To Collagen, Or Not To Collagen: That is the Question!
Thank you to Raw Elements Ambassador Grace Van Berkum, RHN, for authoring this guest post! Grace is a detox nutritionist and yoga teacher who is all about empowering others through plant-based nutrition and self-love. Grace leads inspiring Gracious Living Lifestyle retreats in Nicaragua and around the world.
If you’re up on nutrition, you know that collagen consumption is hot right now – being marketed and sold around the world. Collagen advertisements claim smoother skin, less wrinkles, more muscle mass, stronger bones, joint pain relief, and increased joint mobility, as well as keeping the integrity of the stomach lining strong and healthy. Sounds incredible! But, do we really need it? Let’s take a closer look.
First of all, what is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, making up 90% of connective tissue and 90% of the body’s organic bone matrix.
It is a protein that forms connective tissue throughout your body, from your bones to your skin. The protein collagen is the main component of human skin and is present in our tendons, fat, and ligaments, among other places. It helps the pieces of our bodies fit together and is crucial for strong bone structure. Collagen has unique properties: it remains soft and flexible under low stress and stiffens when stress is increased. When collagen levels are healthy, cells that contain collagen take on a strong and youthful appearance.
Basically, collagen is like the human glue that holds your body together.
Our bodies naturally produce collagen every day, but over time production slows down due to aging, environmental pollutants, UV radiation, and other stresses. Pollutants in water, air, and food deplete our collagen storehouse. Research shows that chronic stress also weakens the integrity of the skin’s collagen. Nutritional biochemist Shawn M. Talbott calls cortisol – AKA the “stress hormone” – the enemy of collagen. Cortisol and collagen can work against each other and cause acne, joint pain, anxiety, and many other responses. High cortisol is not a friend of your body.
Quality and duration of sleep also affects collagen production. The more restorative sleep we can get, the lower our cortisol levels. Nutrition and lifestyle habits help address sleep issues to improve the quality of sleep.
A healthy, balanced, more peaceful approach to living – with additional collagen enhancing replenishment – are vital to looking and feeling our best.
Most collagen supplements come from the bones, skin, and connective tissue of animals, including cattle, fish, horses, pigs, or rabbits. Why ingest animal-derived collagen when your body is designed to generate its own? Humans don’t actually need to eat, nor apply, collagen from another living creature in order to have healthy levels of collagen protein within their bodies. There are a wealth of plant-based foods promote natural collagen production. Enter Sunwarrior.
Sunwarrior offers a plant-based solution to support your body’s innate collagen production. Here’s how these convenient collagen-boosting whole food powders support your body, your wellness goals, and the natural processes to create your own collagen – without the use of animals:
- Organic Plant-Based Protein & Protein Peptides
- Keto Friendly
- Includes Hyaluronic Acid & Biotin
- 100% Vegan Collagen Building Ingredients
- High in Vitamin C
- No Synthetic Vitamins
- Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, No Added Sugars
- High in Amino Acids Glycine, Proline, & Hydroxyproline
Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides are available in a few yummy flavor profiles, like: Tahitian Vanilla, Chocolate Fudge, and Natural.
Check out some of the top plant-based, collagen-enhancing Proprietary Beauty Blend ingredients that go into Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides:
- Organic Pea Protein
- Organic Brown Rice Peptides
- Organic Whole Sea Buckthorn
- Organic Tremella Mushroom Extract
- Organic Kale
- Organic Spinach
- Organic Amla Extract
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Bamboo Extract
- Organic Spirulina
- Organic Sesbania Extract
- Organic Green Banana
- Organic Soluble Rice Bran
- Trace Minerals
Look younger, feel better, move easier, digest better…it’s a no brainer. Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides for the win!
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