Reduces Leaky Gut Markers
Probiotics can play a crucial role in improving the mucosal lining of the gut. Recent studies also show that probiotics can dramatically reduce intestinal permeability markers if they are taken each day for 14 weeks. Ultimately, probiotics are excellent for improving gut health.
Here are a few more reasons to consider taking a collagen supplement
The Top 7 Health Benefits Of Collagen
Amy Myers, MD
Amy Myers, M.D. is a functional medicine physician, trained and certified by The Institute of Functional Medicine. Dr. Myers earned her Doctor of Medicine at the LSU Health Science Center, and completed her Emergency Medicine residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Dr. Myers retired from her functional medicine clinic, Austin UltraHealth, where she served thousands of patients, to empower those who were failed by conventional medicine. Shes a 2x New York Times bestselling author, and the founder and CEO of the health & lifestyle e-commerce brand, Amy Myers MD®.
Next time youre walking down the beauty aisle of your local health food or grocery store, pay attention to just how many products contain collagen. More and more products are relying on this important protein because of its ability to help maintain luxurious hair, optimize the smoothness and suppleness of your skin, and support strong, beautiful nails.;
However, did you know that these are just a few of the benefits of taking collagen? Its true! The health benefits of collagen reach far beyond its beauty-boosting abilities to support gut, heart, and joint health. Nowadays, you can venture past the beauty aisle to find collagen in products such as protein bars, tea, and even coffee.
Despite this warm welcome into our foods and beauty products, finding a clean source of collagen can be tough. Thats why I formulated my own collagen protein sourced from grass-fed, pasture raised beef.
The Benefits Of Collagen For Gut Health
When we think of collagen, most of us likely consider it to be a key factor in smooth, firm, plump and youthful skin. While this is certainly truecollagen is also a protein that plays a critical role in a number of other aspects of our healthincluding our gut.
As the most abundant protein in the human body, the health benefits of collagen extend to our bones, joints, connective tissues, ligaments, muscles, nails, hair and gut. Think of it as the glue that holds our body togetherkeeping it strong, healthy and vital.
If we then also consider how integral our gut is in determining the state of our immune health, metabolism, brain health, skin and overall wellbeingmaintaining a healthy gut is therefore of the utmost importance. When we neglect this vital system, we leave it vulnerable to pathogens, infection, inflammation and often, leaky gut syndrome. Also known as intestinal permeability, leaky gut is a condition whereby the integrity of the intestinal wall has been compromised and as a result, an immune response has been triggered. When the typically tight junctions of the gut wall become loosened or leaky, endotoxins that would ordinarily be processed and eliminated are able to escape and be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Its this process that triggers our immune systemand subsequently, inflammation.
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Collagen Provides The Building Blocks For A Healthy Gut
It contains the amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline that are needed to repair and rebuild the hardworking endothelial tissue in your digestive system.
- First, collagen can help reduce intestinal inflammation by normalizing your gut-immune response because it contains glutamine, which can be depleted during times of stresslike trauma or inflammatory bowel conditions .;;
- Then, it helps tight junction proteins do their jobs, allowing nutrients and water in and keeping unwanted particles out .;
- Next, special amino acids help;rebuild the functional lining inside your intestine, allowing digestion and absorption of important vitamins and minerals.;
- Last, collagen helps maintain a healthy gut by creating an environment thats supportive of long-term gut health, as well as reducing inflammation.;
In addition to helping heal leaky gut, collagen also promotes the absorption of water within the intestines, keeping things moving more freely out of the body.
How Is Leaky Gut Syndrome Diagnosed
The doctor may conduct any or all of the following three tests to diagnose leaky gut syndrome:
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Collagen Helps Balance Stomach Acid
Did you know that we have an epidemic of low stomach acid, also called ;Hypochlorhydria, in the world today?
This is an issue that is talked about very little but can have vast consequences for your health. Stomach acid imbalance is linked to autoimmune disorders, hypothyroidism, the use of antacids and proton pump inhibitors, bad bacterial overgrowth , traditional cancer treatments including radiation therapy, gastric bypass surgery, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, stress and the list goes on .
The issues above are relevant to just about everyone on the planet right now! Stomach acid helps your food to break down nutrients from the food you consume to be distributed where they need to go. You do the math: since most everyone has some kind of imbalance that can lead to low stomach acid, just about everyone has nutrient absorption issues as well.
Fortunately, specific lifestyle changes, as well as targeted supplementation, has been shown to help restore just the right amount of stomach acid to your system.
Collagen supplementation can play a key part in this. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology found that the amino acid glycine found in large abundance in collagen helped to boost gastric juices. A German study conducted in 2017 generated similar findings .
Collagen Helps To Repair The Stomach And Intestines
Type I and III collagen are raw materials for almost all the connective tissue in the digestive system. Thus, the theory goes, by adding more collagen to the mix, you can repair the stomach and intestines and avoid complications like Leaky Gut .
A 2004 study conducted by the Medical Academy of Biaystok in Poland found that one of the major characteristics in people with stomach cancer is defects in collagen metabolism. This makes sense since collagen also plays a vital part in gene expression, enzyme activity, and regulation of cellular growth.
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Does Collagen Help Heal The Gut
People struggling with leaky gut, which is a complex health issue, realize its impact on their daily lives. Lately, the focus is on tackling the;leaky gut by enhancing the diet and immunity. The;role of Collagen, which potentially averts leaky gut symptoms is increasingly stressed. Collagen supplements for leaky gut are an excellent option in the field of wellness, gut health, and fitness. Let’s review what eaky gut is and how collagen is useful in preventing it.
What Are The Causes Of Leaky Gut Syndrome
A lot of things can result in a leaky gut. These can include anything from stress and eating too much sugar , to antibiotics and hormone treatments. There are some additional factors that may come into play too, such as consuming too much alcohol or not having a properly balanced diet. All of these things can affect your guts permeability. A healthy diet rich in the proper amount of nutrients can help you avoid this condition in the first place.
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What Is The Best Way To Take Collagen
It is better to consult an expert or a doctor before consuming collagen to help you with the right quantity and the best time to use it.;
Collagen contains Glutamine, Glycine, and Proline which are useful to the intestinal tract and the stomach. You can add Collagen gut in the following ways:
You can try these drinks and meals to consume the best collagen supplements protein powder with:
1) Shake or smoothie
2) Soups, stews, or bone broth
3) Tea and coffee;
5) Meals
Collagen Improves The Appearance Of Hair Skin And Nails
Hair loss and skin issues can be symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, as well as the normal aging process. As you age, you may have noticed that youre not seeing as many collagen benefits as you used to; your skin has become looser and less elastic, you may have more wrinkles and creases where your skin was once more smooth and supple. You might also experience brittle nails, peeling, splitting or breakage, and your hair may also begin to thin and become dry and brittle.
This is because collagen protein is essential to healthy hair, skin, and nails. As I mentioned, your natural collagen production decreases as you age. Increasing collagen intake can go a long way to make your skin appear more firm and smooth. Collagen can also benefit the appearance of your hairs fullness and shine.
Many people dont realize that adding collagen to your diet can also help in reducing the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. When skin loses its elasticity and becomes thin, cellulite becomes more obvious. Collagen benefits your skin by increasing moisture retention, boosting elasticity, and helping to smooth out that dimpled appearance.
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Dgl Aloe Slippery Elm And Marshmallow
Soothing herbs like deglycyrrhizinated licorice , aloe vera, slippery elm, and marshmallow root can help coat and soothe an irritated gut lining, and may provide therapeutic plant compounds that offer a protective benefit to the intestinal lining while healing leaky gut . DGL and these other agents can also soothe heartburn. Be sure to choose DGL as opposed to regular licorice root, because it can lead to elevated blood pressure with continuous use. These three herbals can be combined with L-glutamine to super-charge your gut-healing protocol.;
How Can I Add Collagen To My Diet
You can get collagen from specific types of foods, such as bone broth. However, an easier way to add collagen into your daily routine is to to take a collagen peptide supplement, like Further Food Collagen Peptides. Add one or two scoops to virtually any recipe and youll be able to get those collagen levels up.
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After working in integrative and functional medicine as a chiropractor and nutritionist for over 15 years, Dr. Chris Oswald joined Further Food as Chief Science Officer in charge of new product development. On top of his list of new products to creat…
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Best Collagen For Gut Healing
There are at least 16 types of collagens that have been identified but the most common ones are type I, II, and III. Most of the collagen supplements are made from pigskins and cattle hides and consists of type 1 and 3. But what is the best collagen for gut healing which I consider having the whole thing, in other words, include all collagen types as possible in your one meal.;
Why? When you include all or most of the connective tissues in one meal such as cooking chicken soup then you are getting more of a complete meal than using just a collagen supplement.
So your gut is likely to be more nourished thus healing leaky gut faster. As I mentioned before, I use collagen supplements as my second choice when I need to but I do my best to have collagen from the animal Im cooking and believe that will benefit you too.;
Here are a few reasons I consider meat broth to be considered as the best collagen for gut health: Cooking meat will provide :;
- -More types of collagens
- -Proteoglycans
- -Peptidoglycans;
And who knows what other nutrients in a meat stock that we havent discovered yet. Thats why I suggest that having the whole animal with some veggies in a soup is the best collagen gut healing and maintaining gut health after the healing has been accomplished.
Other than the purpose of healing the gut when you consume a meal like that it is very enjoyable and satisfying.;;
Top 11 Leaky Gut Supplements
Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where undigested proteins like gluten, toxins and microbes can pass into the bloodstream. Another name for this condition is intestinal permeability, which means the tight junctions or the gateway between the intestinal wall and bloodstream have been damaged and are allowing the undigested particles to pass through the intestinal wall.
When these particles enter the bloodstream, it will cause system-wide inflammation and can initiate an immune response in the body. Over time, if leaky gut is not healed, it can lead to food sensitivities, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, skin issues like eczema, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, depression, anxiety, ADHD, nutrient malabsorption and autoimmune disease.
Most doctors will tell you that repairing leaky gut is difficult and it takes time, but for most people who follow my;leaky gut diet and treatment plan,;its possible to see results fast.
Along with changing your diet, taking the right supplements can make a big difference in fixing leaky gut. These are the 11 key leaky gut supplements that I have recommended to my patients for years that you may consider adding into your daily health routine.
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Possible Causes Of Poor Gut Health
While external factors like stress and anxiety, and internal factors such as inflammation and a PH imbalance, have been touted as the possible culprits of an unhealthy gut biome, the truth is, doctors aren’t exactly sure.
Unfortunately, there has yet to be any notable medical and scientific consensus on the exact cause of leaky gut syndrome and intestinal permeability.;What we do know is that the;only known regulator of intestinal permeability is a protein called zonulin.;And, when this protein is activated in genetically vulnerable individuals, it can cause a leaky gut.;
There are two known triggers of zonulin production: bacteria in the gut and gluten.
This is where things get confusing because not everyone will react to these triggers the same.;There is even;some research to show that gluten only increases the production of zonulin in people with preexisting conditions, like celiac disease.;
While the production of zonulin is vital in understanding what causes leaky gut syndrome, there are many other factors that may be involved in weakening;your intestinal lining.;
- Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
While the exact cause of leaky gut syndrome and intestinal permeability is still undetermined by medical professionals, there is some evidence that the factors above contribute to it.;
Who Can Get Leaky Gut
Anyone can have a leaky gut without even knowing it. But according to research conducted by the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at Virginia Tech, those with autoimmune diseases, like celiac disease, Crohns disease, and IBD, for example, are especially susceptible because they are more sensitive to changes in the digestive system.
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Digestive Enzymes And Stomach Acid Support
Digestive enzymes help make sure that the proteins, fats, and carbohydrates you eat are fully broken down during digestion. This not only reduces wear and tear on your digestive system, but can help reduce leaky gut food sensitivity symptoms.
Along with bacterial toxins, undigested food particles may travel through the permeable gut wall and be mistaken by your body for a foreign invader and cause more systemic inflammation .
There are many types of enzyme formulas, so be sure to find one that you tolerate well. A basic one will contain amylase, protease, and lipase to help your body digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Supporting stomach acid may also support leaky gut healing by generally supporting digestive health and helping ensure complete protein digestion. A formula that also contains betaine hydrochloride may improve results, but isnt necessary for everyone.
The Charles Poliquin L
One of the most popular protocols was pioneered by Charles Poliquin, a world class athletics training authority.
He is obsessed with ensuring high performance athletes can absorb all the nutrients they take in, especially since they can be on such high calorie diets. And his key insight was the importance of addressing intestinal permeability via high doses of L-Glutamine.
His infamous L-Glutamine protocol suggests taking 80g of glutamine a day for 5 days and then tapering off to a long term dose of 10-20g.
During the 5 day megadose phase, Poliquin recommends that you take the L-Glutamine in small sub-doses throughout the day.
For example, 10g , every hour or so.
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I Started Learning About Collagen Supplements
It began showing up in my Instagram feed, with Outdoor Voicesclad women talking about its benefits as they chucked it into their potion-filled lattes. World-class functional medicine doctors mentioned it in their mbg classes, and it showed up in conversations with other wellness-minded folk at events.
The purported benefits were much the same as bone broth: Collagen supplements are meant to help seal and heal the gut lining, so less waste matter gets leaked into your system. On a far more attractive-to-envision level, collagen is also one of the key factors in supporting plump, youthful skin and long, strong hair. It’s thought to support your natural production of collagen. It’s similar to why we tell you to eat vitamin C or apply it topically, as it stimulates your body’s production of collagen.