Healthy Magazine Healthy RGV Issue 117 | Page 34

FITNESS & BEAUTY · AUGUST 2018 The Benefits of Collagen Supplements and Why You Should Jump Onboard W ho wouldn’t want to do everything they good to have optimal health? Collagen supplements are a no- brainer when it comes to improving your overall health. Numerous studies have shown the ever-growing benefits of taking one supplement per day. Everything from improving the look and feel of your skin to improving the health of your hair to reducing joint pain and suffering are just the beginning of what collagen supplements can do for you. Before you begin a regimen, of course, consult your health care provider, and learn the facts. Collagens like Bluebonnet’s Beautiful Ally Powder is a specialty formulated substance that contains collagen peptides, types I and III. Their key components help you to have lustrous hair, firmer skin, and stronger, more durable nails. When we age, our collagen levels deplete. This results in degradation of the connective tissue. When this happens, we develop wrinkles, thinning cartilage, and, in some cases, thinning hair. By taking a collagen supplement, we’re nourishing with those all-important nutrients and boosting our collagen production over time. In doing so, we can reduce the breakdown and enhance the skin’s hydration and natural elasticity. These two things combined will counteract the effects of aging and decrease the visible signs of aging. It is the most abundant protein our body possesses. It can be found naturally in muscles, bones, blood vessels, tendons, the digestive system, and skin. It is the protein that gives our skin strength and elasticity and it replaces dead skin cells. In regards to the joints and tendons, it is essentially the substance that helps to keep the body together. There are many different kinds of supplements you can take. Some people take collagen pills. Others might take it in powder form and add it to their water or favorite beverage. It is colorless, odorless, and taste-free. HERE ARE THE TOP 7 BENEFITS OF USING COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS: ɫ ɫ As noted previously, collagen supplements can improve skin health and hair. As you age you might notice sagging skin and wrinkles. Collagen is the substance that makes the skin firmer and smoother. It helps to renew and repair skin cells. It has also been known to reduce cellulite and stretch marks. ɫ ɫ It reduces joint pain and degeneration, which helps your bones, joints and muscles to move with ease. ɫ ɫ If you suffer from leaky gut syndrome, a condition that leaves you unable to pass toxins through your digestive tract, collagen can help break the proteins down and make them easier to pass. ɫ ɫ Collagen can increase your metabolism, increase muscle mass, and may increase energy output. ɫ ɫ The supplement strengthens nails, hair, and teeth. ɫ ɫ It improves liver health by detoxing your body of harmful substances, improving blood flow, and keeping your heart young. ɫ ɫ Last, but certainly not least, it protects your cardiovascular health by shrinking the fat in arteries and minimizing its accumulation. With all the known benefits, a collagen supplement is by far one of the best supplements you can take to improve your overall health. By JoLynn Majors Hasler 34 HEALTHY MAGAZINE