Would you love to stave off wrinkles and skin damage?

To protect your joints from deterioration and promote recovery after injury?

To maintain, even regain, your youthful vitality?

You’re in good company!

Collagen — “the elixir of youth” — has caught on like wildfire as people seek to promote gorgeous skin, strong joints, and youthful vitality. Supplements, bone broths, and collagen-boosting ingredients like retinol and vitamin C have become popular…

But there is collagen, and then there is collagen. Like all products, some are of the highest grade, others are not. But before we share how to ensure you get an effective, wrinkle-smoothing, joint-protecting, youth-promoting supplement, let's look at the science.

What is Collagen?

Collagen can be thought of like latticework in a vertical garden. Instead of providing support and structure for plants to grow upward, collagen provides a supportive framework for various tissues in the body.  This collagen “lattice” helps your skin to remain firm, your bones to stay strong whilst retaining a necessary give, and your ligaments, tendons, and fibrocartilage to bear the stresses placed upon them.

The body has different types of collagen, but the most common is type I collagen. Type I is especially important for your bones, connective tissues, joints, and skin.

But what does this have to do with your skin, joints, and youthfulness?

Collagen and Youthful Skin: A Match Made in Heaven

When you think of youthful skin — firm, radiant, and free of wrinkles — you are, in many ways, thinking about the effects of collagen. This essential protein plays an instrumental role in maintaining skin health, and as we age, changes in collagen levels become all too visible.

The turnover rate of collagen plummets with age. At 50 and beyond, collagen is replaced at a mere 50% compared to 20 — 40 years of age. That’s why the skin’s structure and appearance tank: sluggish replacement leads to saggy latticework. Wrinkles surface, and the skin thins and becomes drier.

Enter supplemental collagen!

A study published in the International Journal of Dermatology pooled 19 studies to gain clearer insight into the benefits or otherwise of collagen supplementation and skin health. The authors confirmed that…

The ingestion of hydrolyzed collagen for 90 days is effective in reducing skin aging, as it reduces wrinkles and improves skin elasticity and hydration.

Hydrolyzed collagen?

Hydrolyzed collagen is collagen that has been broken down into smaller pieces to allow easier digestion. (That’s why our Marine Collagen is hydrolyzed: to improve absorption and results)

Collagen and Joint Health: A Natural Way to Protect and Repair Knees, Hips, Shoulders, and Toes

Your joints — whether it’s the swing of your shoulder, the motion of your hips, the bend of your knee, or the wiggle of your toes — play a vital role in your daily movements and overall mobility. You wouldn’t get far without them.

Yet, aging can have a major impact. You can think of this like rusty joints accompanied by deterioration and reduced function. In reality, the “rust” isn’t literal, instead referencing wear, tear, and reduced collagen production. But yet, once again, collagen supplementation can provide an answer.

Why?

When collagen production diminishes, it leads to thinner cartilage and weaker connective tissue. Joint discomfort, decreased flexibility, and stiffness may result. Ensuring sufficient collagen is key as it’s the body’s primary building block for the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments — the foundation of our joints.

Hydrolyzed collagen is highly bioavailable and able to reach the bloodstream readily. It then gathers in cartilage tissue and triggers cartilage extracellular matrix synthesis.

The effect on joints can be useful, as an article published in the journal Nutrients reported. Research participants notice that supplemental hydrolyzed collagen improves symptoms of osteoarthritis (“wear and tear” of the joints), including improved joint function, reduced pain, and elevated quality of life.

Supplementation has been shown to increase proteoglycan content — the gel-like sponge that provides shock absorption and improves function — in knee cartilage. So, it’s unsurprising that collagen can ease the symptoms of troublesome joints.

And then there are the potential benefits for muscle…

As we age, we become more likely to develop sarcopenia: an involuntary decrease in skeletal muscle that translates into reduced strength and function. Don’t be fooled into imagining this occurs in only 80-year-olds. The cutback can begin in the 4th decade. Yes, that’s 30 - 39 years of age… Unless we do something about it.

Collagen may provide hope.

A study published in the Nutrition Journal conducted a 24-week research program that included 160 participants, each with osteoarthritis. Everyone completed a resistance training program. In addition, they were divided into four groups: one group received hydrolyzed collagen type II, another received a chicken extract plus hydrolyzed collagen type II, another received glucosamine, and another a placebo.

Compared to placebo, the hydrolyzed collagen reduced pain in only two weeks. The chicken extract and collagen supplement also resulted in higher fat-free mass. That is, tissues in the body that do not contain fat. Yes: including muscle. The authors found this to be true in the elevated grip strength in the chicken and collagen group compared to the glucosamine group.

While research into the impact of collagen on muscle is in its infancy, supplementing well may contribute to increased lean muscle mass, strength, and function. And more muscle also means an increased metabolic function. It’s early days, yes, but promising!

The takeaway

Collagen is considered by many to be the elixir for youth. With its benefits for youthful skin and stronger joints, and emerging evidence suggesting its potential for muscle health, it’s clear why collagen has gained doting attention!

But remember, while collagen certainly offers benefits, choosing a high-quality product is crucial. Non-hydrolyzed or “native” collagen — the undenatured form — is less digestible and so less bioavailable. Hydrolyzed collagen is better for youthful skin and stronger joints and body.

Selecting a hearty dose may also make the difference.

Because hydrolyzed collagen and dose make the difference, we include 2.5 grams of hydrolyzed collagen in every scoop of our Marine Collagen! We want you to benefit like our other customers do!

As Pamela S. said, “Top marine collagen! I have better skin and hair since I take it, zero taste, so very convenient.”

You deserve to look and feel great in your skin and body at any age!