The proverbial fountain of youth. Many products promise to stop, slow or even reverse the signs of aging – but can they actually live up to the hype?
Here at Double Wood we are rooted in science and know a healthy outside stems from a healthy inside. So let’s demystify these claims and take a deeper look into what collagen actually is so you can decide for yourself whether collagen is more hype than holy grail.
The collagen family makes up around 30% of proteins in the body. While it’s the largest and most abundant protein our body produces, like most bodily functions, its production slowly diminishes as we age, resulting in the onset of joint pain and decreased skin elasticity. In fact, after age 20, people produce about 1% less collagen in their skin each year.
Can daily supplementation help? The short answer is “yes,” but it’s a little more complicated than that. Getting positive results largely depends on what type of collagen you’ve chosen. Don’t even bother with topical toners, serums or creams. You will notice little (or no) difference in your skin’s appearance due to collagen’s large molecular size. Supplements are a whole other story.
What to Look For
There are at least 16 types of collagen – but most can be lumped into three categories. Those are the types you want to look for when shopping for a supplement. Those include Type I, II and III. Type I is the most prevalent collagen found in connective tissues which makes it a winner for beauty inside and out.
If you live an active lifestyle, then Type II is for you. It’s a major component of cartilage and vital for the skeletal system. This type of collagen is less prevalent in the body so finding a supplement that contains Type II is essential.
Lastly, Type III collagen is found in bone marrow, fibers and is Type I’s best friend. These two types of collagen can be found together in the body.
When shopping for a collagen supplement, size matters. The key to finding a collagen supplement that works is to look for hydrolyzed collagen. During the hydrolyzation process this large molecule is broken down into low molecular weight peptides that are readily absorbed by your body. Luckily for you, Double Wood’s collagen peptides are hydrolyzed and are a mix of type 1, 2, and 3 collagen peptides. Did we mention, it’s keto friendly, sourced from pasture-raised, grass- fed cows and goes through an agglomeration process that gives it increased solubility and bioavailability.
How to Use
Collagen Peptides are a simple supplement to add to your daily dose of Double Wood. Our unflavored Collagen Peptides dissolve easily in any hot or cold beverage with no clumps or after-taste. Just one scoop per day and you're on your way to a healthier, more vibrant you!
Looking for a sweet way to get your collagen? Try our delicious Collagen Oat Beauty Bars packed with almonds, pecans and a little chocolate (everything in moderation, right)? Get the recipe here!
Want to add some oomph to your collagen? Two supplements that synergize well with collagen and pack an anti-aging punch are Hyaluronic Acid and Keratin. Hyaluronic acid is an important component of skin, cartilage, eyes, and joints. It's usually supplemented for joint and skin health since it keeps both well lubricated. Keratin, like collagen, is a type of protein which makes up large parts of one's hair, nails, and skin and like collagen, production declines with age. Supplementation with keratin has been found to be beneficial for skin, nail, and hair health especially in older people.
If a powdered supplement doesn’t fit your lifestyle, then you need to try our new Collagen gummies with Biotin. This B-Vitamin helps support a healthy metabolism by breaking down fats and converting glucose from carbs into energy. Biotin (B7) plays an important role in hair, skin and nail health. Plus, it works synergistically with collagen. We added Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E too which all contributes to extra beauty benefits we’ll save for a future blog.