What is Marine Collagen?

Even though collagen seems like a household name these days, many people are still unsure if they should take collagen, or what it can do for them. There are many questions you still have about collagen before it's time to pick up your first bottle, so we want to clear that up! To help you decide if collagen is for you, we’re answering the top 10 things you need to know about collagen: 1. What is collagen? Collagen is a protein, and is what makes up a lot of what is found in our hair, skin and nails. It is referred to as the “glue” that holds our body together. As we get older, however, we're unable to produce the necessary collagen to prevent the signs of aging. This is why many people will supplement with it. 2. Are there negative side effects of taking collagen? For most people, there are no side effects of taking collagen. Most people find that adding collagen to their routine has positive outcomes for their digestive health, hair, skin and nails. However, in rare instances, some people have noticed small breakouts, or light digestive distress when adding collagen to their diet. There has been no definitive correlation between collagen and these issues. 3. How long does it take to see results from taking collagen? There are a few factors that matter here: how long you take it, and what your lifestyle is already like. Generally it can take up to four months to truly see the benefits of collagen in your body. If you are eating a poor diet that lacks the nutrients your body needs to produce its own collagen, and start taking a maximum dose each day, then you may see the effects quite quickly. However if you eat quite healthy and add in about 1 serving per day (approximately 10g), it may take a few more weeks to see the extra glow. 4. Do I need to take collagen every day? It is suggested that you consume around 1 tbsp. of collagen everyday. If you are looking for more therapeutic benefits taking 2-3 tbsps. each day will provide more nourishing, and possibly faster acting effects. As our collagen production starts to reduce with age, taking it regularly will be beneficial for more long-term health effects. 5. Should I take collagen on an empty stomach? Our best suggestion to taking collagen: take it whenever, and however it works best for you! Many people will add it to their morning cup of coffee, while others like it in a pre-bed elixir to help promote a more restful sleep. While some people swear by taking it at a specific time each day, there is no evidence to show that timing matters. So take it whenever works for you! 6. Are there different types of collagen? Yes! You can learn more about the types of collagen here. But we’ll give you the Cole's Notes version now: There are many types of collagen in your body (articles cite anywhere from 15-27 different types of collagen). However, there are three types that are of most importance in our body: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. Pretty easy to remember, right? Type 1 collagen is what helps our hair, skin and nails, and can be found in Organika’s Enhanced Collagen, Marine Collagen and Salmon Collagen. Type 2 collagen is found in Organika’s Chicken Bone Broth and BioCell Collagen supplements, and supports joint health. People living with joint issues, like osteoarthritis may find relief from using supplements rich in Type 2 collagen. Type 3 collagen is usually found alongside Type 1 collagen in your body and is an important component of our bone marrow. This is available in Organika's Enhanced Collagen line.  7. Can I make collagen on my own? Your body naturally produces collagen using Vitamin C, and the amino acids, glycine, proline and lysine. This means that yes, if you are eating a primarily plant-based diet, you can still produce the collagen necessary to keep your skin glowing and your hair flowing. However, it is important to remember that our collagen production decreases as we age. That’s likely because our body can’t breakdown and absorb the proper nutrients to create it (like these amino acids and Vitamin C). So including a collagen supplement, or a plant-based booster is helpful! 8. Is collagen just a powder? Collagen can come in various forms, but you’ll usually see it in a powder or capsule form. For example, our Marine Collagen and Enhanced Collagen line are powders that can be added to smoothies, baking, or your morning coffee/tea. Our Plant-Based Collagen Booster is also a powder, however it’s best to use that in cold liquids to ensure you keep the integrity of the vitamins. On the other hand, you can also use Organika’s BioCell Collagen or Salmon Collagen, which both come in capsule form. 9. Can I take different types of collagen at the same time? You can! In fact, Organika even sells a product that includes all three types of collagen in one convenient powder called Full Spectrum Collagen. 10. Can I add hydrolyzed collagen to hot foods or liquids? The process of hydrolyzation means that the collagen has been broken down into a smaller molecule that is better absorbed by your body. Heating the collagen does not degrade the nutrient profile, as it is already broken down to its smallest molecule.

In today's daily norm, it’s unfortunately way too easy to get caught up in the cycle of constantly being on the go. Just like our morning coffees, we often search outside of our homes to find the perfect beauty fix. We feel the need to book appointments (that we often rush to and from) in order to get that temporary beauty fix that we all need from time to time. But what if I told you that some of the best long term beauty hacks are located inside your own home? Try out these 10 at home beauty tips and tricks to truly bring out the YOU in bea(you)tiful: 1. Make time for yourself and your coffee Whether this means getting up a little earlier or skipping your morning scroll through social media, rushed mornings are stressful and will not only drain your emotions, but also your overall beauty. 2. Meditate I'm sure we’ve all heard the of it and are familiar with the typical excuses of whypeople deter from doing it. You don’t have to be spiritual, nor a professional nor carve out too much time from your day to do it. Just give yourself some time to breathe. Breathing increases the oxygen flow within your body, which in turn rejuvenates your skin, slowing down the process of aging. 3. Start your day with warm lemon water Life gave us lemons, so why not make use of all their vitamins? This combination helps to replenish and balance our skin cells, leaving them firmer and tighter. Essentially, it’s the best way to achieve the appearance of plump, rejuvenated skin and a healthy glow! 4. Invest in a silk pillow case Yes, you deserve it! Combined with a cup of Organika’s Serenity, not only will your body thank you for the 5-star sleep experience, but you’ll also find your hair to be less frizzy, and your skin to appear smoother. Thanks to the smooth texture, silk doesn’t absorb any moisture from your skin, leaving it more hydrated (& making your bedtime serum more effective). 5. Don’t underestimate the power of chamomile Not only does it make for a nice moment of calm before bed, but it also works as a great de-puffer! Place a few damp teabags in the fridge overnight and apply them to your eyes in the mornings to sooth out puffiness. 6. Practice Posture Did you know that the way you hold yourself can actually make you appear more beautiful? Good posture helps to keep our joints aligned, reducing aches andfatigue, and also lengthens our appearances. While its easier said than done, there are plenty of quick and easy posture workouts to follow at home, online! 7. Scalp massages We put our heads and minds through a lot in a day, the least we can do is show them some love in return. This can be done while stuck in traffic or while waiting foryour morning brew. A little bit will go a long way and I promise that your hair will thank you in inches for the increased circulation and blood flow you give it. 8. Smile! Call me cheesy, but your smile will forever be your prettiest asset. I am not here to tell you to hop on the influencer bandwagon and get one of those blue light whitening tools. However, I will advocate that you show off your smile more. While it is true that a whiter smile can enhance your appearance, adding a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with water until it turns into a paste and brushing for a couple minutes prior to your normal routine will do just the trick. Now you can show off those pearly whites! :) 9. Unplug It's easy to get caught up in the cycle of always being online, but the best you can do is be mindful of your screen time before bed. Give yourself at least 30 minutes of off time before you sleep. The next best piece of advice is to invest in a pair of blue light glasses. 10. Practice Positivity Last but not least, and my favourite beauty tip of all times - the ultimate PP: Practice Positivity! As silly as it sounds, standing in front of the mirror and appreciating yourself will have a stronger impact on you than your 10 am facial appointment. I promise. Wishing you all a beautiful and healthy stay at home!

Ever heard of ingestible beauty? We’ve all heard the adage “beauty comes from the inside”, and science agrees. Despite how much beauty companies want us to believe otherwise, having smooth, glowing skin and strong hair and nails is much more a product of optimal internal health than it is a result of the hair products, cleansers or moisturizers we use. Our hair, nails and skin can be viewed as an external expression of our internal health; if our insides aren’t happy – if our hormones are unbalanced, our immune system is struggling, our digestive system is not working well, or our nervous system overwhelmed - it often shows up on the surface, as brittle nails, dry fragile hair, or skin that is dry, congested or uneven. The cells that make up our hair, nails and skin divide very rapidly, which is why we need to trim our nails and get hair cuts, and why we can heal small cuts and abrasions quickly or shave every day without causing damage. However, to facilitate this rapid division, the cells require a high level of fuel and nutrients to make healthy new cells. So if you are deficient in a particular nutrient it will often show up in your hair, nails and skin first. The most important nutrients for these tissues are water, healthy fats and the protein collagen, which all work to keep your skin hydrated, vital, strong and smooth. The lymphatic system: your body's housekeeper Another key component of keeping your skin, hair and nails healthy, strong and clear is your lymphatic system. It’s a system of vessels that circulates lymph fluid, a clear, water-like substance that picks up waste products and toxins and filters them so they can be removed from the tissues and eliminated from the body in the urine via the kidneys. The only catch to the lymphatic system’s function is that you need to be moving; the lymphatic vessels rely on the contraction of nearby muscles to pump the lymph fluid to where it needs to go. So if you’re not moving, neither is your lymph fluid, and therefore waste products and toxins are accumulating in your tissues and causing cellular dysfunction, that can also start showing up as skin issues. As you start to move around, your muscles contract, the lymph fluid starts moving and the tissues get flushed out, clearing the congestion. Sweating also flushes out toxins and waste products from the skin, clears out pores and the sweat itself has a gentle antimicrobial action on the skin, so it can decrease risk of infection. So the more exercise and the more sweating, the better! Eat well, stay hydrated, keep moving! So you want to have healthy, glowing skin, and strong, resilient hair and nails? Make sure you’re getting enough water – aim for 2-3 L per day. Remember to include healthy fats at every meal – avocados, coconut milk/oil, olive oil, nuts, and seeds are all great sources. Make sure you’re getting enough protein and collagen – good quality, well-sourced meat is a great dietary source of collagen, and you can also use a collagen supplement or use a plant-based collagen booster to ensure adequate intake. Chlorophyll supplementation has also been shown to promote the body’s natural production of collagen, as well as decreasing facial wrinkles and improving the skin’s elasticity. And if that wasn’t enough, taking chlorophyll internally can also help to protect AND repair your skin from UV radiation (sun) damage! Last, but definitely not least, make sure you’re getting lots of heart-pumping, sweat-inducing exercise! At least 30 minutes a day is ideal, but more is better! Just make sure to rinse off after to clear away all the toxins and bacteria in the sweat, and you’ll be glowing in no time. References Sibilla, S., Godfrey, M., Brewer, S., Budh-Raja, A., & Genovese, L. (2015). An overview of the beneficial effects of hydrolysed collagen as a nutraceutical on skin properties: Scientific background and clinical studies. The Open Nutraceuticals Journal, 8(1), 29-42. Gillies, A., Lieber, R. (2011). Structure and function of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix. Muscle Nerve, 44(3): 318-331. Wells, D. (2009). The post-workout protein puzzle: which protein packs the most punch? Strength and Conditioning Journal, 31(1): 27-30. Gauza-Wiodarczyk, M., Kubisz, L., Wiodarczyk, D. (2017). Amino acid composition in determination of collagen origin and assessment of physical factors effects. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 104(Pt A):987-991. Philips, S. (2011). The science of muscle hypertrophy: making dietary protein count. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 70(1): 100-103. Schoenfeld, BJ., Aragon, AA., Krieger, JW. (2013). The effect of protein timing on muscle strength and hypertrophy. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(53). Cho, S., Won, C., Chung, J., Lee, S., Lee, D., Kim, S., Lee M. (2006). Drink containing chlorophyll extracts improves signs of photoaging and increases type I procollagen in human skin in vivo. Annals of Dermatology, 13(4): 111-119.