SPECIAL SECTION: NUTRITION & WELLBEING
Renew
YOU
re’ drinks’ hydrolysed collagen boosts natural beauty from within.
BY JIYAN DESSENS
When my toddler gets a scrape, her skin heals quickly and without any flaws – like magic. Her hair is shiny and her nails pink and strong. But it’ s a different story when it comes to my 35-year-old hair, face and body. Despite a rigorous care regimen and nutrient-rich diet, my skin is now prone to scarring from even the smallest scratch, and my hair and nails are duller and more brittle. This is a normal consequence of ageing, but it’ s one that re’ drinks is helping people overcome, naturally, through the body-boosting power of hydrolysed collagen.
“ Naturally, as we age, our collagen decreases, so supplementation is a good way to support your body’ s ongoing needs,” explains Nikki Gale, an Australian-certified nutritionist.“ Research shows that ingesting collagen can help stimulate the skin’ s elasticity and density, reducing wrinkles and cellulite, while promoting healthy hair, skin and nails.”
Wellness from within
Collagen is one of the most plentiful proteins in the human body. It occurs naturally, but your individual collagen levels can be impacted by age, sun damage, diet, alcohol consumption and smoking. Aside from the previously mentioned skin and beauty-boosting properties, there are a lot of other benefits to ingesting collagen.
“ It is something of an internal powerhouse,” laughs Gale.“ Studies show ingesting collagen can support bone mass, potentially relieve joint pain and boost muscle mass. Then, there are some correlations with improved gut health as well.”
With such a long list of potential advantages, it’ s no wonder collagen supplementation has become popular so quickly. But with its prominence comes a myriad of potential pitfalls. With so many competing products on the market, how can you make sure you’ re investing in a quality product?
“ First and foremost, look for a quality source of collagen – third-party testing or auditing is an important factor when it comes to quality control,” Gale explains.
Dodging products with any nasty additives or‘ filler’ ingredients is also essential.“ You want to avoid anything that would counteract the goodness that you’ re getting from that collagen, such as sugar,” she adds.“ Sugar is shown to have a negative effect on your skin health.”
Finally, it’ s essential to be aware of the amount and type of collagen the product contains per serve. A recent study from Germany’ s Collagen Research Institute found that 2.5 – 15 grams of collagen per day may be safely incorporated into your daily diet.
“ Look for a product with a good dose amount so you’ re getting more bang for your buck,” advises Gale.“ Also, consider a collagen peptide, also known as hydrolysed collagen, which is a shorter chain [ amino acid ] that is easier for your body to absorb.”
34 | JUL / AUG 2024 COSTCO CONNECTION