Collagen. We talk about it a lot here in the Glomission but that’s because it plays such an important role in the human body. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body and one of the major building blocks of bones, skin, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen is quite literally the glue that holds the body together, keeping it healthy and strong. Fun Fact: the word collagen comes from the Greek word “kolla” which means glue! And then there are its numerous health benefits – everything from anti-aging and skin elasticity to joint and brain health. And now we want to talk about one more…it turns out that collagen may have positive benefits to our gut health as well!
Gut Health has become a big health and wellness topic over the last several years. And the conversation has crossed over into mainstream medicine. Why all the fuss? It turns out that a healthy gut is not just about good digestion, it influences our health from head to toe!
Our gut has its own microbiome, much like the skin’s microbiome or barrier that we’ve talked about before. The gut’s microbiome is a mini universe home to trillions of micro-organisms (or microbes) that co-exist in our digestive track and include bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. And here’s another fun fact: there are actually more bacterial cells in your body than human cells. And that includes up to 1,000 different species of bacteria! It’s important to remember that all bacteria are not bad. In fact, some are extremely important our health while others may cause diseases. The ideal microbiome is the optimal balance of good and bad bacteria and the other gut micro-organisms. Together, they function as an extra organ in the body and play a crucial role in our health, affecting everything from digestion and inflammation to immune function and hormone production and much, much more.
But not all microbiomes are created - or maintained - equally. We inherit our microbiome from our mother, but it is influenced by lots of factors as we age including diet, lifestyle, medications, infections and the environment. And while it’s normal for there to be some bad bacteria, it’s important that we have enough of the good bacteria to keep them in check. When that doesn’t happen, it causes chaos in the digestive tract which not only leads to digestion issues, but it also creates an unbalanced gut microbiome which can lead to all kinds of health issues.
Collagen is beneficial to gut health because it contains large amounts of the amino acids glycine, glutamine and proline – all of which can be beneficial to the intestinal tract and the stomach. It helps to maintain the gut lining, making it stronger and healthier and allowing nutrients to absorb better which ultimately supports digestive health and supports immune function.
It plays an important role in building and maintaining healthy connective tissue throughout the digestive tract. This is extremely important for the prevention of a condition known as leaky gut which happens when there are damages in the barrier lining of the intestine. Essentially, the normally tight junctions of the intestinal wall become loosened which can allow endotoxins as well as food and waste particles that would normally be processed out of the body to escape or “leak” out and be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This triggers the immune system and can lead to inflammation. Leaky gut can cause bloating, gas, stomach cramps and even irritable bowel syndrome. Research has shown that collagen peptides are effective at helping repair or tighten those loose junctions.
So there you have it, another amazing collagen benefit – gut health! An easy way to add more collagen to your diet is with Glotrition’s Super Beauty Elixir, a beauty supplement that features a clinically effective dose of a patented Bioactive Collagen Peptide which is highly bioavailable and backed by some serious science. It has been clinically shown to increase skin firmness and reduce wrinkle depth in just 30 days by spurring new collagen growth. In addition, Hyaluronic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin C, and our Super Beauty Antioxidant blend help to nourish skin cells and protect collagen fibers. All-natural and sugar-free, just blend it with 20 ounces of water for a tasty and nutritious daily beauty elixir.