" Building " Collagen
for Shiny Hair , Radiant Skin & Strong Nails
by Dawn Thorpe Jarvis , M . S ., R . D ., L . D . N . Garden of Life ® Senior Director of Nutrition Science & Educational Content
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is often described as the glue that holds everything together . Collagen , in the form of elongated fibrils , is mostly found in fibrous tissues such as tendons , ligaments and the dermis of the skin where it acts as a structural scaffold . It is also abundant in the cornea of the eye , cartilage , bones , blood vessel walls , the gut lining , intervertebral discs in our backbone , and also in teeth and nails .
There are three key “ beauty ” proteins in the body ; collagen , elastin and keratin . Collagen is the key structural protein that works with elastin to provide the skin with strength , smoothness and elasticity while keratin is what protects the outer layer of the skin , keeps our skin waterproof and makes up 95 percent of our hair . When we are young , we have an abundance of these three proteins which is why children and teenagers have beautiful shiny hair and smooth skin . Unfortunately , as we age , our body ’ s production of collagen and other structural proteins starts to slow down , our skin starts to lose its elasticity and , sadly , we start to notice sagging skin and wrinkles .
Do Collagen Creams Work ?
Needless to say , there are countless anti-aging creams that contain collagen claiming to plump up the skin and hopefully turn back the clock . What most people don ’ t realize is that collagen is a fairly large molecule that cannot be absorbed whole through the skin unless it undergoes extensive processing to break it down . Most of these creams simply stay on the skin and do not build collagen within the body .
8 Extraordinary Health ™ • Vol 28