Tag: collagen

Glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, have been used to support bone structure, reduce pain and swelling in elderly for osteo arthritis for many years. I have not looked at the types and collagen much till now.

My father who is now 88, is in need of an alternative products to medical anti-inflammatory and Cortisone. He cannot eliminate medications well, and cortisone made him retain so much water that he ended up in hospital, unable to move due to water retention.

Now, has he also was so much in pain, that I decided to look into alternative products to suggests.

Glucosamine, chondroitin an MSM are excellent for OA and any arthritic condition. Now he does not take any type of medication, and so he can take the high dosage of the products. If you are taken any blood clotting medication or any life saving medication, you need to consult your doctor for that, as MSM can eliminate your medication quicker and hence cause some problems.

Now the reason for OA in elderly, is that from the time we reach 40 years of age our collagen start to decline, and the rebuild is much slower. In some is slower than others.

Nutritionally, vitamin C foods and supplements, with zinc, drinking adequate water, can slow down the process of collagen decline.

If you are vegetarian and vegan the above vitamin, needs to be taken in supplements to make it slower. Collagen is only in animal products, such as meat and fish. And any products of collagen are meat or fish derived. Greens, salad or any other vegetarian or vegan sources do not contain collagen.

Now, having looked at some of the research for glucosamine and chondroitin, the dosage in studies where it made a difference was quite high, from 800 mg for chondroitin and higher. So if you are taking that, is good to take in a good dosage.

To take extra collagen for the non vegetarian, is worth knowing that there are few types. Our body has about 28 types of collage. The most common ones are Type I, II, III, V and X.

Hyaluronic acid and elastin are part of collagen. Collagen I is most prevalent and important for skin, bone, tendon, cornea and vascular ligature. Type II is found in cartilage and vitreous body (eye). Type III is in skin, uterus, intestine and vessels. Type V is found in placenta (so important for pregnancy), in bones, skin, cornea, hair and cell surfaces (essential for all your cell membranes as a protective layer, yep this is how important it is).

Collagen type VI is also found in bones, skin and cornea, and collagen type VII can be found in skin, bladder, mucous membranes, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord (again this is essential for your baby if you are pregnant).

Collagen Type VIII is found in the skin, heart, kidney, brain, bones, cartilage and vessels. Collagen Type X, XI and IX are found in cartilages.

What food contains high collagen: bone broth, legs and feet of chicken, meat, fish will have higher collagen.

Supplementing your diet with vitamin C every two hours if you are healthy, taking extra zinc, drinking plenty of water as collagen contain and needs water to form.

© Maria Esposito BSc (Hons) R-Nutritional Therapists – NAET – R-Craniosacral therapist – NLP practitioner – PCI NLP Health coaching – Certified Angel Guide – Mindfulness Meditation teacher – The resilient Heart (Heart-Math) meditation and 12.5 hours CPD in Trauma for professionals – M-Bant – M-CSTA – CHNC registered