There are lots of differences between men and women. Depending who you ask, men are more logical, analytical and rational, while women are more intuitive, holistic and creative. People on both sides would no doubt dispute each list.
When it comes to ageing and its effects on our bodies, there are some similarities between the genders and some very obvious differences too.
Studies have shown that men do age more slowly than women. Testosterone thickens men’s skin, helping to maintain its structure and plumpness. The hormone also promotes oil production, keeping skin hydrated for much longer.
As if that wasn’t enough, many men also have much lower oestrogen levels, so when their natural collagen output slows down, the effects aren’t quite so dramatic.
The same can’t always be said for women.
In this blog, we will take a deep dive into the ageing process for women, exploring which parts of our bodies it impacts and the effects producing less collagen can have.
We will also reveal how getting older doesn't have to be all doom and gloom, and explain why our vegan liquid collagen supplement can boost your body’s natural collagen levels: enhancing your skin, hair and nails without harming the planet.
How women age
It is a fact of life that, as women age, our bodies change. We may feel less strong or put on more weight. Our hair may feel thinner and our skin could lose some of its elasticity.
We’re going to take a look at the many physical changes many women experience in later life, and explain how collagen supplements, including our vegan liquid collagen can help restore the balance.
Muscle, joint and bone health
We are encouraged to embrace a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet at every stage of life, but for women up to the age of 30, it’s great for building up bone density.
From around the age of 35, that starts to decrease, with between 0.5% and 1.5% on average lost just before, during and just after menopause. Those percentages can increase to up to 5% if you’re prone to faster bone loss.
The less active older women are, the more likely we are to lose muscle mass and feel less strong. This can become a bit of a vicious circle: the more inactive we become, the weaker we feel and the harder it is to build up the connective tissues in our muscles.
The great news is that studies have found taking supplements like our vegan liquid collagen daily can significantly increase bone mineral density and ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis by stimulating tissues in the body to produce more cartilage.
Collagen powder and other supplements can also improve joint pain by strengthening and lubricating the tissue fibres, and help contribute to muscle tissue growth.
Heart health
According to The British Heart Foundation, coronary heart disease kills more than twice as many women in the UK as breast cancer. For menopausal women, the risk of developing heart disease is up to three times greater than those of the same age who are not menopausal.
It is partly due to the slowdown in the body’s production of collagen, which helps artery walls stay flexible and keeps our blood pressure in check.
There are ways older women can reduce the risks to their heart. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and whole grains is a good start, staying moderately active and getting a good night’s sleep will all help.
Taking our vegan collagen is also a great idea. It is rich in amino acids, which are both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, helping to dilate the blood vessels and increase blood flow.
Gut health
Gut health, much like collagen, has been talked about a lot by the beauty and wellness industries. When we explore the connection between our gut and brain a little more, it’s easy to understand why.
Our gut is an amazing ecosystem, but it is susceptible to disruption from tiredness, autoimmune challenges and even stress. The smart folk at Harvard explain how a troubled intestine sends signals to the brain and vice versa.
As women age, their fluctuating hormones can negatively affect their gut health, but once again, taking collagen powder and other collagen supplements can help. Its anti-inflammatory properties help calm the lining of our stomach and can encourage the repair of our gut barrier.
Skin health
There are lots of factors that can impact women’s skin, from diet and exposure to the sun, to whether they smoke and prefer hot showers.
However, from the age of around 30, our collagen production slowly starts to decline, and really accelerates after the age of around 45.
As a result, the deeper layers of our skin can become less ordered, leading to reduced elasticity and more wrinkles. The drop in collagen also impacts hydration in skin cells, and can make it look and feel drier and less supple.
Several studies found that collagen plays an important role in improving skin health. People who took daily doses of collagen supplements experienced reduced dryness and increased skin elasticity.
Many collagen supplements contain collagen peptides and hyaluronic acid, both of which provide excellent hydration, helping plump out skin and giving it a more youthful look.
Hair and nail health
The ageing process in women also affects our hair. The downturn in the body’s collagen production can lead to our hair feeling thinner and more brittle.
As well as growing more slowly, many women over the age of 50 report increased hair loss (while annoyingly it starts growing, unwanted, elsewhere!).
Likewise, older women’s nails change too, becoming weaker and more prone to breaking, even when they are regularly trimmed.
The hydrating properties of collagen supplements don’t just improve skin moisture and elasticity: they extend to your hair and nails too.
Studies have shown that taking collagen powder and supplements that included collagen peptides and hyaluronic acid, resulted in a significant reduction in nail cracking and brittleness. They also experienced reduced hair dullness and dryness.
A metabolic booster?
There have been many scientific studies exploring the impact of collagen supplements for older women. However, its impact on our weight has yet to be conclusively decided.
The limited research that currently exists speculates that collagen supplements and collagen peptides could speed up the metabolism, potentially helping people lose weight.
The scientific jury is still definitely still out about this. We will keep an eye on emerging studies about any health benefits of collagen supplements on the metabolism and update you if any definitive results are published.
All about collagen
Having explored the impact of ageing on women and how our vegan liquid collagen can help soften that blow, it’s the ideal time to find out more about collagen and how it affects our bodies.
What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is present in our bones, joints, muscles, organs, blood vessels, intestinal lining, skin and eyes.
Like other proteins, collagen is made up of essential amino acids, primarily proline, glycine and hydroxyproline. When these crucial amino acids are combined with the right amounts of vitamin C, zinc, copper and manganese, they form a triple helix.
This incredibly robust structure provides support everywhere it is found, from deep inside our connective tissues and bones, to the layers of our skin.
The different types of collagen
Not all collagen is the same. Scientists have identified around 28 types of collagen fibre, which vary at a molecular level and change depending on where in the body it is used.
The five main types of collagen are:
Type I
This type of collagen accounts for up to 90% of collagen in the body. It is densely packed and gives structure to our bones, tendons, ligaments and skin.
Type II
This type of collagen is found in elastic cartilage and offers support for our joints.
Type III
This type of cartilage is present in muscles, organs and arteries.
Type IV
This type of collagen is found in our skin layers.
Type V
This type of collagen is present in our corneas, some layers of skin, our hair and in placenta tissues.
The impact of less collagen in our bodies
There is no blood test or other way to measure the levels of collagen in the body. However, when production begins to slow, there are several visible signs. They can include:
- crepey, wrinkled or sagging skin
- shrinking or weaker muscles
- stiffer tendons and ligaments
- joint pain or osteoarthritis
- gastrointestinal problems
Habits that prevent healthy collagen production
Our lifestyle can play a key role in how quickly existing collagen breaks down and production in the body declines.
Smoking
We all know by now that cigarettes are bad for us in many ways, but smoking also hinders collagen creation by damaging collagen and elastin.
As well as resulting in wrinkles, it can hamper wound healing. It’s also worth knowing that nicotine constricts blood vessels near the skin’s surface, blocking the flow of oxygen and other vital nutrients.
Sugar and carbohydrates
Forget “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”. Refined sugar, even in the form of carbs, attaches itself to proteins to form molecules that actively weaken collagen.
Ultraviolet light
Too much exposure to direct sunlight not only cuts collagen generation, it also causes collagen to break down faster. Not forgetting, ultraviolet sunlight is a major cause of wrinkles.
Autoimmune diseases
Collagen production can also be affected by issues beyond our control, such as autoimmune and other diseases.
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis and scleroderma are connective tissue conditions that damage collagen, while people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta can also experience damage to their collagen.
Boosting your collagen intake
Although there are many factors that negatively impact women’s collagen levels, we can help the body produce collagen naturally. One of them is by eating foods rich in collagen.
Incorporating foods such as beef bone broth, pork bone broth, skin-on chicken, sardines, liver, kidneys, broccoli, aloe vera, berries and even gummies into your diet can improve skin hydration and strengthen muscles and bones.
As well as eating collagen rich foods, many people are also turning to collagen supplementation to boost their body’s collagen production.
Collagen peptides in liquids, powders and pills
It’s no surprise that the wellness and beauty industries recognised the importance and power of collagen.
Although there are lots of products on the market, most collagen supplements contain the required amino acids, as well as collagen peptides (tiny pieces of protein) or hydrolysed, dried collagen from two sources: animals and fish.
Bovine collagen peptides are derived primarily from cows and pigs, while marine collagen peptides come from the skin of wild-caught cod that is not at risk of endangerment. It can also come from jellyfish, sharks, starfish and sponges.
It’s worth knowing that both these different types of collagen are not the same as the collagen found in humans.
The benefits of taking collagen supplements
Despite not being a 100% match, oral collagen supplementation from bovine and marine sources can have a range of health benefits.
In combination with a healthy diet, packed with protein-rich foods full of the amino acids needed to generate collagen naturally, oral collagen supplements may help increase the body’s natural collagen production.
They can help boost muscle mass and healthy bone mineral density. A daily collagen peptide supplement can improve skin health, ease joint pain and strengthen connective tissue.
All of which is brilliant news for women struggling to cope with the physical challenges of ageing. However, consumer demand for sustainable alternatives to collagen supplements is higher than ever before.
We listened..
Seeking sustainable skin hydration
The benefits of collagen are undeniable. Taking collagen supplements, powders or liquids can help combat skin ageing, bone loss and brittle hair.
Sadly, many of the collagen rich foods or supplements that support collagen production are unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans, and not just because of their collagen sources.
Many women are looking for sustainable wellness products, including collagen supplements, that don’t have a negative impact on the planet.
Marine and animal collagen production has been linked to deforestation and unethical practices, while living conditions for the farmed animals are sometimes far from ideal.
That’s why we chose a different direction.
Our vegan liquid collagen supplement
Inspired by the skin, body connection, our vegan liquid collagen has been backed by scientific studies and formulated to restore women’s overall health and wellbeing.
Our collagen supplement contains VeCollal®, the world's first plant-based collagen alternative. Unlike animal and marine collagen, VeCollal® is a biomimetic alternative, a plant-based and ethically sustainable product that generates collagen synthesis.
It precisely mimics the chain of amino acids used to produce collagen naturally, creating an exact match for Type I, which makes up 90% of our body’s collagen.
Our oral collagen supplement also includes other ingredients known to stimulate collagen generation, including:
Panax ginseng
As well as possibly boosting the production of Type 1 collagen and helping suppress collagen degradation, ginseng can also protect your hydrated skin against UV damage. It also has great anti-inflammatory properties.
Retinol (vitamin A)
Retinoids are the active form of Vitamin A, and stimulate the production of collagen which stimulates the creation of new skin cells, decreases oil production and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Biotin (vitamin B7)
Research shows that vitamin B7 can improve hair health, including shine, volume, and scalp coverage. It's also great for achieving healthy skin, improving smoothness and overall appearance. Biotin can also strengthen brittle nails and possibly accelerate growth.
Hyaluronic acid (HA)
We used vegan-friendly HA, derived from bacteria fermentation. The HA in our oral supplement boosts collagen, hydrates skin, relieves joint pain, improves acne and increases skin elasticity.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, but it should be part of any balanced diet, as vitamin C is packed with antioxidants that are known to make your skin radiant and youthful.
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin contributes to the normal function of the nervous system, as well as to the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes.
The benefits of collagen for women
Our vegan liquid collagen isn’t just sustainable and better for the planet: it has all the potential health benefits women have come to expect from taking collagen.
As well as increasing the hydration of your skin, our liquid collagen acts in the same way as human Type I collagen: providing support wherever it is found.
There’s no faffing about with having to add collagen powder to water, or swallowing tasteless collagen pills.
Our easy-to-take liquid is infused with the rich sweetness of Japanese Plum, while the handy 30ml sachets can be popped into your bag, or kept in the glovebox.
From improving skin health to boosting your bones, taking collagen to help offset the effects of ageing for women has never been easier or more sustainable.
Order your vegan liquid collagen sachets today
We offer a range of purchase options, including a 28-day subscription that includes a bonus bundle.
Find the one that’s right for you here.
Contact us
If you have any questions about taking collagen among your usual dietary supplements, or queries that aren’t covered by our FAQs, do drop us a line.
Email us at info@arella-beauty.co.uk, call 03303 209 190 or fill in this contact form and we’ll get back to you straight away.
