Why it works: The science behind marine collagen supplements
Collagen is the glue that holds your bones, muscles and skin together. It’s pretty crucial. It’s also what gives skin, hair and nails their structure, elasticity and firmness. But from your mid-20s, as part of the natural ageing process, collagen production begins to slow. As this happens, hair starts to grey, more lines and wrinkles appear, and muscles become weaker.
But it’s not all bad news. There is a scientifically proven way to supplement the collagen you lose – ingestible marine collagen.
What is marine collagen?
Marine collagen is a collagen supplement derived from the skin of fish. Vida Glow’s Natural Marine Collagen is made from sustainably sourced fish skin. More specifically, our collagen is made using the discarded skin of responsibly farmed fish. This avoids placing too much demand on one species.
Vida Glow marine collagen comes as a powder which is dissolved in water and available in a range of different flavours including our unflavoured original, blueberry, mango, peach and cranberry & lime to name a few.
What are the benefits of marine collagen?
Marine collagen supplements can help you maintain the benefits of collagen as your body’s own stores and production levels start to wind down.
Clinical trials show that marine collagen can improve skin tone and texture, promote skin firmness, increase elasticity and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Studies have also shown marine collagen benefits hair and nails too, significantly improving their quality, strength and growth.
How does marine collagen work?
Marine collagen works from within to boost skin health. When ingested, it delivers essential amino acids to the dermis (the deeper layer of the skin) to stimulate fresh collagen production.
Vida Glow’s Natural Marine Collagen is activated so your body can actually use it. It’s put through a process called hydrolysation, which transforms the fish skin into collagen peptides. The smaller the collagen peptide, the easier it is for your body to absorb. And better absorption means more visible results.
Marine collagen is designed to be taken every day. Consistency is key to maximise its beauty-boosting properties. If you stop taking collagen regularly, the body’s production of collagen will slowly revert back to its natural rate.
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But what do the experts say about marine collagen?
There are plenty of clinical trials, studies and credible evidence on the benefits of marine collagen, but sometimes you just want to hear it from the source. So, we’ve enlisted a panel of leading health, skin and beauty experts to help explain the benefits and science behind marine collagen.
Dr Michele Squire is a PhD scientist, and a firm believer in the power of hydrolised marine collagen to improve skin.
“There is an ever-increasing body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of ingested hydrolysed collagen’s ability to improve skin elasticity, hydration and plump fine lines and wrinkles,” she explains. “There is also some promising evidence of its antioxidant ability, and capacity to reduce signs of UV damage in skin.”
Dermatologist Dr Philip Tong also sees the benefit in marine collagen supplementation as a part of a skin care routine.
“The patients I would recommend collagen supplementation would be those that want to maintain healthy glowing skin and those that would want to reverse signs of premature ageing.”
“There’s early evidence to suggest collagen supplementation has improvements in terms of skin elasticity and hydration and actually has some effects on wound healing as well.”
Impressive, right? So, when do these promising results begin the show? Dr Tong says: “People can expect to see results with consistent daily use of marine collagen in about three to four weeks.”