Beef Liver Plus

Collagen 101: What is Collagen Protein? You’ve probably heard all the buzz surrounding collagen, yet may still be asking yourself: what IS collagen really? You’re not alone, and we’re here to make it easy for you to understand. Collagen is the most plentiful form of protein in your body, and acts like the “glue” that holds it all together. That’s right, our bodies naturally produce collagen. Collagen contributes to elasticity, strength, and tone throughout the body. Unfortunately, as we age, our collagen production starts to decline. Collagen production declines even faster due to excess sun exposure, smoking, excess alcohol, and lack of sleep and exercise. But fear not, that’s where collagen supplementation comes to play. What are the benefits of collagen? Collagen Protein has many benefits, ranging from supporting your hair, skin and nails, to gut health and bone and joint support. Hair, Skin and Nail Health: Collagen helps increase the elasticity and moisture of your skin, while also reducing UVB damage and signs of photoaging. You can forgive yourself for many years of not wearing sunscreen outside. Bone and Joint Health: Collagen helps maintain healthy cartilage in the joints, improving function and reducing symptoms of joint pain associated with osteoarthritis. Gut Health: Collagen provides your body with the amino acid, L-Glutamine, which is essential in supporting your gut lining. Collagen Protein vs. Protein Powder: Is there a difference? Although Collagen Protein and Protein Powder are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different. The main difference involves their amino acid breakdown. Let’s go back to science class, shall we? Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are required for many critical roles in your body, such as building proteins, hormone function, and neurotransmitters. Amino acids are categorized between essential and non-essential amino acids. This is where collagen gets involved. There's a total of 20 amino acids, 9 of which are essential. This means, our bodies cannot produce them on our own and need to be consumed through either diet or supplementation. Some easy ways to consume these 9 essential amino acids through diet include meat, eggs, poultry, edamame, or tofu. What about collagen? Collagen protein only contains 8 out of the 9 essential amino acids, considering it to be an “incomplete protein”. Protein Powders are typically formulated with all 9 essential amino acids, considering them to be a “complete protein”. While our Enhanced Collagen Original only has 8 of the 9 essential amino acids, our Essential Aminos Enhanced Collagen Protein has all 9 essential amino acids, which is a “complete protein”. Whether you choose to consume Enhanced Collagen Original or Essential Aminos Enhanced Collagen Protein depends on what your goals are. You will still reap the benefits collagen has to offer, but Essential Aminos Enhanced Collagen Protein is particularly beneficial if you are focused on your protein consumption, or the growth of lean muscle mass. Is collagen right for you? Whatever your goals are, we have collagen that’s right for you. It’s simple, just choose the one that fits your lifestyle. If you’re looking to start off with the basics, try our award-winning, Enhanced Collagen Original (psssst, it’s Canada’s #1 selling Collagen Powder). OR Are you looking to combine your collagen with other supplements? Choose from a variety of our multi-benefit blends like Enhanced Collagen Pure Beauty, Enhanced Collagen Bone and Joint, or Metaboost Fat Metabolizing Complex Powder. Are you pescatarian or vegetarian? We have options for you too. Do you want to have ALL sources of collagen in one? We have you covered. Do you want to make taking collagen fun? Choose from a variety of our flavoured options, from lemon to chocolate. The bottom line – collagen supplementation is particularly beneficial as you age, to support your hair, skin, nails, bones, joints, and gut health. Whatever your goals are, we have a collagen for you. References https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/collagen/#:~:text=Collagen%20is%20the%20most%20abundant,muscles%2C%20tendons%2C%20and%20cartilage. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/essential-amino-acids

With so many blends and types available, how do you know which collagen is for you? So, you want to start taking collagen, because you’ve heard that collagen powder benefits range from glowing skin, shiny hair, improved gut health, to stronger bones and joints. But there are so many blends and types of collagen out there, you might be feeling a sense of overwhelm. Sound familiar? Choosing the best collagen supplements doesn’t have to be hard, and we’re here to make it easier for you. Start with identifying your needs – what do you want collagen to help with? When choosing a collagen supplement, start by asking yourself: “what do I want collagen to help me with?” Is it for better nail, skin, and hair health? Are you struggling with aching bones and joints? Do you want to improve your gut health? Is it all the above? Knowing your ‘why’ will help guide you into choosing the best collagen supplement for your needs. Understanding the Different Types of Collagen and What Role They Play There are different types of collagen? Yup, that’s right. Although there are a total of 16 types of collagen, types 1, 2, and 3 are the most talked about. Type 1 Collagen Type 1 collagen is found in our hair, skin, nails, and bones, and is the most abundant type of collagen in our body. Type 1 collagen is essential when it comes to the beauty benefits of collagen. It’s responsible for our skin elasticity, strength, and helps with anti-aging. Marine and bovine collagen are great sources of type 1 collagen. If beauty is your focus, try our Enhanced Collagen Pure Beauty powder. Type 2 Collagen Type 2 collagen is primarily found in our connective tissues – think joints, ligaments, and cartilage. As we age, our cartilage and ligaments start to weaken, so supplementing with type 2 collagen is beneficial. Chicken is a great source of type 2 collagen, which can be found in our Full Spectrum Collagen 1,2,3,5,10. Our Enhanced Collagen Bone and Joint is also a great option as it is rich in types 1 and 3 collagen, with added ingredients like MSM and glucosamine for targeted bone and joint health. Type 3 Collagen Type 3 collagen is also an abundant type of collagen in our body. Along with type 1 collagen, type 3 collagen is essential for improving our skin elasticity, healthy hair and nails, and gut health. A great option for both types 1 and 3 collagen is Canada’s #1 selling collagen powder, our Enhanced Collagen Original. If you’re looking for an extra complete protein boost, opt for our Essential Aminos Enhanced Collagen Protein. Take Our quiz and Find Your Perfect Collagen Match Should I choose bovine, marine, or plant-based collagen? Whether you opt for bovine, marine, or plant-based collagen depends on what your lifestyle, goals, and needs are. Bovine collagen offers both types 1 and 3 collagen. From our Enhanced Collagen Original, to blends such as Enhanced Collagen Relax, Enhanced Collagen Sleep, or Enhanced Collagen Chocolate, there is a powder for everyone. On the other hand, if you either don’t consume bovine products or want to solely focus on type 1 collagen, our Marine Collagen Powder or Salmon Collagen Capsules are both great options to choose from. If you are plant-based but still want to reap the benefits of collagen, try our Plant-Based Collagen Booster. The options don’t just stop there. If you prefer capsules over powder, try our Enhanced Collagen Protein Capsules or Vegetarian Collagen capsules. If you prefer a liquid supplement, try our Liquid Enhanced Collagen with added Vitamin C and Biotin, or Liquid Marine Collagen sourced from sustainable wild-caught North Atlantic Cod. What to look for in a collagen supplement? Not all collagen supplements are created equal, so it’s important to understand what to look for in a high-quality collagen supplement. The most important thing to make note of when looking at a collagen supplement is that it is made up of hydrolyzed collagen peptides. Since collagen is a big molecule, it’s difficult to digest as is. That’s where hydrolyzed collagen peptides come in. When collagen is hydrolyzed, it becomes easily digestible, better absorbed by the body, tasteless and odourless, and can be easily dissolved in liquids (hot or cold). You can learn more about hydrolyzed collagen here. It's also important that your collagen supplement is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle, free from all hormones, antibiotics, artificial ingredients, dairy, gluten, and is non-GMO. Your collagen supplement should be a clean, single-ingredient formula. All of Organika’s collagen supplements meet these criteria. How much collagen should I take per day and when should I take it? Now that you’ve chosen your collagen supplement based on your goals, you might be wondering how much collagen you need to take to see results, and when you should be taking it. We recommend following the dosage on the package for best results. Taking collagen should be a part of your daily routine in order to reap the benefits. Our best tip? Make it a part of your daily routine that you’ve already established. Add it to your morning coffee, your post-workout smoothie, or even add it to your favourite recipes - this is called habit stacking. The options are endless and consistency is key.

Let’s face it, alcohol is a part of our culture, and while it may be nice to take part in your social celebration with a glass of wine or celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with green beer, it is never recommended to drink in excess. Drinking alcohol can deplete nutrients and burden your liver, it can affect a person’s blood pressure, heart rate, immunity and more1. The intention of course, is to enjoy your social function or evening out without neglecting the health of your body. So for the special occasions where you will be consuming alcohol, keep these things in mind: It’s dehydrating Alcohol’s dehydrating action may be the most commonly observed side effect of a night out, lending to nutrient depletion and electrolyte loss, thus perpetuating symptoms associated with a “hangover”, such as headache, fatigue and nausea. Drinking plenty of water is essential. A glass of water between each alcohol-containing drink may help to decrease the overall volume of alcohol consumed while also helping to prevent dehydration. Coconut water is good option for hydration that provides a natural supply of electrolytes. It’s depleting Because of alcohol’s dehydrating action, water soluble nutrients like B vitamins and vitamin C can be depleted when consuming alcohol. B vitamins play an important role in energy production and nervous system health; while vitamin C is an important antioxidant for the maintenance of good health. Supplementing with a B-Complex and Vitamin C may help to counteract depletion by replacing what is lost in urine. It burdens your liver The majority of alcohol consumed will be metabolized in the liver increasing its toxic load. Milk Thistle is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine as a liver protectant. Milk Thistle can help improve liver function and detoxifying activity throughout the body. If you do mistakenly overreach your limits, make sure you get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and eat a healthy breakfast. Drinking ginger tea or taking a ginger supplement has been shown to reduce feelings of nausea if you happen to have an upset stomach. References: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body