Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that your body does not store it. You must obtain this powerful antioxidant from food, including citrus fruits, broccoli, and tomatoes or a Vitamin C supplement on a daily basis. It is …
The benefits of meditation are becoming increasingly well-known in the field of alternative healthcare. This natural relaxation method is known to ease depression and anxiety, alleviate sleep problems, and boost overall mood. According to a report in Frontiers in Psychology, people who meditated on a …
If you’re like many others, you need coffee to start your day. Of course, a healthier alternative is a cup of green tea or a glass of water to kick-start your body. But, if you’re not giving up that coffee (and we aren’t either!), here’s a trick we’ve picked up from none other than Scientific Director and Pharmacist Jerry Hickey – add collagen to your coffee!
Everyone wants to turn back the clock when it comes to the appearance of their skin. Time, gravity and the sun are the factors to blame when skin starts to wrinkle, sag and lacks a youthful glow. We slather on expensive creams, avoid the sun like vampires, and some even resort to cosmetic surgery to get the skin they want. As detailed by this source here, facelifts are among the most popular cosmetic procedures in people over the age of 55 in the US. No doubt in a bid to reverse the effects of time. Many find their skin appearance does not match how they feel inside. But it’s possible that they do not know a lot of those visible changes have to do with a decline in a single valuable structural protein called Collagen.
Add one teaspoon to your coffee for a powerful boost of this superfood. While you’ll need one full scoop a day to reap the benefits and show a difference in your hair, skin and nails and two scoops a day to fully support your bones and joints, this tasteless yet superior health boost is a great addition to your coffee at any time of the day!
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It is found in our bones, skin, nails, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Think of collagen simply as the “glue” that holds us together. While our bodies naturally produce collagen, the older we get, the less we make; our skin loses collagen at a rate of 1.5% per year, starting in our late 20s! By the time our 60s come around, we’ve lost half of our skins collagen content. Women’s skin actually ages faster than men’s – in the 5 years following menopause, women can lose an additional 30% of their total collagen!
There are many outside factors that can deplete collagen levels, including smoking, too much sun, diabetes, poor nutrition, stress, and poor hydration. Low amounts in the body will directly impact your skin, muscles, and joints. You’ll start to show symptoms of wrinkles, sagging skin, muscle pain and soreness, and joint pain.
While Collagen exists in the human body in over 25 forms, more than 90% is formed by Collagen Type 1 and 3. Combined, these proteins are essential in the support of connective and structural tissues. But what sets a high-quality brand of collagen apart from a generic brand is whether or not it is hydrolyzed.
In Collagen’s original unhydrolyzed-state, collagen molecules are very large and cannot be effectively broken down or absorbed. Numerous studies show that supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen is the most superior and may also help improve cellulite.
According to Nicole Crane, BS, NTP, former Director of Nutrition for InVite Health, “Collagen keeps our skin firm, smooth, and elastic. When we do not have enough collagen, skin easily forms wrinkles and sages under its own weight. The plump, smooth skin we associate with youth has a lot to do with the significantly higher amount of collagen we have when we are young.”
Collagen has become a popular ingredient in many skin creams and other cosmetics. But many controlled clinical trials report that collagen works much more efficiently for the skin when swallowed directly. Research from Brazil and Germany, published in the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, supplemented 69 women between 35 and 55 years old with hydrolyzed collagen every day for two months. The elasticity of their skin increased by 30% within the first month. Four weeks after the study concluded, their skin’s new elasticity remained the same and its moisture content increased by 14%.[1] Adding collagen to your coffee, can help support your hair, skin and nails!
Hydrolyzed collagen is the richest source of amino acids that constitute collagen, cartilage and connective tissue in your bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and muscles. Numerous clinical trials have shown that collagen improves joint health, while reducing pain and stiffness. Published in the journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, thirty people with arthritis over a 13-week period showed a significant improvement in joint pain and stiffness when taking a hydrolyzed collagen supplement.[2]
[1] https://www.invitehealth.com/collagen-restores-youth-to-the-skin-in-women/radio/2014/09/
[2] https://www.invitehealth.com/hydrolyzed-collagen-improves-joint-pain/radio/2014/09/
Just because the leaves are changing color and the temperature is dropping, doesn’t mean your motivation should follow suit! If the colder weather and lack of motivation is keeping you from your fitness goals, these 10 fall-inspired fitness tips may help. Make a motivation board …
Bacteria is commonly thought of as negative. There are plenty of harmful bacteria that can lead to a number of risks when it comes to the bacteria inside of your body. But with harmful bacteria comes beneficial bacteria called Probiotics. What are Probiotics? Probiotics are …
Native to Southern Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia, Nigella sativa, or Black seed, has been used as a medicinal plant throughout the world, including the Middle East and South Europe. The seeds of N. sativa and their oil have been widely used in the treatment of various ailments and have been extensively studied for its biological activities and therapeutic potential in supporting respiratory health, according to a review published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine.
Black seed is rich is B-vitamins and iron, displaying anti-aging benefits. In China, Black seed is widely used for its phytochemicals, rich antioxidants and antibacterial properties. A study by researchers conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College set out to determine how potent black seed oil was against several strains of bacteria and viruses and several antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, Gatifloxacin and Tetracyclin. According to researchers, “Out of 144 strains tested, most of which were resistant to a number of antibiotics, 97 were inhibited by the oil.”
Publishes in the Egyptian Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, researchers noticed a growing problem with yeasts and molds; individuals are growing antifungal-resistant. The scientists tested “thymol, TQ, and THQ against 30 human pathogens and discovered the each compound showed 100% inhibition for the 30 pathogens evaluated.”
Numerous clinical studies have shown Black seed to support respiratory health; specifically in the relaxation of the bronchi in those with asthma, allowing for easier breathing. Scientists at the Department of Physiology, Ghaem Medical Center studied this link.
Twenty-nine asthmatic adults were randomly divided into the non-supplemented control group (14 patients) and the supplemented group (15 patients) in this 3 month study. Asthma symptom score, asthma severity, frequency of symptoms per week, and wheezing were recorded in the beginning of the study (the first visit), 45 days after treatment started with Black Seed (second visit), and at the end of the study (third visit). Pulmonary function tests were also measured, and the drug regimen of the patients was evaluated at three different visits.
All asthma symptoms, frequency of asthma symptoms per week, chest wheezing, and pulmonary function test values in the study group receiving Black Seed significantly improved in the second and third visits compared with the first visit. In addition, further improvement of chest wheezing and severity of disease on the third visit were observed compared with the second visit in this group; asthma improved continuously. In the third visit all symptoms in the study group were significantly different (much milder) from those of the control group.
Each time your body reacts to an allergen it releases histamine. If your body is consistently producing histamine, it needs more histamine-breakdown enzymes to neutralize it. This is the reason why allergies can all of a sudden appear, even at 25, 45 or 75 years of age; your histamine load has been building. Growing clinical evidence is showing that individuals who develop food and environmental sensitivities to otherwise healthy foods have high histamine counts and may not break down histamine as fast as they produce it, causing a massive allergy burden.
Researchers at Humboldt University School of Medicine and the Institute for Transfusion Medicine at Charité University Hospital, both in Berlin state that Nigella sativa is an important medicinal herb. In many Arabian, Asian and African countries, black seed oil is used as a natural remedy for a wide range of ailments, including various allergies.
Four studies on the clinical efficacy of Nigella sativa in allergic diseases are presented. In these studies, a total of 152 patients with allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic eczema) were treated with Nigella sativa oil, given in capsules at a dose of 40 to 80 mg/kg/day. The patients scored the subjective severity of target symptoms using a predefined scale. The following laboratory parameters were investigated: IgE, eosinophil count, endogenous cortisol in plasma and urine, ACTH, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol and lymphocyte sub-populations. The study review is published in the December 2003 issue of the journal Phytotherapy Research.
Black seed has been used for centuries to improve digestive ailments. The seeds aid have been shown to aid in digestion, decreasing bloating, gas and stomach cramps. It has also been shown to have antispasmodic effects on the smooth muscle of the intestines. Published in the Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, researchers found that Black seed lessened appetite, improved glucose levels and glucose absorption, which lead to weight loss, as well.