News from CRIS: Trending - Collagen

March 30, 2021

 

What is collagen?

Collagen is a structural protein that works as a connective tissue constructing, mechanizing, and binding our bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, blood vessels, corneas, and other parts of our bodies. We know of at least 28 types of collagen.
 
Our bodies make collagen using amino acids. We get the amino acids needed to produce collagen through a healthy, balanced diet. 
 

Where do we find collagen?

Collagen is made in our bodies naturally, and we find it in all animals, not just humans.
 
Omnivores can eat collagen-containing foods such as chicken or pigskin, bone broth, and more. While these foods may contain collagen, it doesn't necessarily translate directly into our bodies producing more collagen. Our bodies digest food, take the nutrients we need from food, and eliminate what we do not need (1). 

Our bodies will produce collagen when we have the correct nutrition. While collagen-rich foods can help support our health, they aren't the only nutrients needed to support our collagen production. 
 
Often producers and researchers who use collagen get the material from porcine, bovine, equine, marine, or human sources depending on the use case.

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Read the entire blog post at: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/trending-collagen.