Collagen: The Body’s Hidden Superhero

By Susan Tanner M.D.

From face creams to bone broth, to a multitude of pills, collagen products have been promoted all over the internet and in television ads as the wonder supplement, promoting miraculous results.

Is it a passing trend, or is truth behind the hype?

What is collagen?

Collagen is a unique protein, sometimes referred to as the body’s scaffolding. Think of a tightly coiled spring; that’s what collagen resembles. This makes it very dense and strong. And an integral part of various bodily tissues; including skin, joint tissues, hair, and nails. In fact, joints consist of 75% collagen, skin 70%, and tendons 85%!  As we age and/or injuries happen, the natural collagen in these tissues diminishes, resulting in the loss of elasticity, structural stability, and range of motion.

The role of collagen in the human body

Collagen plays a pivotal role in maintaining the body’s overall health and vitality. It acts as the glue that holds our tissues together and ensures resilience and flexibility. This protein helps your skin, joints, and connective tissues stay supple and strong.

While reducing the oxidative stress that happens to all these tissues is a good preventative measure, some degree of collagen loss is inevitable as we age. Think of your favorite leather purse or jacket. Over time, without proper care, it starts to lose its shine and flexibility. That’s a lot like our bodies without sufficient collagen.

Collagen supplements provide your body with the building blocks it needs to replenish and repair collagen in various tissues, promoting better skin, joint health, and more. Remember old gelatin capsules that promised stronger nails? There is actual validity to the claim, as gelatin is collagen, but the degree to how well our bodies can use this externally sourced collagen varies.

Maximize supplement benefits

Vitamin C taken concurrently with a collagen supplement is essential. This vitamin is the key that unlocks the potential of collagen in our tissues. Without it, the strong coil of the collagen protein cannot be absorbed and utilized effectively. Studies indicate that it may take up to six months of daily supplementation to see benefits, but the results are well worth it.

Collagen’s performance impact

Sports nutrition studies have shown that daily doses of 15 grams have significantly accelerated healing time for ankle sprains, knee injuries and Achilles tendon damage. Incorporating collagen preventatively into a daily regimen may decrease damage to these tissues in the first place, thereby reducing injury risk.

For those dealing with arthritic knees, hips, and shoulders, collagen supplementation may not provide a complete cure, but it can certainly help maintain optimal mobility.

Skin which has lost its elasticity due to sun damage, aging, and hormonal changes can be revitalized from within by supplementing with collagen, helping it regain firmness and radiance. 

Sourcing your collagen

Bone broth is a good natural source of collagen, but consuming at least two cups daily can be impractical for most people. That’s where collagen supplements come to the rescue. One I highly recommend is CollaGEN by Ortho Molecular. It’s easy to consume as it can be dissolved in water or your favorite beverage, blended into your smoothie, even frozen into a popsicle or slushie. It’s also available in convenient single-serving stick packs and can be combined with any other powder or liquid supplement that you may take. The best part? You can’t overdose on it, as it’s safe and nontoxic!

Experience the difference

Commit to six-months of collagen supplementation and stay hello to smoother skin, improved joint health, and enhanced vitality.

You may directly access pharmaceutical-grade vitamins and supplements to support your well-being at a discount through my online Fullscript store by clicking here: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/susantannermd/signup