This time in Slovenian Cosmetics category, we will get acquainted with the dietary supplement Gaia Naturelle Collagen Shot. It is a dietary supplement containing collagen, MSM, hyaluronic acid, vitamins and zinc. Why is it even desirable to consume collagen supplements and what makes Collagen Shot so special?
First of all, something about ageing and why the body needs collagen!
Ok, you don’t always have to adress the fact that we’re getting older. Because I think we can slow the ageing process with the right lifestyle, I will again emphasize what types of aging we know. You read that right, there are several types of aging. Ageing that no one escapes is chronological ageing. It is a natural process that takes place quite slowly. Changes become more apparent after the age of 50 but slowly develop earlier.
There is, however, another type of ageing called photoageing. Photoageing is caused by environmental factors such as UV light (unprotected sun exposure), smoking, wind, nutrition (sugar). When exposed to these external factors, an increased amount of free oxygen radicals are formed in the body, causing cell damage.
The presence of radicals in the body is unfavorable, since the radical molecule can multiply indefinitely. In doing so, it can cleave the ligaments and, as a result, may also break down collagen tissue. Even when inflammation is present in the skin, radicals, that promote the breakdown of collagen, are generated.
Why is the dietary supplement Gaia Naturelle Collagen shot so special?
Collagen Shot is not only a dietary supplement containing collagen, but it also contains other ingredients that support collagen function and have positive effects on the body.
Type I hydrolyzed fish collagen
Collagen is the most represented protein in our body, accounting for 25% of all proteins in the body. Collagen is found in the tendons of the muscles, bones, teeth, cartilage and skin, as well as in the walls of all body organs. We can distinguish between 16 types of collagen, but 80-90% of the collagen in the body is represented by types I, II and III. Type I collagen is the most represented in the body.
What does it mean that collagen is hydrolyzed?
Collagen is a huge molecule that, due to its size, is more difficult to break down into basic particles and, consequently, more difficult to absorb. The hydrolysis process breaks down the collagen into smaller basic building blocks called peptides. Peptides are more easily degraded in the gastrointestinal tract to their basic building blocks – amino acids and consequently easier to absorb.
In Gaia Naturelle Collagen shot we find hydrolyzed fish collagen type I. We explained why it is desirable that the dietary supplement contains type I collagen and we explained why it is desirable that collagen be hydrolyzed.
What about the fact that collagen is of marine origin?
Marine collagen is similar to human collagen in amino acid composition. Marine collagen, however, does not contain the amino acid cysteine and contains less hydroxyproline. However, it is comparable to mammalian collagen based on the content of other important amino acids. Marine collagen is capable of forming a helical structure and is also very stable.
MSM
MSM or methylsulfonylmethane is a molecule containing more than 30% of sulfur in organic form. Organic sulfur plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen and hyaluronic acid. Much of collagen is represented by sulfur-rich amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. Organic sulfur is used to build new collagen fibres. MSM also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Hyaluronic acid
As we age, our cells lose the ability to build hyaluronic acid. Smaller amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin, is reflected in skin ageing, skin dryness and the appearance of wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is capable of binding vast amounts of water since it is capable of binding thousands of times more water than its own mass.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a necessary element that the body needs to create new collagen tissues. The body needs vitamin C to synthesize hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, which are two major amino acids in collagen.
Collagen Shot also contains Vitamin B6, Biotin, Zinc and Vitamin E.
What are the effects of collagen on the body?
Many people think that the Gaia Naturelle Collagen Shot dietary supplement only affects skin ageing. The effect of collagen on skin elasticity is only one of the positive effects. Taking dietary supplements containing collagen not only has an effect on skin elasticity but also increases skin moisture. Collagen stimulates cellular regeneration and helps build new tissue, which in particular has a beneficial effect on acne prone skin. It also reduces inflammation in the skin and prevents oxidative stress.
Collagen Shot does not only affect the skin but also the condition of the nails. The use of collagen for months has shown in many studies a significant improvement in nails, an increase in nail growth and a significant reduction in the incidence of broken nails. Like nails, it also affects hair growth and density.
Collagen also has a positive effect on joint health. There has been a wealth of clinical studies on the impact of collagen on the joints, most of which have examined osteoarthritis patients. Oral administration of 7-10 g of collagen hydrolyzate daily (3 months) has been shown to result in improved joint function, e.g. reducing pain and improving leg strength.
What effects did I notice after taking Gaia Naturelle Collagen Shot?
From the age of 20, the amount of collagen in the skin decreases by 1% every year! If you eat improperly, you are exposed to the sun unprotected, the amount of collagen in your skin can drop by more than 1% each year. I myself thought optimistically that at 21, you definitely have at least 95% collagen in your skin. At one of the college exercises, we measured the skin’s elasticity with a device called the Cutometer. The group of same aged girls obtained the following results of elasticity: 86%, 72%, 76%. Have you noticed that one measurement stands out as it is much closer to 100%? Well, that was me. I believe that something depends on genetics, but at the end of the measurements I realized that I was the only one consuming a dietary supplement with collagen – Gaia Naturelle Collagen shot.
But aren’t we getting enough collagen from our food?
The absorption of hydrolyzed collagen from the dietary supplement is approximately 90%, while the absorption of collagen from food is less than 30%. They also found that hydrolyzed collagen from dietary supplements stimulates fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen) to produce more collagen.
The publication was created in collaboration with Gaia Naturelle.