Collagen

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, found in many other parts of our body such as hair, teeth, blood vessels, joints and corneas. Over 30% of the total proteins in the human body are collagen. Collagen is an important building block that holds the body together and support many parts of our body, thereby maintaining the structure and function of skin , joints and bones.

Why is collagen so important for our health?

Through the aging process, the body's collagen will be constantly lost. Before the age of 25, you might not realize the aging signs due to the high collagen production in our body. However, starting from age of 25, the amount of collagen produced in the body has gradually decreased. The amount of collagen lost has exceeded the production of collagen in our body, therefore, it is unable to replenish the collagen needed in the body. Studies have shown that the body collagen decreases by approximately 1,000 grams every 10 years, and the aging process of women is faster than men. Based on clinical studies, women lose up to 30% of the body collagen during the first five years of menopause. When the process of collagen loss continues, symptoms of aging will begin to appear, such as fine lines or skin wrinkles, joint pain, brittle nails and hair fall problems.

Where can I get collagen?

Collagen can also be obtained from natural food sources, such as fish maw, pork skin, trotters, fish skin and chicken feet. However, the collagen molecules in natural food source are very large (> 100,000 Daltons), which would be difficult to be absorbed by the human body. Several high collagen food are high in calories or fat, which may lead to weight gain or increase in cholesterol level. Therefore, collagen supplement could be a better choice to replenish collagen needed by our body.