Why collagen?

The word collagen stems from the Greek “kólla”, which means glue. This is apt because collagen helps to hold our cells, tissues and organs together.

Our diets are generally much lower in collagen now than previous generations. This is because there is much less focus on traditional nose to tail eating, meaning many of the best sources have fallen off the menu for most of us.

Found only in animal foods, collagen is abundant in organ meats, skin, bones and any meat you eat off the bone along with connective tissue rich cuts like cheek and neck. You might be in the minority who prioritises these but for many, the focus is mainly muscle meats, breast or leaner cuts. This has shifted the amino acid profile of our diet.

Benefits

Whilst improvements to skin and hair are most often the desired targets when supplementing collagen, this is really the tip of the iceberg.

Collagen is our main structural protein, making up as much as one third of all the protein found in the human body. Made up of interwoven polypeptide chains, collagen connects the skin, tissues, muscles and many other parts of the body, including our vital organs.

Collagen fibres are also an integral part of the scaffolding inside the bones onto which the minerals including calcium are deposited, and there are several studies showing taking it can support improvements in bone mineral density in post-menopausal women with osteopenia.

Collagen is also part of our tendons which link muscle to bone and there is increasing evidence it can support those with osteoarthritis and joint pain.

It’s also a major component of our blood vessels and gut, with many people swearing by it as part of a gut protocol.

Types

Although there are over 29 different types, around 90% of this is type 1 in the human body. This type provides amazing strength and flexibility to tissues, supporting things like skin elasticity, load-bearing to ligaments and tendons and shock absorption to bones. From the age of 25, the body starts to lose its type 1 collagen reserves, resulting in conditions associated with ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and impaired joint mobility.

Expectations vs Reality

Taking collagen takes commitment to consistency. The reality is that if you are only taking it every now and then, you might wonder what all the hype is about. That said, you can start to feel benefits within days (reduced soreness after exercise) and the first few months (improvements in skin hydration and elasticity).

Individual results will vary because the body is very intelligent and will prioritise what needs the peptides the most. For example, if your diet is already low in protein, the collagen will go to support more essential processes before your skin and hair.

Marine vs Bovine

Marine collagen generally contains slightly more glycine than bovine collagen, which some may find appealing due to this amino acid’s involvement in muscle repair and calming effect on the nervous system. However, there is only a very small variation in amino acid profile of these two sources, so it often comes down to personal preference.

Why Higher Nature’s Collagen Drink

Sourced from sustainably farmed, antibiotic free fish, Higher Nature uses fish skins which would otherwise be wasted. With zero unnecessary additives or flavourings, just pure hydrolysed collagen peptides that can be easily mixed into hot or cold liquids.

Higher Nature uses a scientifically proven collagen, backed by 12 double-blind clinical studies in humans so you can be sure what you’re taking is doing you good.

Benefits of Higher Nature’s Collagen drink

• Therapeutic dose of 6000mg per scoop
• Hydrolysed marine collagen for superior absorption
• Supports bone and joint tissues
• Key protein for vital organs and blood vessels
• Helps optimise skin, hair and nails
• Great for gut health

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Collagen is the most prominent protein in the body, making up almost 30% of all protein and is the second most abundant substance after water. It is a key component of connective tissues, found everywhere, including the skin, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints. It is believed that our endogenous collagen production declines as we age, with production dropping by 1% each year after the age of 30. Incorporating more collagen into our diets to maintain strong bones, joints and healthy skin is foundational.

Why do we need it?
– The body becomes less efficient at producing collagen as we age; We lose 1% each year after 30 years old.
– Dietary preferences and patterns have changed over the decades; years ago, people used bones, broth, organs and tendons to enrich the diet with whole animal sources of collagen nutrition.
– Signs of ageing can be a result of collagen deficiency; dull, saggy skin that lacks lustre, decreased joint flexibility and mobility, may indicate low collagen levels.

How does collagen supplementation work?

It acts as a messenger
Collagen peptides may act as messengers to the cells and trigger the synthesis and reorganisation of new collagen fibers, therefore supporting skin, bone and joint tissue structures.

It supplies the body with needed amino acids, or building blocks
Over 90% of the collagen peptides appear in our bloodstream within a few hours after consumption. This rapid absorption ensures an effective delivery of the essential peptides and amino acids to their site of action within the body. Consumption of collagen peptides helps supply the body with amino acids needed as building blocks to renew tissues, like skin, bones and joints.

The key amino acids
Collagen is characterised by a high level of key amino acids: Glycine, Proline and Hydroxyproline. These represent about 50% of the total amino acid content, which are the same amino acids found in skin, joints, and bones. This specific composition provides collagen peptides with unique bio-functional properties that cannon be found in other protein sources.

Types of collagen
The type of collagen refers to where it is located, in the body (where it’s sourced from), not where it’s going to be transplanted after consumption, which is a common misconception. For example, consuming collagen sourced from bovine hides, containing Type I and Type III, can support joint health. This is because collagen is metabolised just like other proteins into tri/di-peptides and amino acids, which in turn stimulate and nourish the cells to produce more collagen.

Where does it come from?
Collagen is an animal-based substance, most commonly derived from bovines, fish and porcine.

Is there vegan collagen?
Collagen cannot be derived from plants and therefore is not vegan. Collagen builders are often made with vitamins and minerals that serve as cofactors to support collagen production.

Can I take it if pregnant, lactating or breastfeeding?
Vital Proteins collagen is safe to use when pregnant, lactating or breastfeeding. However, it is advised to seek advice from your health professional first.

What makes Vital Proteins collagen different?
Vital Proteins prides itself on three things; transparency, quality and clean labels. We believe everyone should know how products are made, offering numerous resources regarding education, sourcing, processing, and testing. Vital Proteins is committed to creating premium collagen products, prioritising high quality, recognisable ingredients.

MINAMI® specialise in producing high strength premium quality omega 3 fish oils, with a range of products tailored to suit different lifestyles and life stages.

Did you know that not all Omega-3 supplements are created equal? In fact MINAMI® uses a unique advanced extraction process called Supercritical CO2 extraction that ensures our Omega 3 products are highly concentrated, pure and sustainable.

Now you’ve likely seen or heard a lot about omega 3 fish oils and how important they are, but what exactly are they? Omega essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are involved in many important biological processes in the body. They are referred to as ‘essential’ because the human body cannot synthesise them on its own, and we need to get them from our diet or through supplementation. Omega-3 and Omega-6 are involved in many biological processes, and each has a different role to play.

The most well researched omega 3 fatty acids are EPA and DHA, and fish oil is one of the main sources for both these fats. Current government guidelines recommend you eat two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily fish. However, there are many reasons why it can be unrealistic for people to follow these government guidelines. Also many people do not enjoy eating fish, or they are concerned about the possible toxins in fish (especially if sourcing is not transparent). This is why it is a good idea to consider supplementing with Omega-3 from a brand that is trusted to provide clean, high quality omega 3 fats.

And what about individuals who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet? Don’t worry, Minami has you covered, in our range we have a vegan DHA sourced from algae that provides a good level of this essential fatty acid.

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