Collagen is having a moment right now, I can’t scroll through my social feed without seeing a fresh faced celebrity claiming this elixir is responsible for their glowing youthful skin. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I spoke to Peji Kanani, founder of Swissvitae supplements.
Collagen makes up 30% of protein in our bodies and is an important building block for your skin, hair and nails. Collagen is a protein that contains key amino acids giving the skin its plump appearance, elasticity and strength. From around the age of 30 the body’s collagen production begins to decrease, this can also be accelerated by too much sun, processed foods, alcohol and smoking. When our levels start to drop we get visible signs of ageing like thinning hair and wrinkles.
While collagen is mainly coveted for its beauty properties it does more than just support healthier and better-looking skin. Collagen is an essential factor in muscle health and recovery, gut health, hair and nail strength, bone and joint health, and hormone health. You can support your collagen levels with a supplement but with so many on the market from liquids, to capsules and powders how can you be sure you are using the most effective product? Kanani recommends marine collagen. He says, “marine collagen is Type 1 collagen – the most abundant kind and is a rich source of amino acids, including proline and glycine”. Marine collagen comes from a variety of sea life, including jellyfish and fish. Once the fish’s flesh has been removed for food, everything that is left is cleaned. At this point, the collagen is extracted. It then goes through a process called hydrolysis. This breaks down the collagen into collagen peptides, which are small units of protein. Marine collagen contains a higher collagen content than other sources. It is also considered an eco-friendlier option because it prevents fish visceral from being wasted.
It is possible to keep our collagen levels high by eating a diet rich in protein and vitamins, however, it can be difficult for the body to absorb this so-called native collagen. To help with the absorption of collagen in the body, Swissvitae UK’s supplements take a liquid form. Kanani says “Liquid supplements have the advantage of their form. The liquid is already ready to be absorbed, meaning that your digestive tract can start absorbing the nutrients as soon as it starts its descent into the stomach. Research shows that up to 90% of nutrients are absorbed within approximately 30 seconds, and the entire absorption process takes up to 4 minutes. That’s a leading factor as to why liquid supplements are known to have an absorption rate of 98%. With the added value of having smaller, easier to breakdown molecules, it makes the efficacy of the absorption better, too. Powder form typically has an absorption rate of less than 30%”.
With most things don’t expect changes overnight. To see and feel the benefits you need to be taking the supplement regularly for at least three months. Swissvitae’s collagen shot contains marine collagen as well as hyaluronic acid and four different vitamins and minerals for better skin health so you’re getting more bang for your buck.
You can order your collagen shots from Swissvitae