The True Science Behind Collagen

Submitted by NeoCell

Collagen is a protein, but it’s no ordinary protein. Collagen defines the structural integrity of our bodies and contributes greatly to the vitality that is typically associated with youth. As the body ages, collagen supplies and the ability to regenerate them decrease. This compromises our structural integrity, leading to overall degradation of cell form and function.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and can be found in bones, skin, organs, muscles, eyes, nails, teeth, and hair. Best known for their ability to help connective tissue stay vibrant and flexible, collagen proteins serve two main functions in the body—structure and regeneration.

The Roles of Collagen in the Body

Collagen is a necessary component of skin, hair, joints, and bones. Seventy percent of the skin is made of collagen Type 1 and 3, one hundred percent of tendons are made of collagen Type 1 and 3, and over one third of healthy bone is composed of collagen.

Collagen proteins are also responsible for regenerating and forming new tissue. Worker cells in the body produce a collagen fiber matrix to form the structure of tissues. Over time, the collagen fibers naturally break down into disorganized collagen fragments known as peptides, which float loosely in the extracellular fluid.

True Science: Collagen Depletion

Although abundant in our youth, the body’s natural collagen production typically slows at a rate of 1.5% per year after the age of 25. As collagen production slows, collagen fibers in the body become brittle and begin to break down, resulting in many of the telltale signs of aging such as wrinkles, tendon injuries, and joint pain.

To compensate for lost collagen fibers as we age, worker cells have molecular receptors that detect the presence of loose peptides. Once the loose collagen peptides build up to a certain concentration in the extracellular fluid, the molecular receptors “turn on” the worker cells and new collagen fibers are produced.

However, this regeneration cycle of collagen fibers slows down as we age, resulting in fewer replacement collagen fibers and a weakened collagen matrix in the body’s tissues. This degrading matrix of collagen fibers results in many signs of aging, such as wrinkling skin, thinning hair, and less stable connective tissue. But, there is a solution.

By supplementing with NeoCell products, additional collagen peptides are introduced into the extracellular fluid. The molecular receptors of the worker cells are “turned on” more frequently, thus continuing the regeneration cycle at a healthy rate and rebuilding the collagen matrix more quickly.*

True Science: Natural Law of Regeneration

All natural systems exist in a fluid equilibrium of continuous replenishment, renewal, and decay that is regulated by equal and opposing forces. Imbalance in these forces leads either to adaptation or system decline and eventually failure. Sophisticated natural systems, biological or ecological, maintain a feedback loop that detects and responds to significant changes that would otherwise alter the harmony of the system, thus sustaining vitality and enabling adaptation. NeoCell Collagen is formulated to work with your body’s natural regenerative cycles.

Dosage is meaningless if absorption is minimal. At 400,000 daltons molecular weight, collagen is one of the biggest molecules in your body. Because of its size, it takes a long time to break down under conventional digestion, significantly reducing absorption. BioActive NeoCell Collagen is standardized to a very low molecular weight and enzymatically hydrolyzed for high absorption and bioactivity.

 NeoCell Collagen is Bioactive, Effective, and Safe

NeoCell adheres to the highest standards to ensure absolute safety and the utmost purity for every product it sells—every batch is tested by certified third-party labs. Each NeoCell product is designed specifically to support the collagen systems in our bodies such as those that maintain vibrant youth, radiant beauty, and total body wellness!

 †Based on 2014 NeoCell Collagen study.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

New Research: Can Prebiotics Support Weight Loss?

By Jen Morganti, ND, NEEDS Education Director

Obesity rates in the United States have more than doubled over the past 40 years. With nearly two thirds of the population dealing with the physical and emotional health effects of being obese or overweight, America needs to get serious about solving the obesity epidemic. The fact is, very few treatments are truly successful. Solutions such as dietary stimulants and bariatric surgery can be prohibitively expensive and come with significant risks.

These factors make it very difficult for healthcare providers to help their patients lose weight, especially children. There is a serious need to research and develop safer, more effective weight loss treatments to enhance the effects of standard weight loss recommendations, such as exercise, calorie reduction, and healthy food choices.

 Prebiotics and Weight Loss

Prebiotics are plant-based fibers that nourish and help promote the growth of the good bacteria, called probiotics, which live in your gut. These bacteria are critical to good digestion and a healthy gastrointestinal system.

Although you can take a prebiotic supplement, you can also get prebiotics through your diet. Prebiotic foods are rich in inulin, which promotes healthy gut bacteria, reduces constipation, and helps break down fat. Inulin has even been shown to boost your immune system and improve metabolic health.

 10 Inulin-Rich Prebiotic Foods:

• Chicory Root
• Barley
• Oats
• Apples
• Bananas
• Asparagus
• Onions
• Dandelion Greens
• Garlic
• Leeks

 Some of the prebiotic fiber content may be altered during cooking, so it is best to try and consume them raw rather than cooked.

Prebiotics and Weight Loss for Children

Recently, a study was conducted to determine if prebiotics could be beneficial for weight loss in children. In this study, children with a high BMI (considered obese), aged 7-12, were split into 2 groups. One group took 8 grams of prebiotics daily and the other took a placebo. The two groups were monitored daily while eating breakfast and they were permitted to eat as much as they wanted. Over the course of 16 weeks, the group taking the prebiotics felt significantly fuller after eating and therefore ate less.

Two hormones related to weight and appetite were measured to track the progress throughout the study. Ghrelin, which signals a sense of fullness and adiponectin, related to insulin sensitivity, both increased overall in the group taking the prebiotics. This indicates the positive effects of prebiotics on weight loss.

This research suggests that foods or supplements rich in prebiotic fibers can be very beneficial in helping children win their battle against obesity. Best of all, because prebiotics are naturally occurring in foods, we know they are very safe for children to take without any serious side effects.

 Conclusions on Prebiotics

In general, increased prebiotic intake, whether through diet or supplementation, contributes to a balanced GI environment that ultimately leads to better overall health. Prebiotics are extremely safe and have the potential to help with weight loss, especially when combined with exercise and a healthy diet.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Reference:

Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 Apr; 105(4): 790-799. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.140947. Epub 2017 Feb 22.