Enhanced Collagen Vitality

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

Updated on July 10, 2020. Introducing a lively member of our Collagen family, Enhanced Collagen Vitality! Collagen Vitality is the envy of our collagen family, packed full of powerful antioxidants, energy and mood-boosting constituents and an amino-rich functional food benefiting not only your exterior features (hair, skin, nails) but also your digestion, immunity and overall health. So what makes our latest Collagen product so amazing? Matcha – that's right, we added the potent antioxidant-rich powerhouse matcha to our collagen and here are a few of the reasons why! What is Matcha? Matcha is a finely-ground green tea powder, originating in East Asia. Green tea is known to come from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, which is a shrub that is natively grown in Southern China. Due to its lack of processing, green tea is one of the most nutrient-dense teas on the market! Well-known for its incredible ability to calm and stimulate our mind at the same time, Matcha is also packed with antioxidants – more than any other source of food! Matcha tea goes through a specific process to ensure its colour and potency. Matcha leaves are shaded at the end of the growth cycle to reduce sun exposure and to increase chlorophyll content. A known powerhouse detoxifier, Chlorophyll is what gives the leaves their dark rich green colour. An amazing source of antioxidants Along with being chlorophyll-rich, Matcha is loaded with antioxidants such as EGCG, which are known to help counteract the effects of free radicals in the body, help prevent cell & DNA damage from toxins, radiation and even pollution in our body. Antioxidants play a huge role in binding to the free radicals in our body and help restore our well being and balance. Another great benefit of Matcha and its high level of EGCG is its unique effect on our metabolism. Many weight loss supplements contain EGCG for its potent effect on boosting our metabolism. Unlike some supplements on the market that can cause an increase in your blood pressure or affect your adrenal glands from high amounts of caffeine, Matcha doesn't over-stimulate the body, by-passing the typical negative effects of caffeine. This is thanks to the presence of L-theanine. Caffeine and theanine: striking a balance Matcha is known to contain L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts as a natural "stress reducer" within the body. The role of this amino acid in our body is to promote a feeling of relaxation and calmness, while helping reduce the levels of cortisol (our stress hormone). L-Theanine has been shown to increase moods, help with concentration as well as improve memory – all things that can be affected when we are under high amounts of stress. Even though Matcha naturally contains caffeine (around 32.5 mg per gram, or 1/3 of the caffeine found in a cup of brewed coffee), it affects our body in a non-stimulating way. Matcha has been shown to produce a much longer and more sustained amount of energy than other drinks that naturally contain caffeine and won't cause jitters or leave you with a crash in energy. The amino acid L-Theanine also plays a role in this. What are the benefits of matcha and collagen? Besides Matcha's amazing natural energy and antioxidant-rich properties, it is also a great of vitamins A, B, C, E and K. It naturally contains trace minerals essential for healthy skin, a strong immune system and an increased metabolism. It sounds like a superfood, doesn't it? Well, Matcha comes close and pairing with Collagen makes it even better! As you may know, collagen is essential for healthy, glowing skin as well as healthy joints. It also plays a considerable role in our digestive health and immunity. Collagen has come a long way since just being used for beauty purposes; Collagen is a staple in many peoples health regime, mine included. The combination of Enhanced Collagen and Matcha seems so perfect! A nutrient-rich combination of protein, skin enhancing vitamins and antioxidants that leaves you feeling enhanced, focused and energized through the day. A natural addition to your health routine, Enhanced Collagen Vitality can be added to your smoothies, energy balls or used to create your very own coconut collagen matcha in the morning! For more amazing collagen recipes, check out the Everything Collagen section on our blog and follow us on social media @organikahealth!

“What’s the difference between bone broth and collagen?” It’s a question I often get asked by clients. The key differences are in the nutrient-profile and how they’re made. Let’s take a closer look. Bone Broth vs. Collagen You can think of bone broth as general overall support for the body. It contains a wealth of key nutrients, including proteins, like collagen, that are rich in important amino acids like glycine and glutamine. It also contains an array of minerals (i.e. calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc). In addition, the process of simmering beef or chicken bones for a long period of time also releases glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are very beneficial for the joints. Bone broth is loaded with good stuff! Collagen is a protein found in bone broth, but it can also be isolated via a process called hydrolyzation which creates a more concentrated collagen powder supplement, such as the ones used in our Enhanced Collagen. This can be hugely beneficial because you get much bigger doses of collagen, and collagen-specific amino acids like glycine, glutamine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. These amino acid “all-stars” are terrific for keeping joints healthy, your digestive system running on all cylinders and toning down your nervous system to support recovery. So now that you know that bone broth and collagen are good for you, the real question becomes: How do you know if you should take bone broth or collagen (or both)? Like choosing between a hammer and screwdriver, it depends on what YOU need. Should I take one of them or both? With my clients, I like to think of bone broth as a general tonic to support overall health. It gives you an added array of key nutrients to keep you feeling your best. It’s also a fantastic addition in the winter months to boost immunity, support your nervous system and feel your best in the darkest, coldest days. Collagen can also be used as a general tonic, but I tend to think of it for more specific concerns. For example, if you want to target your sore joints, help fix a leaky gut, improve sleep troubles or support skin health than a bigger dose of collagen-specific amino acids will likely be very helpful. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to choose between the two. My preferred mix is two scoops of Ginger Bone Broth and one scoop of Enhanced Collagen in the evening to wind down before bed. Organika's Bone Broth and Enhanced Collagen Organika’s Bone Broth is made from organic free-run chickens OR grass-fed cattle (depending on if you like chicken or beef). In either case there are no added antibiotics, hormones, or additives. You are getting pure, nutritious, protein-packed, delicious bone broth. There is also a Veggie Broth option made of tremella mushrooms and nutritional yeast. Organika’s Enhanced Collagen Original is made from grass-fed cattle and loaded with type-1 and type-3 collagen, which provides a load of support for joints, gut, hair, skin and nails. Together, you have a full-spectrum support and highly absorbable forms of collagen. Want to take them together? Try our Full Spectrum Collagen 1,2,3 (a mix of both collagen and bone broth). Bone broth and collagen are great additions to your nutritional arsenal, find the right mix to suit your goals! Dr. Marc Bubbs ND, CISSN, CSCS