VITAMIN C - Better than Collagen 🍊

Collagen drinks are all the rage, I’m sure you know someone adding a scoop of collagen powder to their morning smoothie. But why? Does it work? Could drinking collagen help you have plumper skin and less wrinkles?

Probably not ….  

Here’s the catch—collagen is a protein, so when you ingest it, your digestive system breaks it into amino acids the same as if you ate a steak or drank a protein shake. Your body then distributes these amino acids (building blocks) throughout your body based on which area needs them the most.  Your body is a miracle and thankfully major muscles like your heart, diaphragm, and brain get first dibs on nutrients. So sure, your skin benefits from healthy protein intake just like the rest of your body but as with many beauty and nutrition trends, collagen drinks have likely been over-hyped.

Side Note:

My father-in-law is Greek and just like Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding,  🤣Phil would want you to know the word collagen is derived from the Greek word “kolla” meaning glue. So basically collagen is the “glue” that holds your entire body together.

Collagen is the main structural protein in your skin accounting for 75-80% of your largest organ. Think of collagen like a mattress, elastin the springs and hyaluronic acid the padding. Collagen gives your hair, skin and nails strength. Unfortunately, there is an enzyme in your skin called collagenase that breaks down bonds in collagen; so although your body makes new collagen every day, after around age 25 you lose more collagen than you  produce (yikes!) Throw in other common collagen destroyers like sugar, smoking and sun exposure and quickly you start to see wrinkles and sagging in your skin, thinning of your hair and weakening of your joints.

Don’t panic, you are NOT doomed! 

While there is no way to completely stop the loss of collagen and hence signs of aging, there are ways to do so more gracefully. You can help your body maintain and build collagen by ingesting plenty of protein, antioxidant superfoods and silica (not collagen itself) and using topical products that are proven to stimulate fibroblast activity and produce new, healthy collagen.

So What do Dermatologists and Estheticians do to boost collagen in their own skin?

The gold standard in evidence based skincare to help rebuild collagen are….

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A plays a fundamental role in reversing the signs of aging by increasing cellular turnover, promoting new collagen formation and exfoliating dead skin cells. Retinaldehyde has been shown to be one of the most effective ingredients out there for slowing the aging process of skin and stimulating collagen. And the best part, you can now get the exact same benefits of a prescription strength Retin-A without any of the counterproductive side effects such as sun sensitivity, redness or flaking and you don’t need a prescription!

Vitamin C:

The second essential collagen enhancing game changer to use everyday is our favorite topical antioxidant -- Vitamin C. A stable, chirally correct vitamin C is essential for collagen production and maintenance. By lowering free radicals in the skin directly, vitamin C and other powerful antioxidants help the skin to maintain its elasticity, resilience and collagen levels. And the more collagen the skin has the more hydration it can hold.

Eat your vegetables:

Since we now know that collagen drinks do not impact collagen production significantly more than an average protein drink, let’s talk about what could have a direct impact. Of course you know you need to eat a balanced diet rich in leafy greens, proteins and plenty of antioxidants. But just in case you occasionally eat popcorn for dinner, enjoy an extra glass of wine or didn't reapply sunscreen during your last hike, I have a delicious way for you to boost hydration and collagen from the inside out that is quick, easy, vegan, keto-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, organic -- you get the point, it’s Boulder approved.

Organifi Glow Organic Collagen Support 

Glow hydrates, builds collagen and fosters DNA repair from the inside out. Through extensive research, Organifi has come up with a unique way to deliver some of the world’s most powerful superfoods in a way that is delicious, full of healthy results, friendly to almost any diet, wildly convenient and so much easier and more cost effective than a juice bar or shopping for all of those ingredients on your own.