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Did you know? Humans, mammals, fish and birds are the only species that produce collagen. Yes, that’s right, the stuff people use (as supplements in creams, powders and capsules) to make themselves look good.

Ever wandered what collagen really is, what it does, and how collagen replacements are made?

Here are all the answers, and some ways to ingest collagen.

What is collagen?

Collagen is basically our body’s building blocks to keep tendons, skin, muscles, bones and ligaments intact. It is also found in our organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining.

What does it do?

This wonderful feature is your body’s biggest supporter. Providing structure and strength, it helps your body in ways such as:

• • Clotting blood
  • Adding a protective layer around your organs
  • Helps in replacing dead skin cells
  • Giving structure, strength and elasticity to your skin

How are collagen replacements made?

There comes a time when your body does not produce enough collagen, leading to wrinkled skin, joint pain, blood flow problems or bags under your eyes.

Collagen supplements – such as powder, fillers, shakes or pills – are used by most people to enhance the amount of collagen in their body. Whatever way you go, the basic process by which these supplements are produced, stays the same.

According to The Nutrition Source, ‘collagen supplements are produced by extracting collagen protein from animal sources’. That is, from cow hides and bones, and fish skin and bones. The collagen protein is then cleaned, hydrolyzed and dried through a 24- to 48-hour process.

Alternatives?

Well, there are three avenues you can go to supplement your collagen deficiency:

• Eat people (not recommended)
• Use your standard collagen supplements (not recommended if you are vegan)
• Eat food rich in vitamin C, zinc and copper (highly recommended)

See Cleveland Clinic’s website for more healthy alternatives.

Happy hunting for that collagen!

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel