What Is Collagen? How Does It Work? And More!

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. It plays many roles including supporting bone growth, keeping joints flexible, and helping skin stay smooth and supple.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein found in connective tissue throughout the human body. Collagen is made up of 18 amino acids and is the most abundant protein in our body, making up around 30% of total human protein content. It is essential as it helps build strong fibres and connective tissue in our bodies. For this reason, collagen is commonly referred to as the ‘glue’ holding the body together as it ensures the integrity, elasticity, and regeneration of our connective tissues. Collagen provides strength and flexibility to bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and organs. It also supports the function of other tissues such as skin, teeth, and nails.

What is collagen hydrolysate?

Humans and animals produce collagen naturally, and it can be found in skin, bones, gut lining, joints, nails and even our hair. There are over 20 types of collagen found in the human body alone. They vary slightly in their structure, however the most common forms marketed are Types I, II and III. Type I and III are predominantly found in the dermal layer of the skin, bone, tendon, muscle, and connective tissue. Type II collagen comes from cartilage.

When collagen is extracted from an animal (generally beef or fish), the source material is heated and undergoes processing that begins to unravel the triple helix chains of molecules. The liquid is separated and dried and forms gelatin. The protein chains in gelatin are much larger and it takes the body longer to breakdown and digest.

Collagen undergoes an additional process in manufacturing whereby enzymes are added to breakdown the protein chains into small collagen peptides. These peptides make collagen more bioavailable in comparison to gelatin as it can be absorbed into the bloodstream very rapidly. Once the enzymes have finished cleaving the protein chains down, the liquid solution is then sprayed and dried, and is then referred to as collagen hydrolysate powder.

How Does Collagen Work?

Collagen is made up of amino acids which support the synthesis of collagen in the body to help keep our bodies strong and healthy. Amino acids are critical to bodily processes such as building proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters. They’re naturally found in protein-rich food, with many choosing to supplement with hydrolyzed collagen powders to improve their mood, support their gut health, boost performance, assist connective tissue and muscle recovery, as well as strengthen their body. Arguably the most important types of amino acids found in collagen are proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline.

The key component to look for in any great collagen supplement is the amino acid profile. Regardless of the collagen type (such as Type I, II or III) it is the unique amino acid rich profile collagen which is of the most important factor when choosing to purchase and use collagen supplement.

Support collagen synthesis

Given the role collagen plays in so much of our body’s healthy function, supporting collagen synthesis through quality collagen supplements is an effective and easy daily strategy to enhance the body’s natural collagen levels over time.

By our mid-twenties, our body starts losing its natural ability to produce collagen and starts to breakdown collagen at a rate of 1 to 2% per year. When we reach our 30s, we begin to lose collagen faster than the body can make it. Collagen supplements may assist with enhancing the body’s synthesis of amino acids and to begin producing and maintaining collagen again.

Incorporating collagen supplementation into your routine is very easy as collagen powder is highly versatile, does not degrade in high heat, and is soluble in both hot and cold water. This makes it simple to add to coffees, smoothies, yoghurt, muffin and cake mixes, slow cooks and even more. Check out our easy delicious recipes for more inspiration. Take our collagen powder up to twice daily to promote ongoing collagen production, giving your body a wide range of health benefits and support for the aging process.

Nutraviva – the high-quality clean choice

Nutraviva’s superior quality clean Collagen Hydrolysate powders (available in both bovine and marine sources) contain 100% all-natural unblended and unflavoured collagen powder. Designed to promote health outcomes in an easily ingestible manner, our collagen powders offer benefits that aren’t found in liquid-style collagen shots or formulas, which are most often composed of water and preservatives as key ingredients.

If you are after the best collagen in Australia, look no further than Nutraviva premium collagen products.