What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body which forms the basis of our skin, hair, nails, bones, and muscles. Its purpose is to support the structure of our body, and makes up 80% of our connective tissue and 75% of our skin.
In short, we can think of collagen as the glue which helps hold our body together.
Benefits of collagen
Production of collagen naturally begins to decline in our early 20s, resulting in the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, looser skin, and brittle hair. This is where collagen supplementation plays an important role.
Our collagen has been clinically proven to:
- Reduce wrinkles and promote firm youthful skin
- Increase skin hydration and elasticity
- Promote the growth of thick, luscious hair and stronger nails
- Aid in muscle retention
- Improve bone and joint health
What are the options for supporting your body’s collagen?
Eating collagen rich foods
Collagen is naturally found in protein rich foods such as meat and fish. Other types of foods like leafy greens contain nutrients required to stimulate collagen production. However, it can be difficult to see the full benefits of collagen from food consumption alone. As you age, your body finds it harder to convert the nutrients from the food you consume into collagen. Our body also struggles to absorb collagen proteins in its natural state due to their large particle size, and so it must be transformed to improve its efficacy.
Consuming bone broth
Bone broth is made from simmering the bones and connective tissues of animals with herbs and spices. The resulting broth contains gelatin and more concentrated levels of collagen compared to meat. Bone broth can taste great as a warming savoury base for soups and contains various other beneficial minerals. Despite this, the collagen content in bone broth is still minimal in comparison to our Superfood Collagen Elixir, and not readily absorbed given its collagen particle size.
Taking hydrolysed collagen
Hydrolysed collagen is collagen that has undergone hydrolysis, a process which makes it much easier to absorb in the body. It is derived from a variety of sources including fish or beef and is the most effective way to boost collagen production. Hydrolysed collagen is generally tasteless and odourless, although this can depend on the type and quality of the collagen source. It’s important to select the right type of hydrolysed collagen as your experience and results can vary greatly. Understanding where a hydrolysed collagen is derived from and whether the source is sustainable and hygienic is important.
Topical applications
Topical application of collagen through creams and lotions do not offer the same anti-ageing benefits as collagen supplementation. The collagen particles used in these treatments
cannot be absorbed by your skin (they are far too large), and sit idly on the top layer of your skin as another wasted ingredient. Any claims made by these products around improving skin strength, elasticity, and moisture through collagen application are simply marketing attempts to use a well documented ingredient in an incorrect manner or form (remind you of any products you know?)
What type of collagen does TOKA lab use?
Marine collagen - sustainable, ethical and more effective
We made a conscious decision to use marine collagen over the far cheaper, more prevalent bovine collagen on the market.
Bovine collagen is extracted from the waste and entrails of beef processing. This involves boiling materials such as cow hides in acid. Most consumers wouldn’t consider cow-hides fit for their dinner plate, yet they are unaware that bovine collagen is exactly that. Our marine collagen is also sourced more ethically and sustainably than bovine, as it is made from discarded byproduct that would often go to waste (fish skin).
Lastly, it's far more effective. Marine collagen has a smaller particle size which allows it to be absorbed more efficiently into the body than other types of collagen. Because it enters the bloodstream quicker, your body receives more of its beneficial effects.
Transforming our collagen
Our collagen is made from the skin and scales of warm-water fish sourced globally and held to the strictest European quality standards. It is transformed at a facility in Southern France by a company with over a century of experience and technological know-how. This transformation process is known as hydrolysis, and drastically reduces the particle size of the collagen peptides. Our body can not utilise collagen proteins in their natural state due to large particle sizes, and so collagen must be transformed through this process to be effective.
