Before we get started, I want to apologize for no Bonjour French Friday last week! I was at a meeting in Los Angeles, actually at the Hilton Hotel, LAX and for some reason I forgot to send it out! Could I have scheduled it on autopilot? YES! But did I? NO! I/we missed this step!

When did I realize this? Sitting in the meeting on Sunday morning! It hit me like a ton of bricks! (I hate it when it does that!). Anyway, meeting was great, flight was great (watched James Bond, Quantum of Solace). When I finally got home, my cozy Casper bed felt heavenly!

Let's talk about collagen supplements, some pros and cons, then you decide...

Even though research about the effectiveness of collagen supplements is still in its early stages, pills and powders that contain collagen have gained popularity in recent years.

Collagen supplements are often advertised as being able to do things like restore sagging skin and diminish wrinkles. Some research supports the idea that collagen supplements can be beneficial to your skin and overall health, but the research is very limited.

Collagen is an important part of our skin's makeup, it provides structural support and elasticity. After age 20, people begin slowly losing their body's collagen supply each year.

What happens when you consume collagen supplements?

You can't actually target specific areas of your body and these products may not be absorbed by your body in a way that will make a visible or notable difference in your skin.

Like most proteins, when collagen is heated, it loses all of its structure with the unwinding and separation of Atom proteins, etc. Then, when this denatured mass of tangled chains cools down, it soaks up all of the surrounding water like a sponge, forming gelatin, which you don't want... Had to get a little chemistry talk in.

Look at it this way...

Powder collagen should not gel, but food collagen (like bone broth, etc.) should gel.

In a nut shell? "Fuggedaboutit"!

Heat harms the potency and effectiveness of a variety of vitamins and other nutrients. Starting at about 120 °F and going all the way up to 240 °F, which is about 30 degrees hotter than boiling water! Anything above 240 °F? Denatured and pretty much down and out for the count!

Most collagen supplements and powders are not highly regulated.

Since the FDA categorizes supplements as a food, not a drug, they do not verify the claims made about these items.

Healthier alternatives? YES please!

The effects of collagen supplements continue to be researched and debated. Instead of buying these supplements, you can always help your body make more collagen naturally by ensuring your diet is packed with healthy foods.

Foods that contain gelatin, such as bone broth, provide collagen.

Gelatin is a protein substance derived from collagen after it’s cooked and is found in the connective tissues of animals. Thus, foods such as chicken skin, pork skin, beef, and fish are sources of collagen.

Major Collagen Food Players...
Proline: found in egg whites, dairy, cabbage, mushrooms, and asparagus
Glycine: found in pork skin, chicken skin, and gelatin, and a variety of other protein-rich foods
Vitamin C: for collagen synthesis. Found in citrus fruits and bell peppers
Zinc: found in beef, lamb, pork, shellfish, chickpeas, lentils, beans, milk, cheese, and various nuts and seeds
Copper: found in organ meats, cocoa powder, cashews, sesame seeds, and lentils