The 1, 2 and 3’s of Collagen

Inside our wonderful complicated human bodies, did you know that aside from water, collagen is one of the most common substances present and collagen is essential for helping build and repair skin, tendons and our bones.

Once we reach the ripe “old” age of 40 our ability to produce collagen naturally has already declined around 25% – argggg! By the time we are 60 – this collagen production capacity has slowed by 50%. A lack of collagen starts to make itself known in some very obvious ways, we get wrinkly, things sag and droop and we get stiff and creaky joints. Collagen helps plump the lower layers of our skin, the dermis. When collagen is reduced this dermis mattress holding up the framework of our outer layers of skin becomes saggy, and so the sheets on the top (your outer skin – epidermis) appear wrinkled L

We actually manufacture over 20 different types of collagen, but type I, type II and type III collagen make up 80 – 90%. Types I and III are found in the skin, Type I in tendons, ligaments and bones while type II makes up our joint cartilages.

You can certainly do a lot within your lifestyle to support your collagen production. It is possible to obtain extra collagen through your diet by consuming lots of animal products, particularly the nutritious jelly that is left behind once you cook the bones and skin of animals for a long time. Bone broths, soups and stews that contain this slow cooked gelatinous nutritious liquid are extremely good. However not everyone has time to prepare these types of stews – or the inclination to eat large quantities of slow cooked animal parts!

You can take a collagen supplement too and there are many to choose from. Collagen is also regularly added to skin cosmetics. Collagen cannot be sourced from plants – so is not suitable for vegan or vegetarians. Most Collagen is from a bovine source (cows), Porcine (pigs) which is cheap and readily available and therefore very commonly used. Collagen can also be sourced from a marine source, from cold water fish. Fish/ Marine collagen peptides are absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently which means it has superior bioavailability, and is considered better for your skin. This is due to the smaller size and weight of each cell compared to other mammal animal sourced collagen. This smaller size means it passes through the intestinal wall more quickly, enters the blood and is carried off to do its good work in the body faster. Fish collagen comes mainly from skin, bone frames and scales which means we don’t tend to eat these parts very often. They are the parts that the fish industry usually considers unusable, so by using these for Marine collagen it reduces the need for unnecessary extra fishing. Fish collagen has specific amino acids and a high concentration of glycine, hydroxyproline and proline, and these hydroxyproline peptides stimulate cells in the skin, joints and bones and can help smooth out the dermis mattress below your outer skin.

You can certainly add fish stock to your regular cooking routine. Try buying fish heads and frames from your supermarket and simmer them gently in a large pot of water for several hours with some light seasoning. Then drain and store the liquid in the fridge or freezer as a base for soups and stews, or use this to cook rice or other grains for some extra flavour. Including cold water fatty fish like Salmon, sardines and mackerel regularly into your diet is also a great way to help improve your skin as you will consume the collagen there if you also eat the skin.

When buying collagen products – make sure you check to see the source, and look for the marine sourced collagen for your skin wherever you can. Be wary of marine collagen from countries where the sea water quality is questionable. New Zealand still has some of the cleanest sea waters in the world- and our fish is still considered to be some of the least polluted in the world.

BioBalance Collagen is sourced directly from sustainably harvested marine fisheries in the pristine coastal waters of New Zealand. Supporting the structural integrity and protection of your skin, hair and nails against the effects of ageing and free radical damage, BioBalance Collagen provides nutrients needed for regeneration and renewal, to maintain your skin’s strength, elasticity and youthful qualities. Buy it now from our secure online shop.