Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It makes up the connective tissues in your body including ligaments, tendons, skin, and muscles. It’s found throughout your body and is responsible for skin, joint and bone health. It’s like the glue in your body that holds everything together and keeps it working properly. Collagen is often referred to as a complex protein as it contains a whopping 19 amino acids.
Men and women’s skin has significant differences in terms of collagen and thickness. Men have a higher collagen density than women. Because of this, it’s more common for women to show premature signs of aging faster than men, even though they might be the same age. Although collagen creams and tinctures are often aimed at youthful skin and anti-aging in women, men still need collagen, maybe even more so.
Even if you’re not looking for dewy morning skin, you still need to pay attention to your collagen levels. Why? Well, if you like to hit the gym, run, or bike, and want to recover quickly, then collagen is your friend.
Why Take a Collagen Supplement?
In order to gain the health benefits of collagen, you also need to have vitamin C in your body. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the best way to get plenty of vitamin C. Fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C include oranges, broccoli, lemon, and cauliflower. Your body produces collagen on its own however, as you age natural stores of collagen start to decline.
As you age, your collagen levels start to drop at about 1.5% per year. Unfortunately, at about 25, collagen production starts to decline. Other factors can also cause collagen production to decrease such as smoking, sugar, and ultraviolet rays. Collagen performs a ton of roles in the body. What that means is that when your collagen levels are low, you might find you have weaker joints and longer recovery times.
It can be difficult to know if you’re getting enough nutrients through diet alone to produce the amount of collagen your body needs. That’s where a collagen supplement or collagen builder comes in. However, when it comes to collagen supplements, a lot of products on the shelf are derived from animals.
Collagen supplements are available in tablets, powders, or capsules. Typically, collagen supplements are made from fish or bovine connective tissue. Most collagen supplements go through a process known as hydrolyzation. This means that the collagen in the supplements has been broken down into peptides so that it is more easily absorbed in the body.
Fortunately, there is another option when it comes to collagen supplements that don’t involve any animal ingredients. Plant-based collagen builders work in a different way by helping your body to produce its own supply of collagen.
Related: How To Build your Collagen With Plant-Based Sunwarrior; No Hooves, No Hides, No Horns
Sunwarrior’s Collagen Building Protein Peptides is a great plant-based option. Basically, vegan collagen builders provide your body with all the ingredients necessary to produce its own collagen. You don’t need to be vegan to take plant-based collagen builders and feel the benefits.
Collagen is derived from plants. Humans and animals create collagen from protein peptides, amino acids and vitamins. Collagen supplements from animals are made from the bones, hooves, horns, and hides of cows, pigs, rabbits and other animals.
The collagen from animals has to be broken down by the body to the fundamental amino acids, protein peptides and vitamins.
Sunwarrior skips the middle man (animal), and goes straight to the source, plants.
Read More: Plant-Based Collagen Builders Vs. Animal-Based Collagen Supplements