What is collagen?

A triple helix polypeptide molecule, collagen is a protein in our bodies. In fact, collagen is the largest and most abundant protein in the body, making up about 65% of our total protein.

Proteins are made of amino acids, such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are amino acids that exist in collagen in varying proportions, depending upon the source. As the largest protein in the body, collagen is a chain of over 1500 amino acids.

Collagen is the connective tissue for almost all our structures, including

heart……………lungs……….arteries………discs……….0blood cells
skin…………….muscles…….bones………..cartilage……..liver
other organs……hair…………joints………..nails…………prostate

As we age, collagen production drops way off and any of these systems can be affected. That explains the floorward tendency of our skin and muscles as we age, which doctors call ptosis.

In the organs, decreased collagen causes instability and weakness. Organs like the heart and prostate may enlarge; other organs just get flimsier and weaker. Disease results. For this type of degenerative problem, drugs rarely work.

Why does collagen production decrease? Hormonal changes, drugs, alcohol, processed food, white sugar, hydrogenated oils, overwork, radiation, fluoridated water, nutritional deficits, dehydration, stress, trauma – the usual culprits.

COLLAGEN LOSS

What else happens as collagen production decreases? Muscles and skin sag. The bones lose density. The joints and ligaments become weaker and less elastic. Cartilage becomes thinner and weaker at the joints it is supposed to cushion. Hair loses its wave or curl or thickness. Organs may sag toward the floor (prolapse), and may malfunction. The lungs turn to paper. The heart weakens and enlarges. The liver and prostate may weaken and enlarge. The arteries weaken and are less able to resist plaque formation. Also they are more likely to develop a break in one of their 3 layers (aneurysm). The skin becomes thinner and it wrinkles.

Ever notice that kids never lick their fingers for friction when thumbing through the pages of a book – only adults do? Collagen breakdown. Ever notice that plastic surgeons often own large houses overlooking the ocean? Collagen breakdown.

COLLAGEN DIGESTION

Normal digestion breaks down protein into amino acids, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.

For the collagen protein found in most foods and supplements to be utilized by the body, it must first be broken down by the digestive system, and then absorbed through the intestine into the blood, and then reassembled into your collagen at the proper site. All this is very complicated and inefficient, since it takes many metabolic steps to do all the breaking down and building up, using up a great deal of the body’s reserves in order to do all the work.

With most collagen supplements, the strain on the body of going through this entire process hardly justifies the hoped-for upside of new collagen formation.

GLUCOSAMINE

We’ve all heard about Glucosamine sulfate – a protein supplement derived from the chitin of shellfish. Chitin is the hard material that makes up the shells. The theory is that in pure form, glucosamine sulfate will rebuild joints because it is a component of the shellfish’s shells as well as a component of your cartilage.

An Italian researcher, Rovati, has been the world authority in the area of glucosamine sulfate for the past 60 years. The main problem was stability – isolated glucosamine sulfate naturally tends to degrade into formless mush after about 30 days. In the 1970s, Dr. Rovati patented a process to stabilize glucosamine sulfate, which process is still used today.

There are many companies which do not use Rovati’s method, and sell the cheaper unstabilized form, which may be worthless by the time it gets into your system. Fillers may be used to hide the decomposition of the active ingredient, so percent composition is also an issue in evaluating a brand of glucosamine sulfate. In addition, absorbability into the bloodstream is critical, after the supplement has gone through the digestion process.

Glucosamine sulfate can sometimes deliver what it promises – relieve joint problems. But what usually happens when people stop taking glucosamine? Right – the problem returns. That’s what everybody says. Why is that? Because the action of glucosamine in joints is primarily anti-inflammatory. Glucosamine may stop the inflammation, which is caused by the action of worn out discs, joint capsules, menisci, bursae, etc. But the irritation continues and inflammation is constantly occurring. So when the glucosamine stops coming in, inflammation is once again uncontrolled, and the pain starts back up.

A BETTER IDEA: HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN

The best collagen for human supplements is derived from bovine cartilage which has been hydrolyzed or broken down into its components – amino acids and peptides. These components may then act as the building blocks of new collagen.

The objective is to end up with small molecular weight intact amino acids that have not been damaged. Such nonessential amino acids are readily absorbed into the bloodstream without wasting energy for digestion.

There are dozens of companies out there, using dozens of different procedures to hydrolyze the collagen, with a variety of results. The single determining factor in the quality of the finished collagen product is the method of hydrolysis: how was the breakdown to the component amino acids accomplished?

The least expensive ways to hydrolyze are the most common: heat and acids. Most manufacturers use HCl and other acids for hydrolysis, again because it is the least expensive way to go. The problem is that the end product will be damaged by the harsh acids, and may contain residuals as well.

Usually the process is done once or twice and what you get is what you get, as far as results go. After that it’s all marketing: we’re the best because our doctors say…. You’ve heard it all before.

But harsh methods like heat and acids also result in the lowest quality of end-product, for 2 reasons:

molecular weight
usable condition

Molecular weight is a measure of how big the final product molecules are: the smaller, the better. Molecular weight is measured in units called daltons. Molecular weight determines bioavailability: uptake at the cellular level. Bioavailability is a prime criterion in determining the value of any supplement. What good is a supplement that never makes it to the cellular level?

Researching the various molecular weights of most collagens available through supplement distributors and stores, the molecular weight is not generally advertised. The reason is that even though the ads often use the phrase Low Molecular Weight, the molecules are usually quite large, in a range of 40,000 – 45,000 daltons. Such large proteins have difficulty being metabolized into building new collagen. As a result most of the collagen in this form is excreted unused from the body.

The second criterion for supplement value is condition, or how bio-compatible the collagen molecules will be for replacement materials. Especially relevant in a situation like this where we’re trying to provide new building blocks to replace lost collagen.

ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS

As it turns out, there is one other method for hydrolyzing collagen, that is far and away the best, agreed by all: proteolytic enzymes. By using enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen, without heat and acids, the bio-compatible integrity of the finished molecules will be optimized.

In our newest version of hydrolyzed collagen, enzymatic hydrolysis process is done 8-10 times on each batch and the result is very small peptides – 2000 daltons or less – of highly biocompatible collagen.

There have been very few collagen supplements that have ever gone to the trouble of hydrolyzing eight or ten separate times, let alone using enzymes in the process, because it is expensive and time-consuming to do so, and most people wouldn’t know the difference.

But the present hydrolyzed protein provides the best building blocks for new collagen, which can then work to build lean muscle, rebuild damaged joints and provide for the other collagen deficiencies listed above.

Taken long-term it is practically impossible not to benefit from such a supplement even if there is some serious underlying pathology. Once the body is provided with usable building blocks for its own new collagen, often for the first time in years, so many systems can show improvement:

• lean muscle gain
• muscle tone
• skin toning and thickening
• joint rebuilding
• arterial strengthening
• thickening hair and nails
• increased energy from musculoskeletal surcharge
• organ rebuilding: heart, prostate, lungs, liver, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, etc.

Chronic problems that can resolve include:

osteoporosis
high blood pressure
arthritis in joints
bladder weakness
chronic fatigue
shallow breathing
autoimmune situations
skin problems
splitting nails

Impossible? Why have we heard so little about the fantastic effects of collagen? Well just think – if a natural food supplement 100% clean, with no side effects could actually have powerful therapeutic effects on any system dependent on collagen, who would study that? Who would publish the results? University research labs funded by the drug companies?

BEST OF TODAY’S COLLAGEN

These days there are many different collagen products available. You see them at health food stores and online. Most are made as cheaply as possible and marketed as the best possible, etc.

The addition of small amounts of 3 extra amino acids significantly enhances the end results of this particular collagen supplement, especially in cases of organic function and athletic performance. The three amino acids are

• glycine
• carnitine
• glutamine

Glycine is the smallest amino acid found in the body. As such it makes the collagen even more bioavailable by ensuring it is delivered to the cellular level, thus acting as a natural anti-inflammatory. Such a process is often able somehow to interrupt the pain pathway, as edema and inflammation diminish.

Carnitine is important for mitochondria production, which of course is going to promote natural energy levels and cause efficient oxidation of fats.

Glutamine is essential for healing of the gut mucosa, as well as muscle production. Which explains why so many patients with chronic digestive disorders see such quick improvement. Body builders and athletes benefit from the synthesis and growth of muscle tissue.

In powder form Hydrolyzed Collagen can be mixed with fruit juice. Any time of day – with meals, without meals – doesn’t matter. Best way is to blend in fruit juice or smoothie. But important: no other protein powders during the 60 Days.

Because of the expense of the careful processing described, there is no comparison in results with other commercial collagen. Taking it twice a day, 2 or 3 tablespoons in fruit juice, most patients notice a significant difference in a week or less. After a month, many have experienced dramatic changes. But to really give it a fair try, the patient should commit to 2 jars during a 60 day period. As with any completely natural product, the result is cumulative, which means don’t miss a day once you start.

PART OF THE 60 DAY PROGRAM

In the 60 Day Program, it has been practically a mantra that we wanted to keep the number of supplements to an absolute minimum so that the patient was taking the least number of supplements possible, spending the least amount of money, but still taking in everything necessary for a complete detox and nutrition turnaround. With an objective like that obviously I’ve been the target of every Magic Bullet Salesman since Edward Jenner, all claiming their products were essential to any effective program, etc.

But with collagen this clean and absorbable, there are so many areas of the body that can benefit from suddenly having available something that hasn’t been present for years, but which is the structural material of virtually every part of the body. And it’s the body itself that is doing the prioritizing – the triage. The body directs the repair materials to the locations most in need — truly the epitome of the holistic model. None of this chasing symptoms – what I call the allopathic approach to supplements – this pill for this disease, that pill for that disease, etc. If that model doesn’t work in mainstream medicine why would it work in holistic medicine?

Holistic means give the body what it needs to heal its own tissues, remove the interference, remove the accummulated wastes. Stick with the program until normal equilibrium is re-established, no matter what. Classic simplicity, with high expectation of positive results; difficult to commit to. Sadly, when faced with a choice between lifestyle change and death, most people will choose death. Obviously that’s not the demographic that can expect the best results from the 60 Day Program, which includes 7 supplements all of the same calibre as this collagen we have been describing.

But for those with the wherewithal to follow through and adhere strictly to the regimen, the missing key to their health picture is often discovered.

CLINICAL RESULTS

Some of the early work that was done with hydrolyzed collagen involved cancer patients. As cancer progresses, it often destroys muscle tissue in a very aggressive fashion. People who have been around family members who are dying of cancer may notice the characteristic way that the muscles of the arms and legs seem to turn to limp string. Doctors call this condition cachexia.

As more and more patients began to use hydrolyzed collagen, a wide range of clinical gains was demonstrated. First the chronic arthritis conditions, especially of shoulders and knees that had been weak and painful for years — suddenly, normal. For many patients the skin thickens and tightens, very soon. Hair thickens. Those changes we expected, although not quite as quickly as most people achieved.

But what was surprising was the number of organic dysfunction cases that showed dramatic improvement with daily collagen smoothies – liver problems, prostate problems, lung deficits, heart problems, especially blood pressure. Such improvements would show up with great regularity, and soon we came to almost expect the dramatic improvement. When the physiology of these conditions is considered, the logic falls into place. For the first time the body is being provided with the building blocks of its own new collagen. It prioritizes where the collagen is needed most. This is a completely different approach from the pain medications and anti-inflammatories which are self-defeating and ultimately destructive in the chronic case. Most patients thought drugs were their only option all these years.

Performing athletes and bodybuilders find this product a clean source of collagen protein for lean muscle gain, fast recovery time, and optimum performance.

Hyrdrolyzed Collagen is now being marketed independently and is a runaway success. We didn’t even have time to name it – it’s just called Hydrolyzed Collagen. And it fulfills every criterion as a natural and holistic product, as set forth in the chapters of thedoctorwithin.com – a product that works with all the systems of the body at the cellular level.

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Order Collagen from the Supplements page, or please call (915) 307-1055.

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REFERENCES

Guyton, A.C., MD – Textbook of Medical Physiology
Lane, William – Sharks Don’t Get Cancer
Theodesakis – The Arthritis Cure
Warberg, Otto – The Metabolism of Tumors
Rotta Research Labs – “Profile of Glucosamine Sulfate”
Woods, Chris – “Repairing Parchment With Collagen” 16 Apr 97
Dougados, Maxime – “The Current Classification of Drugs in Osteoarthritis and the Recommendations for their Development” Rene Descartes University Paris, France
Kelly, Gregory S. – “Bromelain: A Literature Review and Discussion of its Therapeutic Applications”