Gut health and digestion seem to be popular topics in today's health & wellness world. In today's modern world there has been a rise in gut health issues with many toxins and lifestyle choices compromising one's microbiota (Read More >).
It is no secret that what we put into our bodies plays a huge role in our digestion, which is why our grass-fed collagen hydrolysate is the perfect addition to improve your gut health. Studies have shown that collagen hydrolysate can help aid digestion, reduce gut inflammation, heal stomach ulcers, heal 'Leaky Gut' and regulate acid secretion.
A healthy gut has a protective mucosal lining which prevents nasties from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Our gut lining can be damaged through bacterial imbalance (think extended antibiotic use), stress, lack of restorative sleep, years of eating processed foods or through certain medical conditions etc. This can cause a ‘Leaky Gut’.
The reason collagen peptides are able to help with all of these issues is because of its robust amino acid profile. Our Grass-fed Collagen Hydrolysate has one of the most robust amino acid profiles on the market, containing 20 amino acids that all have different functions and benefits for the body. The amino acids in our Collagen Hydrolysate that help with gut health and digestion are:
- Glycine: Helps improve digestive health and the intestinal tract. Glycine can help stimulate the production of stomach acids and improves its ability to absorb nutrients.
- Glutamine: Glutamine has been identified as a key amino acid in helping the prevention of inflammation in the gut wall and healing leaky gut syndrome. It has been associated with helping the intestinal lining of the stomach and opening junctions in the connective tissue. Glutamine has been tied to helping the body’s metabolism and helping to curb your desire for sugar and alcohol.
- Proline: Along with glycine, proline helps synthesize collagen. This amino acid can help heal wounds, support digestive health, increase metabolism and fight inflammation in the intestinal tract.
More on 'Leaky Gut'
Leaky gut, or "intestinal permeability," occurs when the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged, causing undigested food particles, toxic waste products and bacteria to "leak" through the intestines and flood the bloodstream.
When these foreign substances enter the bloodstream, they can cause a variety of issues such as constipation, gas, bloating, headaches, excessive fatigue, arthritis, joint pain, excessive cravings for sugar and carbs, etc. As a result, the damaged cells in your intestines don't produce the enzymes needed for proper digestion and your body cannot absorb essential nutrients, which can lead to hormone imbalances and a weakened immune system.
Similar to how collagen strengthens and tightens your skin, it does the same for your digestive tract. Our digestive tracts are made up of the same amino acids that are abundant in collagen. These amino acids help stimulate cell growth, which in turn helps repair your intestinal wall. By closing gaps in the pores and tightening the lining, this helps stop toxins from entering the bloodstream and can work to heal leaky gut. While leaky gut is an extreme case, our digestive tracts could still benefit from the use of collagen, even if you do not suffer from leaky gut syndrome.
Written by Bruno Rossitt, Founding CEO Nutraviva, BEd(PhysEd)