What is collagen? Is collagen good for arthritis?
Should people take collagen supplements to get more muscles and improve arthritis?
And as a bonus: does collagen supplements improve the skin appearance?
So, let’s talk about collagen supplements today
Please remember that this video is for educational purposes only and it is not
intended as medical advice. If you are thinking of using any supplements, talk to your doctor. In
case of emergency please go to the nearest emergency department or call an ambulance.
Collagen is the main body’s protein that gives you the shape and appearance that is unique to
you. It is responsible for your structure, bones, muscles, connective tissues and skin.
Of all the proteins that exist in your body, collagen accounts for about 30%.
Proteins are made from amino acids. The three that make up collagen are proline,
glycine and hydroxyproline. When you ingest these amino acids, your body will make collagen
from them. So, if you eat collagen, your guts have to break the collagen into amino acids,
then they are absorbed, then your body will make your own collagen. The body also needs vitamin C,
Zinc, Copper and Manganese to make collagen. There are many types of collagen,
more than 20 different types. They have different functions, different shapes and
are found in different organs of your body. The collagen type I is the most common, it is
found in the skin, bones, tendons and ligaments. Collagen type II is found in cartilage
Type III is found in muscles and arteries Type IV is found in skin
Type V is found in the eyes, hair, skin and placenta.
With age, the body produces less and less collagen, we cannot measure this in a blood
test or a x-ray, but we can see the skin has more wrinkles, the tendons and less flexible,
the cartilage gets more damaged and there are also more muscle weakness and stiff joints.
There are some diseases that affect the collagen, some examples are Ankylosing Spondylitis, a type
of autoimmune arthritis where the body produces antibodies against the collagen in the spine,
sacroiliac joint, tendons and ligaments. Watch my other video about ankylosing spondylitis,
and I also have another video that I demonstrate 12 exercises to avoid
stiff joints from ankylosing spondylitis. Another disease that affects the collagen
is called Ehler Danlos Syndrome, or EDS. It is a genetic disease that the body does not
produce the best quality collagen, and then, the body structure kind of fall apart and crumbles.
The person has difficulty to maintain the bones in place because they get dislocated.
It is very painful when they have a joint dislocation. Watch my other video about EDS here.
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How can you make sure you ingest enough collagen? I am not a big fan of prescribing supplements. I
believe that if you eat a healthy diet you get all you need. So, how can your body get
the amino acids to produce collagen? Well, remember, your body needs 3
amino acids plus Vitamin C, zinc, copper and manganese. Where can you find all of these?
Simple, in food. A well-balanced meal, healthy meal contains vegetables, beans, whole grains,
nuts, fruits and a moderate amount of fish, meat, poultry, dairy and eggs.
If you feed your body with these, you are giving it everything you need to produce collagen.
Where can you find proline? Here is a list: fish, eggs, meat,
peanuts, mushrooms, cabbage and asparagus Where can you find glycine? In red meats,
turkey, chicken, pork, peanuts and nuts Where can you find zinc? In red meat,
poultry, pork, oysters, beans, chickpeas, nuts, broccoli, green leafy vegetables,
milk products and whole grains. Where can you find copper? In
beef liver, mushrooms, nuts, leafy greens, seafood and my favourite: dark chocolate
Where can you find Vitamin C? In fruits like lemon, orange, grapefruits, strawberries,
and vegetables like red peppers, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
Should people take collagen supplements to build muscles or improve arthritis?
There are very few high-quality studies demonstrating that supplements of collagen do
anything to improve your strength or arthritis. Unless the person has a very restrictive diet,
for health or cultural purposes, they don’t need to take supplements.
Does collagen supplement improve the skin appearance?
Wrinkles and skin appearance is related to damage caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet light,
exposure to smoke, and eating refined sugars and refined carbs. Also,
there is strong genetic factor making some people more prone to have a think and
wrinkly skin, no matter what they do or eat. When you eat collagen, you cannot tell where
you want it to go. So, if you want to have a healthy skin, focus on the things that you know,
like limiting sun exposure, stay away from smokers and eat less refined sugars and refined carbs.
Answer this question in the comments section below: Have you tried collagen supplement,
and what did you think of it? I hope to see you in the next video.
Thank you for watching. Goodbye