By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

October 07, 2022 (IANSlife) Collagen is a widely sought-after ingredient in both wellness and beauty communities. In case you are wondering what’s the fuss all about? Collagen is the vital building block of our bodies. Simply put – it is a protein that the body produces and is found in muscles, bones, connective tissues, blood vessels, the digestive system, hair, nails, and most importantly, your skin. In fact, over 30 percent of all protein in the body and 80 percent of all protein in the skin is Collagen.

Bhavesh Sheth, Founder of INJA Wellness tells IANSlife how to include collagen in your daily diet and ensures your skin looks dewy and radiant, while also enhancing bone and gut health

What is the power of collagen?

Bhavesh: The word ‘Collagen’ is derived from the Greek word ‘kólla’ which means glue. Collagen's strong fibers work like glue to hold things together in your body: skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and organs. It gives structure, strength, and elasticity to your skin. It helps fibroblasts to form in your dermis (middle skin layer), which helps new cells grow. Thus, playing a vital role in replacing dead skin cells. For decades, collagen has been considered as the ‘fountain of youth’ as it keeps our skin from sagging, giving it that plump, youthful look.

Why we need collagen as we age?

Bhavesh: The production of collagen drastically declines with age (1 percent every year post the age of 20 years) and even the existing collagen breaks down at a faster rate. Add to that, poor lifestyle choices such as a diet high in processed foods and sugars, and even excessive alcohol consumption impact your body’s ability to produce collagen. That’s when you start to notice sunken eyes, sagging skin and wrinkles, stiffness in joints, and cellulite in your thighs along with hair fall and brittle nails.

The good news is that various studies reveal that daily consumption of collagen supplements not only helps slow down the aging process but also makes your bones denser. In fact, regular intake of oral collagen supplements has been shown to improve your skin’s moisture levels, reduce signs of aging, and increase skin elasticity and overall suppleness. 

A brief guide on how to include collagen in a daily diet.

Bhavesh: A diet full of protein-rich foods, whether from plant or animal sources, can help supply these critical amino acids. However, collagen can’t be absorbed by your body in its whole form. Your body breaks down the collagen proteins you eat into amino acids. And that’s why eating collagen-rich foods doesn’t directly result in higher collagen levels in your body.

Research shows that Hydrolyzed Collagen peptides in powder form are the most effective form of collagen for ingestion. Hydrolyzed collagen means the collagen has been broken down into small peptides, which are easy for the body to digest. Hence, it is highly bio-available, with an absorption rate above 90 percent.

You could still incorporate foods rich in Vitamin C, zinc, and copper in your diet as these provide the raw ingredients required to support collagen production. For optimum results, it’s best to incorporate a collagen supplement along with these foods into your daily diet. And what better than INJA Beauty Collagen in a refreshing mango flavor? Fortified with vitamin C, biotin, hyaluronic acid, glutathione, curcumin, evening primrose oil, selenium, and vitamin D3, one scoop of the INJA Beauty Collagen - Mango helps you load up on all the ingredients that play a key role in skin repair, rebuilding and tissue regeneration. A healthy diet along with Collagen supplementation is fundamental to supporting healthy skin, hair, nails, bones, and joints.

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