Who Holds the Secret to Endless Beauty?

“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.”  – Mandy Hale

Welcome to the weekly edition of Unlocking Your Greatness with Wendy Bjork.  As an international bestselling author, speaker and guide to others, as well as founder of heartsofwellness.com, it is my mission to help others understand where we’ve been in order to make progress forward and live our best lives!

When you see someone that has aged very gracefully, do you wonder what their secret it?

Collagen is all the rage right now – it’s hard to walk through a grocery store or visit a drugstore without seeing tubs of powdered collagen and creams that claim they’ll boost your body’s own natural collagen production, keep you looking young and wrinkle-free for decades.

But does it really work? And is it safe?

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins naturally produced in your body. It forms the main structural protein that makes up your skin, bones, muscles and connective tissues. It’s kind of like the glue that holds your whole body together – it’s responsible for keeping your skin elastic, making sure your joints stay strong and even helping protect your organs.

But as you age, collagen production slows down and this leads to sagging, dry, wrinkled skin; brittle teeth and hair; and joint pain. Collagen also helps with blood circulation and the transport of vital nutrients throughout your body.

So what can you do about it?

Luckily, your diet can help. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits and healthy fats and low in processed foods can improve your skin health and help delay the aging process. Plus, a diet high in calcium and other minerals helps strengthen your teeth and bones.

You can also try incorporating collagen-rich foods into your diet. The amino acids glycine and proline (found in collagen) are involved in the synthesis of collagen, so eating foods rich in these amino acids can promote your body’s production of collagen.

You can find glycine and proline in foods such as chicken skin, fish, shellfish, dairy products, dark leafy greens, tomatoes, beans and nuts. You can also try adding a supplement containing these amino acids to your daily routine.

Some studies suggest that drinking collagen may reduce some of the hallmarks of aging, such as sagging and dry skin, by increasing hydration and skin elasticity. And a small study found that people who took oral collagen supplements had healthier and more flexible joints.

But it’s important to note that these studies aren’t very extensive or conclusive and further research is needed. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate supplements as rigorously as it does pharmaceuticals, so there is a risk that some supplements contain harmful ingredients or aren’t effective.

As with anything, if you decide to take collagen, make sure you read the label and check the protein profile to ensure that the product is high in hydroxyprolylglycine and prolylhydroxyproline, which are more effective at reducing wrinkles and improving the moisture content of your skin.

Also, be sure to consult your doctor before trying any new supplements if you have a medical condition such that requires you to limit your protein intake.

If there is any support I can offer in living your best life, feel free to visit heartsofwellness.com or send a message to media@heartsofwellness.com.

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