A. Your body needs protein. You will not survive without it. Collagen is a protein of significant value as a building block of your entire body. It is spread throughout your body: blood vessels, cartilage, bones, vertebral discs, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Aging causes a depletion of collagen and when our body does not get what it tends physical damage can occur. It starts to work harder.

Painful joints could be an early symptom of reduced collagen. Collagen helps to regulate metabolism. Weight loss is associated with adequate collagen supplementation and that be caused by renewed energy, movement, and exercise as more youthful vigour returns.

A. The idea of collagen and vitamin supplements has caused much debate. The reason for this is that your body produces collagen on its own. As you get older that starts to decline which affects your natural stores. That is a risk you should avoid at all costs. Poor dietary habits, smoking and ultraviolet rays can also impact on your bodily collagen values.

You may see a difference from your twenties so do not ignore it. You may not notice it at first but your mobility, flexibility, skin tone, muscle strength and hair texture may be early indicators suggesting you consider your options. A healthy ingestion of Vitamin C helps your body to synthesise collagen and yes, your first port of call should be from fruits and vegetables such as oranges, lemons, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, tomatoes, leafy greens, and berries.

But nature lets us down and refined foods are very destructive. As we get older and collagen deficiencies are quite common. These deficiencies can occur as early as 25 years of age. Sustained health requires effort, exercise, and a personalized profile of supplements. Taking a supplement means that you are an active partner in your health as you pursue a quality life and longevity.

Scientific research is finally demonstrating meaningful change from the use of supplements. Collagen is one.

A. Vitamin C is a wonder vitamin as it enables the biosynthesis of collagen. Pick up any reputable book on health and nutrition and you will discover a common thread.

You need collagen to sustain a healthy presence, a vibrant upright posture, healthy movement, muscles, bodily structure, flexibility, body tone, moist elastic skin and strong cartilage and nails. That is for starters. Your cardiovascular system is a direct beneficiary. Your blood vessels for instance consist of structural proteins – meaning collagen and elastin. Vitamin C is needed for collagen development.

Human beings have a high need for Vitamin C in comparison to other vitamins. As we get older, often we become neglectful of consuming enough Vitamin C and that is when the trouble starts with blood vessels which start to thin and become less elastic. So, blood vessel health and blood pressure are influenced by an appropriate intake of Vitamin C.

It is part of the collagen combo. Of course, getting Vitamin C from fruit and vegetables is your first option: broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, tomatoes, spinach, green and red peppers, berries, cabbage, and sweet potatoes are good sources. The highly refined Western diet is however doing its damage and dieticians are waking up to this too.

Did you know that potatoes peeled, cut, and soaked in water for two hours and then baked and eaten, have lost 89% of their Vitamin C? So back up and enjoy the benefits.