The Power of Collagen for Stronger, Healthier Nails

In our last post, we highlighted how collagen goes beyond skin benefits, potentially enhancing nail health as well. But how exactly does collagen help nails from the inside out? Let’s dig into the science. Nails are primarily composed of keratin, a protein similar to those found in skin and hair. Collagen, rich in amino acids, supports keratin production, thus strengthening nail structure. Hydrolyzed collagen (HC), which has been broken down into smaller peptides for better absorption, is especially beneficial, as it quickly delivers essential nutrients to areas like nails, helping reinforce them from within. Recent studies show promising results for collagen’s impact on nails. A study found that specific bioactive collagen peptides helped improve nail growth and reduced brittleness (Hexsel et al., 2017). In another clinical trial, a supplement containing peptides, lipids, collagen, and hyaluronic acid led to a significant improvement in nail cracking, brittleness, and softness after just eight weeks (Yagoda & Gans, 2012). Additionally, a review found links between nail and bone health, noting that keratin in nails and collagen in bones share similar structural properties and undergo post-translational modifications (Saeedi et al., 2018). Organika’s Enhanced Collagen is the number one collagen in Canada, sourced from grass-fed bovine. If you are pescatarian, try Organika’s Marine Collagen a great source of Type 1 collagen sourced from Canadian Cod. Both are fantastic for the health of nails. Incorporating collagen into your daily routine could be a key step toward healthier nails. Whether you’re aiming to prevent brittle nails or want to maintain stronger, more resilient ones, collagen supplementation offers a promising solution. In our next post, we’ll share practical tips on how to add collagen to your wellness routine to boost your nail health. Stay tuned! References: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Beauty-from-within%3A-A-Review-of-the-Science-behind-Polonini-Dijkers/a80963398b517e711fa710862ccd632ab28bbb59 https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-Nutritional-Supplement-Formulated-with-Peptides%2C-Yagoda-Gans/051bae733e3a8b1790d05f93862ed4412b5cadeb https://elicit.com/notebook/2ad3d1c6-e02f-4e31-9c07-289739b0a66d#1801c5ffe160d403e07987fe083b1902

Learn about the best supplements to support your joints and combat joint pain Joint pain can prevent you from doing things you love, an agonizing menace in your body often associated with arthritic pain. There's natural solutions that can provide relief and support. What is joint pain? Joint pain is described as discomfort coming from any of your joints – but the cause may be coming from your cartilage, bones, ligaments, or muscles and tendons. In most cases, joint pain is due to inflammation, or the cartilage around the joint being worn down. Cartilage is the material that rests between bones and prevents them from rubbing together. Over time, the cartilage breaks down (age, certain activities, etc.). This can lead to osteoarthritis and a source of joint pain that can be debilitating at times. The best supplements to take for joint pain The most well-known supplements to support the joints, and help with pain or inflammation appear to be: Collagen Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM Collagen Fish Oil – Omega 3s Turmeric Boswellia All of these are naturally occurring supplements that have been used to treat, support or prevent joint pain. There is growing evidence that these supplements help a body that is either aging or active. Taking these supplements may help with prolonged activity, recovery, performance and simply increasing your quality of life. How does collagen support your joints? Collagen is a protein that is found in many parts of the body that gives you structure, including cartilage, joints, ligaments, and bones. Because collagen declines (the production of it and the amount you have) as you age... your joints can start to feel it. Collagen is necessary for joint health. Providing your body with collagen supplements can offset the effects of wear and tear and help to rebuild that joint health, especially in high-risk groups.¹¹ Collagen also provides support for both tissue and cartilage formation, which is important in repairing and restoring, especially after movement. It also decreases stiffness in the joints, which helps with mobility; this is important for exercise and recovery and everyday life. Stronger joint stability is also contributed to strong bones, as collagen helps the bone matrix as well. Reducing inflammation, joint pain and muscle pain There are three other supplements that are massively known to help with joint pain, and taken by athletes, those with osteoarthritis, and anyone experience joint discomfort: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM. Glucosamine Research indicates that glucosamine may reduce inflammation¹, especially when used with chondroitin.² Glucosamine supplements protect your joints from damage because it is involved in the healthy development of cartilage. ³ ⁴ Chondroitin Chondroitin sulfate is a popular supplement that people often use to help manage joint pain, specifically with osteoarthritis. It has been studied and found to help symptoms associated with joint degeneration when combined with glucosamine. ⁵ ⁶ Methylsulfonylmethane [MSM] MSM is also used to decrease joint and muscle pain and overall improve the quality of life. It has been studied to benefit those with joint degeneration pain in ages 50+⁷ as well as found to significantly reduce inflammation in your body. Furthermore, it has been found to inhibit breakdown of cartilage, so useful in prevention before getting to that stage of life.⁸ MSM is well studied to reduce arthritis symptoms⁹ as well as stiffness and pain related to prolonged exercise,¹⁰ proven to be a helpful supplement for pain. Combining the best supplements into one NEW! Enhanced Collagen™ Bone & Joint is the answer for all things joint health, joint pain, for the active and anyone with osteoarthritis. We have taken Canada's #1 Collagen Powder* and combined it with a synergistic blend of ingredients that works to prevent bone loss, joint degeneration, inflammation, and reduce joint pain. Enhanced Collagen Bone & Joint provides: 9g Collagen 1500mg Glucosamine 800mg Chondroitin 1500mg MSM As well as Vitamin D3 and K2 (for added bone support) This is the ultimate joint health support and great for: prolonged exercise recovery osteoarthritis and joint pain joint and cartilage protection Are there others that I should consider adding? There are a few other supplements that also work with joint health in specific ways. Fish Oil/Omega-3s Omega-3 fatty acids work specifically to combat inflammation in the body, including your joints. Your body uses it as blockers to remove joint stiffness or tender joints causing pain. Try: Krill Oil Turmeric This is the aromatic and golden spice found in curry. It is a compound in the curcumin spice which contains proteins that block inflammation in the body and help with pain. Over time, it can ease joint pain and help with mobility. Try: Turmeric+ Powder with Curcumin, Turmeric Mylk Latte, Chicken Bone Broth Powder with turmeric Boswellia Also referred to as “Indian frankincense”, this is an extract from a naturally occurring plant and been a part of both Asian and African traditional medicine for centuries. The active ingredient helps with pain in joints. It may also slow down cartilage loss. Try: Boswellia Curcumin This article has been fact checked. REFERENCES: 1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28586015/ Yamagishi Y, Someya A, Imai K, Nagao J, Nagaoka I. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory actions of various functional food materials including glucosamine on synovial cells. Mol Med Rep. 2017 Aug;16(2):1353-1359. 2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25719429/ Navarro SL, White E, Kantor ED, Zhang Y, Rho J, Song X, Milne GL, Lampe PD, Lampe JW. Randomized trial of glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers and plasma proteomics profiles in healthy humans. PLoS One. 2015 Feb 26;10(2):e0117534. 3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30940583/ Nagaoka I, Tsuruta A, Yoshimura M. Chondroprotective action of glucosamine, a chitosan monomer, on the joint health of athletes. Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Jul 1;132:795-800. 4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27422331/ Correa D, Lietman SA. Articular cartilage repair: Current needs, methods and research directions. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2017 Feb;62:67-77. 5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241539/ Vasiliadis HS, Tsikopoulos K. Glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of osteoarthritis. World J Orthop. 2017;8(1):1-11. Published 2017 Jan 18. doi:10.5312/wjo.v8.i1.1 6 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25589511/ Hochberg MC, Martel-Pelletier J, Monfort J, Möller I, Castillo JR, Arden N, Berenbaum F, Blanco FJ, Conaghan PG, Doménech G, Henrotin Y, Pap T, Richette P, Sawitzke A, du Souich P, Pelletier JP; MOVES Investigation Group. Combined chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine for painful knee osteoarthritis: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial versus celecoxib. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jan;75(1):37-44. 7 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4502733/ Xu G, Zhou T, Gu Y, et al. Evaluation of the Effect of Mega MSM on Improving Joint Function in Populations Experiencing Joint Degeneration. Int J Biomed Sci. 2015;11(2):54-60. 8 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23011466/ Ezaki J, Hashimoto M, Hosokawa Y, Ishimi Y. Assessment of safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane on bone and knee joints in osteoarthritis animal model. J Bone Miner Metab. 2013 Jan;31(1):16-25. 9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21708034/ Debbi EM, Agar G, Fichman G, Ziv YB, Kardosh R, Halperin N, Elbaz A, Beer Y, Debi R. Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Jun 27;11:50. 10 https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1076.7 A Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Evaluation of MSM for Exercise Induced Discomfort/Pain. - Kalman - 2013 - The FASEB Journal - Wiley Online Library 11 1 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain - PubMed (nih.gov) Clark KL, Sebastianelli W, Flechsenhar KR, Aukermann DF, Meza F, Millard RL, Deitch JR, Sherbondy PS, Albert A. 24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008 May;24(5):1485-96.

Do collagen supplements support weight management or other fitness goals? Collagen has exploded on the health scene for good reason. It helps boost the elasticity and integrity of our skin, supports our joints and muscles, and helps strengthen our gut lining. But what about weight loss? Can a collagen supplement help support weight loss goals, and if so, how? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, accounting for about 30% of the body’s total protein. It is present in all of our tissues and organs, and is essential for many physiological processes. Let’s break down how collagen can support weight loss ... Source of Amino Acids As a source of protein and amino acids, collagen may drive weight loss because it helps with ‘satiety’, our feeling of fullness. When we feel full, with steady blood sugar levels, we tend to eat less and crave less sugar. Although not a complete protein, there is associated muscle mass support and building that is supported when coupled with resistance training. The more muscle we have, the more calories we burn at rest. Organika’s Essential Aminos Enhanced Collagen Protein is a great addition to your routine especially if weight loss is part of your goals, because with all 9 essential amino acids; this collagen powder IS a complete protein. Joint Support Collagen’s ability to strengthen and support our joints, is another way it may aid in weight loss. People living with joint pain, especially Osteoarthritis, know how limiting it can be on their ability to exercise. As collagen is essential for healthy connective tissue in joints, tendons and ligaments, supplementing may help reduce pain, allowing for increased physical activity. Try Enhanced Collagen Bone & Joint for added supplements and support to support aching joints, muscles and further build bone density. Gut Health Maintaining a strong gut lining is important for how our body digests, absorbs and utilizes nutrients from our food. Collagen plays a role in building healthy connective tissue throughout the digestive tract. It also helps ensure a good balance of bacteria. By supporting the gut, collagen helps aid in digestion, immune function and weight loss. For added gut health benefits, try Full Spectrum Collagen 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 – a multi-sourced collagen that also includes chicken broth for added protein and gut health benefits. Beyond Weight Loss Collagen may extend beyond weight loss, in its capacity to help deal with the unwanted side effects of weight loss like loose skin. By strengthening the dermis layer of the skin, collagen may help reduce the appearance of cellulite and sagging loose skin. Studies have shown that supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen peptides help to tighten the skin, improving its integrity and texture. Looking for fat burning? Let’s take it one step further if weight loss and fat burning are your goal. While collagen helps in the ways above, you can add other nutrients that assist in weight loss to any collagen. Organika has done the work for you with Metaboost Fat Metabolizing Complex. This collagen powder offers the same Enhanced Collagen protein from hydrolyzed grass-fed bovine collagen peptides... PLUS has other natural ingredients such as L carnitine and Garcinia to help boost your metabolism. This powder helps to keep you feeling fuller long, burn fat, and support weight management. As you can see, the benefits of collagen are wide ranging. Along with all the reasons we love collagen to support our healthy lifestyle, we can now add weight loss to that list.