Collagen is a big buzzword at the moment. It seems that everyone is interested in the positive effects in can have on your body. Many people are interested in the beauty aspects—stronger hair and nails, more moisture in your skin, and fewer wrinkles. But, has anyone really explained to you what happens when you take collagen peptides, when is the best time to take it, and how it can help your gut, joints and ligaments?
As you may know by now, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and it accounts for about 30% of your body’s total protein. It is the primary building block of your skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissue. Your body produces collagen, but begins to slow down its production in our mid-twenties at a rate of about 1.5% a year. So, by the time you are 60 years old, you will have lost around 80% of your natural collagen.
The collagen protein molecule is too big to absorb through the small intestines. This means that when you eat something containing collagen, for example fish skin, you will absorb protein, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin D and E, iodine etc, but you will not get the benefits of the collagen, even though fish skin is full of collagen.
For you to be able to absorb collagen through the small intestines it must be broken down into smaller molecules that you can absorb. That is accomplished by hydrolyzing the skin of the fish and breaking it down into powder or peptides (a short chain of molecules called amino acids). Once this process has been completed you have a product, like just björn marine collagen, that you can take to enjoy all the benefits of the essential (and non-essential) amino acids your body needs to heal itself, grow longer, stronger hair and nails, stronger and more moisturized skin, as well as stronger ligaments and joints.
As many of you know, for me the decision to use collagen was for joint and ligament repair and health. I’d like to take the opportunity to thoroughly explain how this works.
If you take collagen for joints, ligaments, and tendons you need to be mindful of when you take it for optimal benefit. Joints, ligaments, and tendons have very little blood supply running through them. When you absorb collagen peptides (the amino acids) you would like them to go to work to begin the healing process immediately.
Studies, as well as my personal experience, have shown that taking collagen 45 minutes before you exercise will provide the best results when using to assist in healing ligaments and tendons. This is because as you exercise and move your body, it becomes warmer, expands, and increases the blood flow to those areas, helping amino acids to access and begin the healing process.
It is also important to understand how collagen works for gut health, although you don’t need to take it at a certain time to gain it’s benefits. Collagen can help with gut issues such as leaky gut, a condition where bacteria leaks into the body’s circulatory system through the intestinal walls, producing an inflammatory response and poor nutrient absorption. In simple terms, collagen creates a coating to help the intestinal barrier remain strong and acts as a probiotic for nourishment of microorganisms in the intestinal ecosystem.
So, in addition to being good for your skin, nails and hair, when taken at the right time, collagen can also help you with joint and ligament pain and stiffness. It can help with gut issues, namely assisting you in absorbing more nutrients and preventing toxins from entering your blood stream. To gain the maximum benefits, it’s important to be consistent. You need to take collagen daily for at least 4-6 weeks to see positive effects on joints, ligaments and gut health.
I received my just björn marine collagen. What now?
If you’ve just received your just björn collagen, here is my recommendation:
- Use it daily and with that thing you are most consistent with. Do you eat oatmeal every day? Put it in your oatmeal. Blend it in your second cup of coffee (good to use a frother) or do as I do, blend it in my smoothie every day at lunch.
- Use it anytime if hair, skin, nails or gut health are most important to you
- Use it 45 minutes before exercise for joint, ligament and cartilage repair.
- Keep the just björn collagen canister on your kitchen counter so you remember to take it every day
Please reach out to me at bjorn@justbjorn.com if you have any questions or comments. I’d love to hear from you,
Have a wonderful day,
Björn
