Collagen is a buzzword that’s been circulating the world of health and wellbeing for many years. Our body’s natural production of collagen declines as we age, but do you know why? We‘ve put together a guide to collagen loss with age and how you can support your body’s collagen levels with Vital Proteins.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body that helps give structure to your skin, hair, nails, bones, ligaments and tendons. It is made up of amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine.
As we age, our collagen production slowly starts to decline – but what causes collagen loss and at what age should we start taking collagen?
Why Do We Experience Collagen Loss With Age?
As we age, the production of the amino acids that are needed to make collagen can decrease. This reduction can disrupt your body’s ability to produce collagen, leading it to break down more than it can supply. Without sufficient levels of collagen in the body, both your collagen and elastin fibres may become thinner and looser as you age.
Lifestyle factors may also contribute to collagen loss with age, for example, repetitive exposure to UV rays or free radicals causes collagen to break down at a higher rate than normal ageing, resulting in loss of elasticity in the skin.
Signs of Collagen Deficiency
Collagen deficiency can be the result of your body ageing. To prevent further collagen loss as you age, it’s important to recognise the signs of collagen deficiency, such as:
- Joint Pain
- Decreased Mobility
- Decreased Skin Elasticity
- Thinning of the hair
What Age Should You Start Taking Collagen?
A great way to support your body’s collagen levels is by introducing collagen supplements into your routine.
Taking collagen supplements can be helpful at any age, however you might not benefit from the full effects as you would if you were slightly older. Introducing collagen supplements between the ages of 20 and 30 might be more beneficial, as this is when amino acids needed to make collagen, can start to decline.
At Vital Proteins, we have a range of different collagen supplements that can help provide you with the amino acids that can help produce collagen, such as our Unflavoured Collagen Peptides.
This super versatile collagen powder is unflavoured, odourless and contains 18 amino acids. The easily digestible formula can be added to a wide range of recipes. Simply add two scoops to either your favourite hot or cold beverage, or to a mealtime recipe.
