Protein is widely considered to be one of the essential vitamins and nutrients necessary for good health. Proteins are found in all foods containing carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. But it’s impossible to live without this protein substance.
Collagen Plays a Vital Role in Many Body Functions.
Collagen is a protein substance which composes almost 70% of the dry weight of the skin. Collagen is found in many other areas of the body as well, including the muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen fibers are made up of three strands that intertwine to form a rope-like structure. It is responsible for giving the skin its strength and firmness.
The most prominent effects of aging on the skin are a result of a reduction in collagen production. Collagen gives shape to the skin and supports it against gravity and other stresses. As time goes by, less collagen is produced and the existing collagen loses its functionality. The skin becomes thinner and wrinkles develop as a result.
Did You Know Collagen Can Be Found Everywhere in The Human Body?
Collagen is a protein substance found everywhere in the human body. It’s the most common protein found in the body, and makes up about a third of all the protein in the body. Collagen is also commonly found in animals. It’s what gives skin, organs, teeth, hair, and nails its strength and structure.
Think of collagen as the building blocks of our bodies. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to stand upright or even walk. It’s what gives us our shape and structure. In addition to being the building blocks for our bodies, it also plays an important role in keeping our bodies healthy.
Collagen can be found in just about every organ of your body, from your heart to your lungs to your kidneys to your intestines to your blood vessels. You’ll find collagen in your bones, joints, skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles and blood vessels.
It’s not just important for building strong bones and muscles; it’s also an important part of our immune system and helps keep us healthy by fighting off infections and disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
The Part of the Skin That Contains the Most Collagen.
Collagen is found in the middle layer of skin, called the dermis. It is the most abundant protein in the body, and it accounts for about 75 percent of the skin’s dry weight. Collagen makes up several other parts of the body, including muscles, bones and tendons. As the body ages, its natural collagen production declines over time. This can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin.
Collagen supplements are available for purchase as an alternative to collagen injections or surgery. However, there has not been a large amount of scientific research on their effectiveness. A study published in “The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology” found that a combination oral preparation containing collagen peptides was successful at reducing wrinkles and dryness in women over age 45.
What Happens to Collagen With Age?
As we age, our body naturally produces less collagen. Sometimes, however, this process is expedited by outside factors such as the sun and smoking. Collagen loss can contribute to skin issues such as sagging and wrinkling.
In fact, researchers have found that facial wrinkles are a direct result of the degradation of collagen. This means that when collagen production slows down, so does your skin’s ability to repair itself from damage caused by environmental factors including UV rays from the sun and pollution. As a result, skin aging accelerates.
The good news is that you can slow down the rate at which your body loses collagen and keep your skin looking young for much longer! One way to do this is to avoid the things that speed up collagen loss in your body. Try to limit your sun exposure and quit smoking if you can!
Another way is to make sure you’re eating a healthy diet full of antioxidants and other nutrients that help support natural collagen regeneration processes within your body (think: fruits like berries, vegetables like leafy greens).
How Does This Affect a Person’s Hair?
An individual’s hair is a protein filament that grows out of his follicles. The average person has approximately 100,000 to 150,000 strands growing on his head. A hair’s width is determined by the size of its follicle. Hair grows in cycles, with each strand having a three year growth period and a dormant phase that lasts a few months. An individual’s hair can be damaged due to chemical or environmental factors, or it can thin or fall out as a result of age or illness.
An individual’s body needs protein to maintain healthy skin and hair. Protein is made up of amino acids that are used for muscle and cell growth, as well as to transport nutrients throughout the body. It also helps repair damaged cells and tissue.
In order for an individual’s skin and hair to be healthy, he must consume enough protein in his diet. Protein supplements can help achieve this if necessary. If an individual does not get enough protein in his diet, his hair can thin out and become brittle and dry; additionally, he may experience stretch marks or easy bruising.
If an individual consumes too much protein through supplements, however, he may overload his liver with waste products; this can result in excessive facial or body hair growth and acne breakouts.
What Are Some Sources That Contribute to The Decline of Collagen?
Are you noticing the signs of aging on your face? Is your skin looking tired, dull and lifeless? Are you concerned that it is losing its firmness and elasticity? If so, you may want to consider replenishing your natural collagen levels. So where should you start?
First things first: What are some sources that contribute to the decline of collagen?
The natural aging process is the number one reason for a decline in production of this protein substance. The increasing loss of collagen occurs after age 30, but can be accelerated by certain factors including lifestyle habits, environmental exposure, and genetic predisposition.
Exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause immediate damage that affects cell health and structure, leading to premature wrinkles and discoloration. Tanning beds also expose skin to harmful UV rays, which negatively impacts the skin’s ability to produce collagen. Harsh weather conditions such as wind and cold can also be damaging to skin and accelerate the aging process.
Smoking lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood stream which prevents essential nutrients from reaching healthy cells. It also causes narrowing of blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin which decreases blood flow and deprives cells of nutrients and oxygen needed for renewal.