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Do I need to take collagen? Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It’s made naturally in the body. It’s also the protein that gets produced less as we age.In fact by the time we reach the age of 25, the amount of collagen our body produces starts to decline. Yikes!As a result, many are turning to supplementation. Do you need it? What is it good for? What Is Collagen? Collagen is naturally found in the body and is a protein with many functions. It’s the main component in your connective tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and skin.Collagen can be thought of as the “glue” that helps hold the body together. It's responsible for keeping your skin firm and elastic, your joints strong and stable, and your digestive system healthy and working.It’s a hard-working protein that your body has a limited supply of.If you are thinking about taking collagen as a supplement, there are several benefits. 6 benefits to taking collagen 1. Supports Healthy Gut You may have heard that a healthy gut is the key to overall health. It’s true. Building a stronger intestinal lining, preventing its breakdown or weakening, and protecting it from unwanted bacteria is the goal. When the digestive tract is weakened, it can lead to pain and discomfort but also “leaky gut.” Leaky gut (where bacteria flow into the bloodstream from the gut) can cause fatigue, allergies, poor immunity, and more.Collagen can help. Loaded with the amino acid glutamine, it's been proven to be effective in preventing leaky gut and the subsequent chronic inflammation that can wreak havoc on the body.[1] 2. Improves Skin Quality Since collagen is the structure that helps with skin elasticity, it makes sense that as the body loses it, skin quality goes down. However, diet can help influence skin health. Diets high in sugar and processed carbohydrates cause our bodies to produce advanced glycated end products (AGEs), which reduce the density of collagen fibrils, leading to wrinkles and aging skin quality. Chronic sun exposure also further damages collagen fibers.To counteract that, consuming collagen peptides may help. Supplemental collagen has been shown to reduce the harmful UV-B induced skin damage to support superior skin quality.[2] Taking collagen supplements orally has been shown to increase skin elasticity, hydration and density of the skin.[3][4] Collagen supplementation is generally safe with no reported adverse events. [3] 3. Fights Joint Pain The building blocks of healthy joints come from your diet. These include key amino acids like proline, lysine, and glutamine, which support the natural production of collagen in the body. Recent studies show improvement in pain and physical function after supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen peptides.[5] Consuming enough quality protein and digestible collagen can really support the joints long-term. Chronic pain and arthritis are two of the most common reasons for patient visits to the doctor. The solutions often prescribed from those visits are ointments and drugs that help ease the pain, but do not address the root of the problem. The building blocks of healthy joints come from your diet. These include key amino acids like proline, lysine, and glutamine, which support the natural production of collagen in the body. Recent studies show improvement in pain and physical function after supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen (see Figure 1.0)[3]. Ensuring you eat enough quality protein or easily digestible supplemental collagen is fundamental to healthy joints in the long run. 4. Supports Weight Loss Collagen supports weight loss in a unique way. It’s not thermogenic or stimulant, like most weight loss supplements, but rather it impacts your satiety levels by naturally inhibiting the main hormone in the gut that triggers hunger [6]. What that means is that consuming collagen peptides can keep you from craving mid-afternoon sugar-laden snacks and unnecessary snacking. Adding collagen to your mid-morning coffee or mid-afternoon tea can be a great strategy to curb cravings and make it through to your next meal. 5. Improves Athletic Recovery If you’re active, training intensely, or always on-the-go, then your joints are likely suffering from some wear and tear. You will want to do some form of muscle recovery after high performance. It’s been found that taking collagen 1-hour before exercise or rehab activity increases the uptake of collagen into your joints, which accelerates recovery. [7] Unlike muscles, which can soak up nutrients for hours after activity, your joints suck up the surrounding water and nutrients within the hour after exercise, making the timing of your collagen intake crucial for supporting joints. Tip: Add a little vitamin C from lemon juice or a fruit snack to further increase absorption. 6. Supports Deep Sleep It seems more than ever; people are craving a restful sleep. Interestingly, studies have shown how collagen can help support the deep sleep your body longs for. Collagen contains the amino acid glycine. Glycine helps your body decompress and unwind, and is needed for quality sleep. Quality sleep helps to keep energy levels up, give your body strength to fight off viruses and infections, and thrive in your daily life. [8] I need to take collagen, how do I add it to my diet? The easiest and simplest way to consume collagen is through supplementation. In fact, that’s how many of the studies on collagen were done. For digestibility, hydrolyzed collagen peptides are a great solution.A high-quality collagen supplement, such as Organika’s Enhanced Collagen is ideal. Voted Canada’s #1 collagen powder, it’s made with bovine collagen and is beneficial for bones, joints, gut, hair, skin and nails.Check out the full Enhanced Collagen line up! There are many variations of collagen supplements, however, depending on what you prefer or your lifestyle, one may work better than another. You can get collagen in powder, capsule, and liquid form.You may enjoy adding collagen in powder form to your beverages or smoothies. You can even mix it into your yogurt or add it to baked goods.Maybe you prefer taking your collagen in liquid form, easily adding it to water or juice.Want to try collagen but you're vegetarian? We have a Vegetarian Collagen in easy to take capsules. The options are endless and the benefits are so worth diving into! Incorporate more collagen into your diet and feel the difference for yourself. References 1. Rao, R. Samak, G. Role of Glutamine in Protection of Intestinal Epithelial Tight Junctions/ J Eptihel Biol Pharmacol. 2012 Jan: 5(Suppl 1-M7):47-54. 2. Tanaka, M et al. Effects of Collagen Peptide Ingestion on UV-B-Induced Skin Damage. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem, 73 (4), 930–932, 2009. 3. Choi FD, Sung CT, Juhasz ML, Mesinkovsk NA. Oral Collagen Supplementation: A Systematic Review of Dermatological Applications. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019 Jan 1;18(1):9-16. 4. de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021 Dec;60(12):1449-1461. 5. Bello A, Oesser S. Collagen hydrolysate for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other joint disorders: a review of the literature. CMRO. Vol 22, 2006 – Iss 11. 6. Halden G, et al. Evidence for a Role of the Gut Hormone PYY in the Regulation of Intestinal Fatty Acid-binding Protein Transcripts in Differentiated Subpopulations of Intestinal Epithelial Cell Hybrids. J Biol Chemistry. Vol. 272, 1997. No. 19, Issue of May 9, pp. 12591–12600. 7. Hagarty, P et al. The effect of growth factors on both collagen synthesis and tensile strength of engineered human ligaments. Biomaterials 2012. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.05.045. 8. Yamadera, W et al. Glycine ingestion improves subjective sleep quality in human volunteers, correlating with polysomnographic changes. Sleep & Biological Rhythms. Vol 5, Iss 2, April 2007, pg 126–131. Check out Organika®'s collection of collagen products

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.

Summer is all about sun-kissed skin that’s glowing and dewy. Cut to mid winter when skin starts to show signs of dryness and dullness, oftentimes leading to itchy, irritated skin. After a lot of trial and error, I’ve broken down my top tips for a winter beauty routine that combats dry and dull skin. Your skin doesn’t have to suffer through another tough winter! Hydration You’ve probably heard this time and time again for all things health, but water is one of the most vital elements for our bodies — down to each and every individual cell. Adequate hydration is key, so opt for lots of pure water throughout the day. Also decrease those cups of coffee, tea, and alcohol that increase dehydration. Healthy fats Increasing your intake of healthy fats such as wild-caught salmon, avocado, and walnut/avocado/extra virgin olive oil may be a good idea this time of year when both our skin and gut need a little extra love. I suggest: Adding half an avocado to hearty stews and chilis A little drizzle of walnut oil to warm root vegetable salads Subbing poultry with wild-caught salmon Supplemental nutrients I’m not a huge fan of taking a handful of supplements each and every day. Our bodies are innately wise enough to break down and absorb the appropriate nutrients from whole, unrefined foods. However, we all need a little help here and there sometimes, given our modern day society that’s too busy to nourish our bodies with good food and rest. Organika’s Biotin and BioCell Collagen capsules are two key supplements I began taking earlier this Fall that have given my skin life! Biotin is known to play a major role in healthy skin (and hair and nails!). BioCell Collagen contains hydrolyzed collagen essential in the strengthening of skin, hair, nails, and joints. If you prefer collagen powder, I have a super soothing and warming recipe for a creamy collagen chai tea latte here. Humidifier The dip in temperature calls for the heat to be turned on. Oftentimes, this means dry heat from radiators and built-in heaters. Dry heat means dry skin. To combat this, I like to keep my bedroom cool (which allows for a really good night’s sleep too!) and increase moisture in the air via a good grade humidifier. It’s a bit of an investment, but highly worth it in the long run. Heavier moisturizers Throughout the summer I stick to super lightweight water-based moisturizers, but come late fall I make the move towards heavier, creamier, more lush, moisturizers that contain hydrating plant-based ingredients that are nourishing for the skin. Pro tip: apply a serum and then follow with a moisturizer immediately after a shower to lock in that moisture, baby! Self-love practices Last but definitely not least, self-love practices. There are four pillars of self-love that I teach — one of them being ‘taking care of your body holistically’. This encompasses physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental daily practices that are authentic to you. A bedtime ritual of relaxation falls into these categories. Creating a little relaxation routine that settles your body down in preparation for a good night's sleep is one of the most valuable pieces of the puzzle. It allows your body to efficiently rest and repair throughout the night — which in turn majorly helps with skin health. A few examples: Chamomile, lemon balm and passionflower blend tea Journalling Light stretching Meditating Light reading Turning off your phone an hour before bedtime Give these a go and aim for 7-9 hours of beauty sleep! So there it is, loves: my definitive guide to preventing, treating, and soothing dry and dull skin so you look and FEEL amazing on the inside and out. And please, have fun with these little tips and tricks and infuse them with your very own touch. Try using them as loose guidelines that inspire you to be authentically and radiantly YOU as opposed to rigid rules. And most of all, have fun with the process!