A lot of people seem to be talking about taking collagen these days. It’s recommended for a wide range of ailments, including joint pain, leaky gut, aging skin, hair thinning, bone health, and even hormonal imbalances. But is all the hype warranted? Here at Nutriest, we feel that it is, and we’re going to tell you why.
What is grass-fed collagen?
To start, let’s discuss what collagen is. Collagen peptides are long triple helix structures that are a key component of type I connective tissue. It can also be described as a string of amino acids, sometimes up to a thousand, plus sugars called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).
These sugars hold large amounts of water, such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin, that make up our connective tissue, such as the skin, tendons, and bones. To simplify: It’s nature’s most abundant protein.
Since collagen is essential for healthy connective tissue, it makes sense to support your body with high-quality supplements. Grass-fed bovine collagen is a popular choice because it’s clean, natural, and easily absorbed.
Fresh-grass fed animals are raised on a natural diet, often on pasture during the growing season, and are kept in more humane conditions than grain-fed cattle that are raised in factory farms. Grain-fed beef is more likely to contain growth hormones and antibiotics. This difference in raising practices filters through to the nutritional profile and purity of collagen produced from cattle. [1]
How grass-fed collagen is superior to grain-fed collagen
According to a study by Dr Stephen van Vliet (University of Utah and the Bionutrient Food Association), pasture-raised animals have a higher concentration of important phytochemicals in their tissues, including polyphenols, tocopherols, and carotenoids (Beef Nutrient Density Project Report, Dec 2021) than those fed grain. [1]
Grass-fed collagen supplements are often third-party verified because the manufacturers are looking for the coveted ‘certified organic’ endorsement. In order to receive this endorsement, they must prove that their raw materials have been sustainably sourced and that they have been pasture-raised. This is all to the benefit of the consumer.
The study further revealed that animals eating a grain-based diet have more collagen metabolites and elevated markers for protein breakdown. This compromises the animal’s health and causes metabolic issues that involve inflammation, resulting in inferior collagen protein. Overall, these animals performed more poorly than grass-fed cattle.
How collagen works in the body
Manufacturers of high-quality supplements, like Nutriest, produce hydrolyzed collagen in the form of a powder because it turns it into an easily digestible and highly bioavailable product. The body is able to take it up and process it through enzymatic hydrolysis, making it easy for your body to absorb.
Step-by-step breakdown of how the body uses collagen
Understanding how hydrolyzed collagen works in the body gives you powerful insight into the benefits it holds for muscle tissue, connective tissue, hair, and skin. Here we discuss the step-by-step process of making connective tissue.
1. Ingestion of hydrolyzed collagen powder
Hydrolyzed collagen powder made from grass-fed beef is taken in food or a drink, in the form of short-chain amino acids, already broken down in a form that the body can readily use.
2. Ingestion in the stomach and small intestine
Since the collagen proteins are already in an easily digestible form, stomach enzymes like pepsin can further break the molecules down into di- or tri-peptides and free amino acids. In the small intestine, pancreatic enzymes continue this process, and finally, the peptides are small enough to be absorbed by the body.
3. Absorption into the bloodstream
The smaller peptides and amino acids can now pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. The body uses the following peptides for making collagen and thereby building connective tissue:
- Glycine: Helps to build and stabilize the collagen molecules because it makes up a third of the amino acid content.
- Proline: Works with glycine to make up the triple-helix structure of collagen. Together, they strengthen connective tissue, maintain skin elasticity, and provide the skin with the structure needed for wound healing.
- Hydroxyproline: Created using vitamin C, it acts as a cross-linking molecule, holding the collagen strands together. It also plays a signaling role for the body’s own collagen production.
- Arginine: Acts as a growth promoter by improving blood circulation in the body and thereby enhancing the formation of new collagen.
4. Circulation to target areas
Once the peptides are inside the bloodstream, the body works efficiently to distribute these key building blocks to target tissues like:
- Skin – for improved elasticity, hydration, and wound healing
- Joints – for cartilage regeneration
- Bones and tendons – for structure and strength
- Gut lining – for sealing and healing the intestinal wall
At this point, you can say that the full benefits of the hydrolyzed collagen are being felt by your body, as it goes to work correcting wear-and-tear and other damage caused by free radicals, inflammation, and everyday environmental toxins.
Getting these full benefits is reliant on taking a high-quality grass-fed collagen, which we will discuss next.
A superior hydrolyzed collagen for your daily routine
Nutriest has developed an efficient and bioavailable collagen powder, sourced from grass-fed cows and manufactured to the highest standards. The powder is tasteless and can be added to most beverages such as tea, coffee, juice, or a smoothie. It is packed with glycine and type III collagen, which is particularly important for elasticity in the joints, blood vessels, skin, and digestive tract, comprising between 5-20% of the total collagen in your body.
The hydrolyzed powder will provide your body with collagen peptides so that your body can go to work immediately producing collagen, and giving you the following health benefits.
1. Improved skin health
Collagen is a major component of your skin. It plays a role in strengthening skin and giving it elasticity and hydration. Collagen supplements help your body to produce collagen on its own by stimulating the production of elastin and fibrillin.
It is also a key component in wound healing as it encourages cross-linking of collagen fibers, which is necessary for rebuilding damaged skin. This same process also smoothes out wrinkles, making collagen a favorite in beauty products.
2. Reduced joint pain
Collagen helps maintain the health of your cartilage, which is a tissue that protects your joints. Bovine collagen stimulates cartilage production, which protects your joints and reduces joint pain, relieves osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
With a hydrolyzed powder, the peptides are readily available on a daily basis for your body to use in the repair of your joint cartilage, which brings a welcome relief from the sometimes overwhelming pain of joint deterioration.
3. Better muscle recovery
The amino acids in collagen can help speed athletic recovery when taken after a workout. Collagen protein powder is ideal for post-workout due to its high amino acid content that supports the body’s protein needs during and after exercise.
4. Increased strength
Grass-fed beef collagen contains glycine and arginine, which support the synthesis of creatine. This helps your muscles produce energy during heavy lifting or high-intensity exercise.
Conclusion
As news gets around about the efficacy of grass-fed supplements, they are becoming a popular addition to the daily routine of not only athletes, but also those seeking joint pain relief, a healthier skin, and relief from digestive complaints.
Getting the full benefits of a collagen supplement is reliant on the delivery mechanism by which your body gets peptides into the body, where it can be processed as quickly as possible, and the best solution for this is a hydrolyzed collagen powder.
With so many supplements on the market, you need a third-party verified product that you know you can count on, and that will benefit your health in the short term. For this, you can trust Nutriest’s hydrolysed grass-fed collagen or their marine collagen product. Both are equally rich in collagen peptides.
Where your health is concerned, only the best will do.
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