Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It can be found in many areas of the body including the digestive system, blood vessels, cartilage, tendons, organs, joints, teeth bones, nails, hair, and skin. There are sixteen types of collagen found in the body. The first type or type one accounts for approximately ninety percent of the collagen of the body and is what provides the skin with its firmness.
The second or type two collagen is found in the movable joints. The word collagen comes from kolla, which is Greek for glue. In many ways collagen is similar to glue as it is a fibrous protein that holds the body together. As you can imagine, collagen is an extremely important part of the body. In fact, this protein has many amazing benefits. Here are 13 benefits of collagen that you may not have known about.
1. Digestive Aid
Do you often feel bloated after you eat? Perhaps you have frequent bouts of heartburn. You may just simply feel like the food that you eat does not ever really settle. These are all signs that you are lacking stomach acid. Taking a collagen supplement could help improve your digestion because of the glycine that it contains. Glycine is an amino acid that normalizes the production of stomach acid.
It has been found that supplementation of glycine can helps those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. In addition, glycine supports bile production. Bile is necessary for the digestion of fat-soluble vitamins and fats in general. Another way that collagen aids in digestion is that it remains hydrophilic when heated. Digestive juices and hydrophilic foods blend well together, which means that collagen can help you better digest food that is cooked. If you suffer from frequent bouts of bloating or heartburn, a collagen supplement may help.
