Collagen is literally the glue that holds our body together, it is vital for a number of functions within the body including supporting our connective tissues and optimising joint health and bone health.
Up to 90% of our connective tissues and bone matrix is made from collagen and it is a key component for structural support. As we age our natural production of collagen starts to decline, and overtime this can lead to degradation of the joints and bones and problems with joint health and bone health which can lead to issues like arthritis and osteoporosis.
Joint health:
Collagen is a key structural component of our cartilage and when we don't have enough, cartilage will start to thin out and become weaker and we can suffer with our joint health with issues like arthritis.
There are many different types of arthritis, the most common of which are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis initially affects the cartilage lining the joint leading to pain and stiffness, and eventually severe losses of cartilage can lead to bone rubbing on bone, forcing the bones out of their normal position and causing chronic pain, stiffness and loss of mobility.
In rheumatoid arthritis the body's immune system attacks certain joints leading to pain and swelling, it can lead to changes in the shape of the joint and cause bone and cartilage to break down as well as affecting other tissues and organs.
Collagen powder can support joint health, helping with pain management, stiffness and supporting mobility due to the anti-inflammatory nature of its amino acids including Glycine and Proline which are essential for the stability and regeneration of cartilage. It provides support for the growth and repair of cartilage tissues, and the amino acids stimulate synthesis of collagen in cartilage and the extracellular matrix of other tissues (1).
Bone health
Collagen is vital for supporting bone health and bone mineral density throughout life. As we get older the collagen network in our bones weakens and breaks down with the bones losing strength and becoming more brittle and susceptible to fractures.
Hydrolysed collagen powder has been shown to have a positive therapeutic effect on bone related conditions like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, with a potential increase in bone mineral density, protecting the articular cartilage and helping to relieve symptomatic pain (1).
Using collagen supplements daily can help support the rebuilding of our bones and joints, manage pain and inflammation, and improve mobility and flexibility. Most people are not consuming enough collagen rich foods like bone broths on a regular basis and so collagen supplements can provide an easy solution to get in this rich source of nutrition to support our bone and joint health.
At Planet Paleo we have two blends to optimise your joint health and bone health.
Our Osteo blend is designed to support your bone health and help to mobilise calcium into the bone matrix, keeping bones stronger and more flexible.
We also have collagen supplements for joints with our Active blend which is designed to keep you mobile and active for longer, with collagen powder combined with anti-inflammatory herbs and a range of nutrients to support joint health.
Poor bone and joint health can often be an issue later in life, causing chronic pain and affecting quality of life as we age. We can give our bones and joints the best chance to stay strong as we age and throughout life by ensuring we are getting in our daily dose of collagen powder.
Find out more about our range of collagen supplements for joints and bone health here... 1: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1809-98232016000100153