When you think of collagen, you’re probably picturing smooth, firm, plump, and youthful skin. Or maybe it evokes the feeling of long, thick, strong hair. If you’ve been taking it for a while, it could also make you think of healthy, capable joints.
None of these are wrong.
This is because these are all common, well-known benefits of collagen. But there is something else that collagen can help with. One you probably didn’t think of right away, or wouldn’t have thought of at all!
As the most abundant protein in the human body, the health benefits of collagen extend to our bones, joints, connective tissues, ligaments, muscles, nails, and hair. It’s the glue that holds our body together and keeps it strong, healthy, and vital. But what else is this collagen doing for us that we may not even be aware of?
Our gut is integral in determining the state of our immune health, metabolism, skin, brain health, and overall well-being. Maintaining a healthy gut is of the utmost importance. When we neglect our gut, we leave it – and ourselves – vulnerable to pathogens, infection, inflammation, and a range of digestive issues, like leaky gut syndrome.
Also known as intestinal permeability, leaky gut is a condition where the integrity of the intestinal wall has been compromised and, as a result, the immune system has been triggered. When the tight tissue of the gut wall becomes loose or “leaky”, endotoxins that are typically processed and eliminated are able to escape and be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This triggers the immune system and causes a large influx in inflammation.
While many things can help support a leaky gut, collagen is a great way to ensure that our digestive system functions at an optimal level and avoids this issue.
Collagen doesn’t just keep the cells of your skin strong and healthy. It supports the tissue of every organ in your body, including your gut. Collagen plays an integral role in rebuilding and strengthening the lining of our digestive tract as it contains the amino acids that are essential for its repair.
Research shows that collagen peptides can actually ameliorate gut barrier dysfunction and improve its tight junctions. [1]
A 2020 animal study also found an interesting correlation between a diet rich in collagen peptides and an altered microbiota with increased short-chain fatty acid production. Given that short-chain fatty acids carry powerful anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory benefits, this is a promising new area of research. [2]
Additionally, since gut inflammation is linked to inflammation elsewhere in the body, it’s undoubtedly beneficial to include an abundance of amino acid-rich compounds – like collagen – in our diet to help keep gut inflammation and overall inflammation at bay.
When we experience digestive issues such as leaky gut, we are also at risk of impaired nutrient absorption as nutrients that would otherwise be properly absorbed in a healthy gut are instead able to escape through the intestinal lining. Since collagen can help support the integrity of the gut wall, it can mitigate the loss of nutrients from impaired gut function.
As we age, our body’s ability to naturally produce collagen declines, so we must ensure we consume enough of the amino acids required to build, store, and synthesize collagen. But if you’re experiencing stomach issues, you may not be able to even properly bring in the amino acids that have the power to rebuild your gut’s health.
The good news is that EverBella’s Micelle Liposomal Complete Collagen Plus is designed to bypass these troubles, getting delivered directly to the bloodstream so that it can get to where it’s needed most in your body. Whether that’s the gut, your skin, or your joints, you can feel confident that you’re getting a full and pure dose of collagen with Complete Collagen Plus.