block: Collagen.
\n<\/span>From healing chronic gut conditions to combating fine lines and wrinkles, its superpowers certainly seem without end? But is all the hype real? And if it is, how can we ensure the collagen we\u2019re taking has been soured as ethically and sustainably as possible?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s delve a little deeper…<\/span><\/p>\n

WHAT IS COLLAGEN? <\/b><\/h2>\n

Thanks to Dr. 90210 we have all heard the word \u201ccollagen\u201d before, but possibly with not the best connotations. The most important thing you need to know about collagen is the fact that it\u2019s a protein produced naturally in our bodies. It is found in skin, hair, tendons, nails, bones and connective tissue, as well as in the gut lining and blood vessels.<\/span><\/p>\n

The word collagen is derived from the Greek word <\/span>\u2018kolla\u2019<\/span><\/i>, meaning glue, which is a pretty accurate description of the connecting and binding role it plays.\u00a0<\/span>Up until about the age of 25, our bodies produce collagen in abundance, after which it starts decreasing steadily. After 30, collagen levels in our skin start to drop by 1 \u2013 2% per year, which is why you\u2019ll start noticing fine lines and wrinkles that were never there before.<\/p>\n

While all of this is a natural process, the breakdown of collagen can be aggravated by factors such as stress, smoking, alcohol abuse and excessive sun exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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CAN I BOOST COLLAGEN LEVELS IN MY SKIN AND REDUCE SIGNS OF AGING? <\/b><\/h2>\n

Now, this is the million-dollar question and one to which the answer currently seems to be \u2018we don\u2019t really know.\u2019\u00a0<\/span>While there are many products, procedures and cosmetics that claim to boost collagen levels in our skin, there is yet to be a conclusive scientific study proving this.\u00a0<\/span>Let\u2019s take a look at some of the most popular options out there:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • COLLAGEN FILLERS <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Before Botox came along, visiting your dermatologist or plastic surgeon to have pure bovine collagen injected straight into unwanted wrinkles was all the rage. Although it worked well and offered a natural-looking fill, there were a few serious downsides: it didn\u2019t last much longer than a month or two and it caused allergic reactions in a relatively high rate of patients. Because of this, collagen fillers took a steep dive in popularity, but are nonetheless still available today.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    • COLLAGEN COSMETICS <\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Collagen creams fall into one of two categories \u2013 those that contain collagen and those that boost collagen. Surprisingly, creams that contain collagen are less effective, because collagen molecules are actually too large to be absorbed through the skin. Creams that contain collagen boosting ingredients \u2013 such as retinol, which is a Vitamin A derivative – are, therefore, preferable.<\/span><\/p>\n