by Frederick Cheng, R.Ph., and Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
Collagen is the most abundant form of protein in the body. It keeps our skin supple and our joints flexible. As we age, the body produces significantly less collagen, resulting in wrinkles in the skin, and stiffening joints. Protecting your skin from the sun and the elements, staying active, and maintaining a well-rounded low-fat, low-carb diet definitely helps.
It is always ideal to source the desired nutrient through a natural, bioavailable dietary source, because it will be broad-spectrum (providing the various lengths of collagen required), and the body already knows how to use it accordingly right away. Chicken or beef bone broth, tendons, cashews, avocados, and egg whites are just a few examples of collagen-rich foods. However, it may not be feasible or possible to get a consistent therapeutic dose in your whole food diet; sometimes, we need to add some extra collagen in the form of supplements. Things would also be much easier if there was just one type of collagen…
Canprev’s “Collagen Beauty” is intended for long-term use, and it contains the appropriate collagen protein chain length in order to stimulate fibroblast cells in the skin, stimulating collagen metabolism where it is most needed. It also stimulates nail growth. This collagen protein formulation is available as a liquid or a powder, and can work in as little as 28 days. CanPrev also makes specific formulations for bone, muscle tone, joint and cartilage, and even a full-spectrum (“multi-purpose”) one.
CanPrev’s line is high quality and comprehensive, but products like Herbaland’s “Vegan Collagen Booster Gummies” (sugar-free and produced in Richmond), “TruMarine” (by withUs), and Organika (including their “Plant-Based Collagen Booster”) are also great choices. Since there are many types of collagen, as well as many supportive players such as the amino acids, proline, lysine, and glycine, it is important to talk to your integrative pharmacists at Cloverdale Pharmasave, Pharmasave Steveston Village, or your integrative physician in order to pick the best one for you.”
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
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