Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It has important roles, including that of structuring the skin and helping blood to clot. In recent years, collagen has grown in popularity as a nutritional supplement and ingredient in shampoos and body lotions.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is part of a family of so-called structural proteins, most often present in fibrillar form (i.e. long protein molecules in the form of filaments:these proteins have the function of giving tissues mechanical resistance to stretching). Collagen makes up about a third of the protein composition of the body:it is one of the main building blocks of bones, skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is also found in many other parts of the body, including blood vessels, the cornea, and teeth.
This protein could be thought of as the “glue” that holds all of these things together. By the way, collagen comes from the Greek word "kólla", which means glue.
Key takeaways: collagen is a key protein in the human body, which structures much of the body, including bones, skin, tendons and ligaments.
First, you should know that there are at least 16 types of collagen. The four main ones are Types I, II, III and IV. Each type of collagen has its own structure and is found in specific organs. For example, type I collagen is involved in the formation of skin, tendons, bones and the cornea, while type III is found in the cardiovascular system.
Elements that damage collagen:
It is important to avoid the following collagen-destroying behaviors:
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Note that some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, can also damage collagen.
Two types of supplements have grown in popularity in recent years:hydrolyzed collagen (collagen hydrolyzate) and gelatin. Namely, gelatin is created when collagen is cooked. These supplements offer the protein in a broken down version of (smaller) peptides, which are more easily absorbed by the body and are beneficial in a number of ways, including:
Collagen is an important protein that makes up the structure of many parts of the body. Certain ingested foods and nutrients can help the human body naturally manufacture this protein, but, alternatively, collagen supplements can also be consumed to gain these benefits.
