Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is a major component of bones, cartilage, muscle, skin and connective tissue. It is also found in your blood vessels, organs and intestinal lining. It provides scaffolding and structural support to the tissues and plays a crucial role in holding the tissues together. Collagen is stronger than steel by weight. Collagen accounts for one third of your body’s protein and three-quarters of the dry weight of the skin.

In the skin collagen provides tensile strength and elasticity. As people age their collagen production declines resulting in falling levels and collagen fibres become thinner and weaker.

Proteins are made from amino acids. The main amino acids that make collagen are proline, glycine and hydroxyproline (made from proline & lysine). These amino acids are the building blocks of the Triple Helix structure of collagen. Your body also needs the right amount of vitamin C, zinc, copper and manganese to make the Triple Helix.

Your body produces less collagen as you age and existing collagen breaks down at a faster rate. The collagen you make is also lower in quality than when you were younger. Men and women experience a significant reduction in collagen production after the menopause/andropause which is why a collagen supplement can be helpful.

Collagen can’t be measured in a blood test but there are signs that your collagen is depleting.

These include;

• Lines and Wrinkles
• Skin sagging and jowling
• Dehydrated skin
• Hollowing around the eyes
• Joint aches and pains due to worn cartilage
• Stiffness and loss of flexibility
• Muscle weakening and aches
• Gastrointestinal problems due to thinning of the digestive tract lining

Beauty Glow contains plant based Glycine, Proline, Lysine, Arginine, Alanine, Leucine and Glutamine. These amino acids are the most important building blocks for Type 1 Collagen which makes up 90% of the body’s collagen. Type 1 Collagen is the most important collagen in our body and is stronger than steel by weight. It is found in human skin, hair, nails, muscle and joints. Beauty Glow contains the first true replica of human and animal based amino acids in a vegan form.

In our youth we have an abundance of collagen in our skin. But collagen production slows in our mid-to-late 20s and continues to decrease dramatically after the age of 30. From there, collagen synthesis begins to drop by 1 to 2% each year until our 50’s when it undergoes a dramatic drop off.

Collagen peptides are short chains of combinations of the hundreds of specific amino acids that make up “collagen”. There are 18 amino acids that appear in high concentrations, and three are considered key for the skin – glycine, proline and hydroxyproline (hydroxyproline is made from proline and lysine).

Multiple large scale clinical trials have confirmed that high quality, high strength hydrolysed collagen supplements can be absorbed into the bloodstream with bio-availability of 90%.

Once these specific amino acids are absorbed into the bloodstream in high enough concentrations the body detects their presence and triggers a wound healing response. The brain then directs the peptides to places where it needs help. In the skin the amino acids send signals out to specialised cells called fibroblasts (found in the dermis of the skin) that switch them back into ACTIVE mode. Essentially the amino acids tell the fibroblasts to wake up, reactivate and start making new proteins, the most important of which are collagen and elastin. The fibroblast cells (working much like a collagen factory) synthesise new collagen fibrils using the high concentration of peptides in the dermis as building blocks to initiate collagen production. In contrast if fibroblast cells don’t receive any important repair signals then they slowly go quiescent and start to reduce their production over time.

By age 30 collagen and elastin production starts to go into decline and this continues at a rate of about 1%-2% per year. This natural decline continues throughout life with a rapid 30% drop at the age of menopause in women and andropause in men.

Instead of letting collagen go into its natural state of decline we can use collagen supplements to maintain fibroblast activity. Many health experts now are convinced that collagen supplementation may be revolutionary and maybe help in our quest for longevity. With an ageing population it could help support lifespan as well as healthspan.

Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid is a natural molecule found in the body and is a powerful skin hydrator. It can bind up to 1000 times its weight in one molecule and it acts as a humectant in the skin with incredible ability to attract water into the upper layers of the skin making it look dewy, hydrated and plump. In addition to improving skin hydration it also decreases wrinkles, improves skin elasticity and helps to neutralise oxidative damage to the skin from sun exposure.

About half of the body’s hyaluronic acid content is found in the skin where it is an important agent in preventing dryness, loss of elasticity, wrinkles and other age-related skin issues. The other half is found in the eyes and joints where it helps to lubricate and hydrate the tissue.

As we age hyaluronic acid levels deplete making it harder to maintain the skin’s water content. Hyaluronic acid supplements have been shown in clinical trials to help improve skin hydration, reduce fine lines & wrinkles and improve skin elasticity.

In addition to the measurable benefits of hyaluronic acid to the skin, Hyaluronic acid also helps to reduce the pain of arthritis because it helps to build up resilience of the cartilage and resist compression. Clinical studies now support this and larger studies are being conducted to gain further insight into the link between oral hyaluronic acid and arthritis relief.

Vitamin C Vitamin C plays an essential role in collagen formation and is a co-factor for new collagen production. Without plentiful levels of vitamin C your body won’t create robust and healthy new collagen. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant and is one of the most clinically evidenced antioxidants for skin health available on the commercial market.

Vitamin B7 Vitamin B7 or Biotin is a B complex vitamin that helps to support the growth and health of the hair and nails. Biotin comes from the ancient Greek word ‘biotos’ meaning ‘life giving’ or ‘sustenance’. Biotin is well known for its positive effects on the hair. It stimulates keratin production in the hair and can increase the rate of follicle growth. It also helps to prevent scalp problems like dandruff, itchiness and hair loss. Research shows that Biotin helps improve the hair’s shine, volume and scalp coverage in women with thinning hair.

In the skin B7 is a great addition to your beauty routine. It helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier function and improves the skin’s hydration, smoothness and appearance. Biotin is also needed for the body to metabolise carbohydrates, fats and amino acids – the building blocks of protein. Collagen and elastin are the skin’s most important proteins. Biotin is essential for the production of new collagen and elastin. Biotin also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with tissue repair. These are both desirable for long term skin health.

MSM
MSM stands for methylsulfonylmethane and is a rich source of sulfur. It derives a lot of its health benefits from its anti-inflammatory action and is gaining popularity as a nutritional supplement for the support of the hair, skin and nails. MSM has been linked to better skin health, better joint health and better tissue recovery after stress.

MSM helps to build nearly every cell in the body. It also helps to inhibit the breakdown of collagen, reduces inflammation and detoxifies the body. This is why it has become a key player in anti-ageing medicine. MSM also improves cell wall permeability, allowing vital nutrients to flow through cells and enhances antioxidant usage helping to decree free radical damage.

In clinical trials MSM has been shown to improve the signs of ageing in the skin, improve the skin’s hydration and smoothness plus provide anti-inflammatory relief for conditions such as acne and rosacea. MSM supports collagen, keratin and glutathione production. Glutathione is the master antioxidant in the body that needs constant replacement and support.

Studies have now shown that collagen can help to provide support for your joints and bones and helps to prevent osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Collagen supplements help to improve protein accumulation in the cartilage helping to decrease painful symptoms of arthritis and improve overall joint health and function. In the Vegan Beauty Glow formulas we have also added MSM and Hyaluronic Acid to help improve joint lubrication and function. You may also notice that bone mineral density and bone markers improve as well as muscle tissue.

Collagen can also help to improve a condition called leaky gut where the tight junctions in the gut are impaired and start to let through toxins, pathogens and other undesirables. Gut health steers almost every aspect of human health so a health gut is vitally important. Collagen and glutamine are important nutrients that can help the gut to heal and help the gut maintain its tight junction network better.

When collagen is combined with powerful antioxidants like Vitamin C they work in a powerful synergy to reduce free radical damage and inflammation throughout the body. Since inflammation accelerates the ageing of all tissues in the body this is of great benefit.

• First True Vegan Collagen Liquid
• Amino Acid profile perfectly replicates animal collagen
• Optimum Molecular Weight
• Additional Ingredients help to enhance results
• Made under GMP conditions
• Doctor Formulated
• Free from heavy metals, pesticides & contaminants
• 100% plant based
• Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing Process