What is Collagen

 

You will have no doubt heard about and seen the popularity and coverage of collagen grow over the past decade; collagen on the television in advertisements and on the news and the wondrous creams and serums available containing this new mysterious ingredient.

 

Do we actually know what collagen is? Is it a scientific discovery that has enabled us to turn back time? Scientific? Certainly not; Collagen has been around for millions of years and has been with you your entire life!

 

 

 

 

The Standard Definition

 

The word “collagen” comes from the Greek “cola” (Glue) and “genno”(Build), essentially translating into the building blocks of our skin. Hearing the word collagen, we automatically think wrinkles and more often than not, injections. Collagen acts as a protein based barrier that protects our skin from unwanted lines & wrinkles and is also a protein which comes in numerous different forms, each type is a protein structure making up connective tissue, which connects, binds and shapes organs within our body.

 

Collagen also acts as a supporter, protector and mediator for the nourishment of cells, and at the same time renews and regenerates properties within the body. Moreover collagen is responsible for among other things for the proper moisture and condition of the skin.

 

 

 

 

Facts about Collagen

 

 

 

 

Even more facts ....

 

• Collagen is the main structural protein found in animal connective tissue
• The quality of collagen within the body directly effects the bodies health and appearance
• Women who go through menopause can loose up to 30% of their collagen within 12 months

 

 

 

 

Collagen Exchange

Collagen can be found throughout the body and it is exchanged / renewed in the same way blood is renewed. Below is a list of the areas collagen is found and their respective renewal timeframes.

 

Area	Renewal Time
Liver	Monthly
Epidermis (Skin)	130 - 140 Days
Bones & Joints	12 Months
Nervous System	12 Months
Eyes	77 Days
Blood Cells	3 Months

 

 

 

 

Collagen and the Ageing Process

 

From the age of 25 human skin slowly begins to lose its elasticity and firmness, muscles begin to lose strength, and bones lose calcium. All of these symptoms of human aging are the result of progressive deficit of soluble collagen, whose biosynthesis grows weaker with age.

 

The rotation of collagen within the body still takes place as we age however the older we get the more the degradation process begins to outweigh the synthesis, especially the synthesis of soluble collagen. You start to get sick more often, you look and feel tired, our eye sight isn’t as strong as it once was, this is the ageing process.

 

After thirty years of age, in virtually every human being we see a disappearance of the sebaceous glands and sweat glands, and progressive drying and thinning of the skin and wrinkles appear.

 

This happens as a result of weakening of elastin and collagen fibers, which are the most important components of connective tissue stroma. Free radicals, toxins, and an enzymes destroy the protein fibers, and the levels of micronutrients and vitamins in the body decreases which stimulate natural production of collagen by fibroblasts, and chondrocytes.

 

 

 

 

What Can Be Done?

 

Lets get one thing straight - ageing is part of life and no product or procedure (regardless of claims) can turn back time, the cosmic clock is always ticking however the phrase beauty is only skin deep is not necessarily true. Now that we know collagen's effect on our whole body inside and out we can take steps to improve our natural collagen production. Read more via the links below to find out about the products here at Collagen UK and why our natural collagen formula is a 100% unique and patented formula that works with your body to boost your natural collagen production.