Collagen is one of the most important proteins in the human body, the most important component of connective tissue, ligaments, bones. Its content in the epidermis is about 70 percent. Scientists have proven that this material supports the structure of organs and allows you to maintain skin tone.
Unfortunately, over time, collagen fibers age, and this protein is produced more slowly. As a result, the clarity of the oval of the face decreases, it seems to sag, wrinkles and wrinkles appear. To combat this cause of aging, cosmetologists inject patients with bioplastic collagen material.
Types of collagen
A special type of protein, collagen, plays an important role in the body: it helps the skin to remain elastic, and the joints – healthy and generally slows down the aging process. In addition, this protein affects endurance, sleep quality and digestion.
In the human body, the proportion of collagen ranges from 25 to 45%. Most of this protein, consisting of amino acids, is found in cartilage, skin, nails and hair. It is produced by fibroblasts, special connective tissue cells.
Collagen protein can be of different types, there are 28 of them. The most important for the body are the following:
- Collagen involved in the formation of bone, articular, cartilage tissue, skin and hair.
- Collagen, which promotes the formation of ligaments, muscles, joints, and intervertebral joints.
- Collagen, which forms the shell of internal organs in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Collagen contained in the epidermal layer and the ocular lens.
Almost all tissues have protein of not one, but several types. With age, collagen synthesis in the body decreases. This also happens in young people who systematically engage in sports with heavy loads. The lack of a special protein can lead to serious diseases, so losses need to be replenished by taking collagen in dosage form.
Collagen is widely used in the beauty industry (anti-aging procedures), it is part of some medications, as well as powders for sports nutrition.
Cosmetologists inject bioplastic collagen material into patients whose body does not produce enough protein by injection. Also, collagen, which is used for cosmetic or wellness purposes, can be in the form of serum, tablets, be part of cocktails along with other useful substances.
The main sources of collagen
The most affordable way to replenish collagen protein reserves is to consume products that contain it: lean meat, broth, chicken cartilage, jelly and aspic, jelly-like desserts. There is no collagen in plants.
Collagen can also be a dietary supplement in the form of tablets, capsules or powder. As a rule, it is a hydrolyzed protein that is obtained from natural by fermentation and other chemical reactions. In such supplements, the amount of collagen is optimal for health.
Dietary supplements with this protein can be bought in pharmacies, sports nutrition stores or on specialized websites.
The benefits of collagen preparations will be only if they are taken according to the rules:
- before using supplements, you need to consult with your doctor to identify possible contraindications;
- it is necessary to use only collagen peptide, that is, a processed protein with a low molecular weight;
- do not exceed the permissible dosage of the drug – 6 tablets (capsules) per day, divided into three doses;
- during the course of taking dietary supplements containing collagen, a diet is required (fatty, salty, flour products should be minimized in the diet, alcohol is completely excluded).
The benefits of collagen for the body
It is difficult to overestimate the role of collagen in the body, since this protein performs many useful functions:
- It has a rejuvenating effect on the skin, helping to maintain the necessary level of hydration and elasticity. Thanks to the protein synthesis that occurs in fibroblasts, wrinkles are smoothed out, and some (small) disappear without a trace. Women who want the skin to be young and the contours of the face tightened, after 35 years of age, it is recommended to take a course of medications with collagen.
- Makes cellulite less noticeable. Orange peel appears due to the fact that the skin loses elasticity, and fat deposits increase and, due to reduced tissue tone, are pushed out of the deeper layers closer to the surface. Collagen helps to restore elasticity and get rid of looseness of the body.
- In combination with vitamins and minerals, it supports a healthy and beautiful look of hair. If they become dry and brittle, it can be assumed that they lack collagen. Taking this protein inside as part of complex preparations, as well as using it in the form of therapeutic masks, allows you to strengthen the hair follicles and give shine, silkiness and smoothness to the hair.
- Helps to strengthen nails, accelerate their growth, level the surface. Thanks to collagen, the nail plates, the basis of which is protein, stop exfoliating.
- It has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Collagen relieves irritation of the mucous membrane, improves digestion, resuscitates cells that have damage. It is able to break down other types of proteins to simple ones, as a result of which they are more easily absorbed by the body.
- Makes stronger joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and bone tissue. Since collagen protein forms the basis of connective tissues, its deficiency can lead to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system such as osteochondrosis, arthrosis, arthritis, osteoporosis. The intake of collagen prevents the wear of the articular elements.
- Promotes muscle building, helps to keep them in good shape. Collagen is included in the composition of special sports nutrition as a source of additional energy, accelerating the growth of muscle mass, increasing the endurance of the body.
- Helps to fight excess weight. Thanks to the competent use of dietary supplements containing collagen peptide, metabolism improves, the fat layer decreases, which contributes to weight loss.
Contraindications to taking collagen
It is not surprising that bioplastic collagen material is widely used in cosmetology. Collagen protein is not considered a substance that harms the body. However, sometimes the additives in which it is included cause allergic reactions (usually due to auxiliary ingredients). Also, due to the use of dietary supplements with collagen, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract and skin rash are possible.
The course of taking medications with collagen protein can be accompanied by bloating, heartburn and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
With extreme caution, collagen extracted from fish and shellfish should be consumed, since in this case the risk of allergies increases.
Causes of collagen loss
If we compare how collagen is produced in the body at a young age (29 years) and senile (80 years), then the indicator of a decrease in the synthesis of this important protein over the years will be 75%. Moreover, in adulthood, it is also destroyed at the same rate. Especially noticeable is the lack of collagen in women during menopause. The amount of this substance in the skin for five years after the onset of menopause is reduced by an average of 30%. For the body, this is a powerful blow, which helps to soften the intake of hormone replacement drugs.
In addition, under the influence of certain factors (ultraviolet rays, the formation of free radicals), not only the quantity but also the quality of collagen produced in the skin changes, it becomes less plastic and structured.
But it’s not that bad. Every day the body repairs collagen fibers by itself. When the cells that are responsible for protein synthesis receive a signal about the disintegration of the substance, the process of neocollagenesis, that is, the production of collagen, is started in them.
However, there is one condition: the synthesis of a new durable fiber is impossible without vitamin C. By the way, smokers experience a chronic shortage of this vitamin. That’s why their skin doesn’t look the best.
In addition, the risk of collagen loss is much greater in patients with high blood sugar levels. Excessive production of free radicals during failures in systems that perform an antioxidant function leads to the fact that collagen fibers are destroyed and stick together with sugars. This is called glycation – this process is irreversible, so there can be no further natural renewal of collagen protein. People exposed to such processes suffer from the fact that any damage on their body heals very poorly, and the skin ages early.
In patients with diabetes mellitus who smoke and abuse easily digestible carbohydrates, collagen glycation also occurs in the vessels, which negatively affects health.
That is why a cosmetologist who intends to use bioplastic collagen material in beauty procedures needs to pay special attention to patients at risk:
- with insulin resistance;
- consuming a lot of sweets;
- vegans and vegetarians;
- heavy smokers;
- women during menopause who do not receive hormone replacement therapy.