Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, it can be found in our connective tissue and is essential to the health and function of our muscle, skin, cartilage, digestive system and tendons. It’s the glue that holds our body together. It is what gives our skin elasticity and keeps our joints moving smoothly. There are 28 different types of collagen, with the main one being type 1 - which is found in our skin, bones, tendons and ligaments. Followed by type 2 which is found in our cartilage and type 3 which can be found in our skin, intestinal wall and blood vessels.
Our body makes collagen by combining different amino acids from the foods we eat. Eating a varied diet containing lots of amino acid rich foods is key to maintaining our collagen levels. Although that being said when we reach our mid to late 20s our body’s collagen production slows down which is all part of the ageing process.
When our collagen levels start to reduce (which happens naturally as we age, the amount of collagen in our body decreases) Our skin becomes less firm - wrinkles appear and our skin starts to sag. We are more prone to bone and joint issues as the collagen that keeps our joints moving smoothly decreases. We can also experience more digestive problems as the lining of our digestive system thins.
Keep an eye out for my bone broth recipe which I will post towards the end of the week.
