Gut Health: The Benefits of Collagen
Have you got the guts to talk about digestive health? It is time gut health was no longer a taboo subject, it's about more than just going to the loo.
Google trends have shown a remarkable surge of 65% in searches related to ‘gut health’ in the last year. Additionally, a survey by Holland & Barrett found that 58% of people have had gut health issues at some point.
But what does it mean to have a healthy or unhealthy gut?
Gut health is intrinsically linked to various health concerns from digestive ailments to mental health. Often referred to as the body’s ‘second brain’: the gut plays a pivotal role in our overall health.
According to charities Guts UK and Core, digestive issues and GI symptoms linked to poor gut health include heartburn, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, indigestion, abdominal discomfort, constipation, and diarrhoea. Conditions most frequently diagnosed by GPs include IBS, gastritis, gallstones, diverticulitis, and peptic ulceration. Surprisingly, over 10% of a doctor's time is spent helping patients with digestive problems with women tending to experience these issues more than men.
There are numerous self-management strategies to improve digestive function and maintain a balanced gut microbiome. To simplify your diet, you can try following a few habits.
First, eat at the same time every day. This can help regulate your eating schedule and prevent overeating.
Second, chew your food slowly. This allows your body to properly digest the food and can help with portion control.
Third, avoid late-night snacks. Eating late at night can disrupt your sleep and lead to weight gain.
Fourth, make sure to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. These foods are packed with nutrients and can help keep you full.
Fifth, stay hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day. This can help curb cravings and keep your body functioning properly.
Sixth, exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight and improve overall health.
Lastly, consider adding probiotics or fermented foods to your meals. These can promote a healthy gut and aid in digestion.
So what is it about the gut that makes such an impact on our overall health?
Your gut microbiome plays a key role in how your body functions, and as you age your microbiome diversifies to contain many different microbial species, digestive enzymes and good bacteria in the gut- that all have a role to play. Having a higher microbiome diversity is considered vital for a healthy gut.
Healthline suggests your microbiome affects your body in a number of ways including the digestive process, how fat is stored and whether you feel hungry or full- which are important to maintain a healthy weight.
But more interestingly, it aids in digesting healthy sugars in dairy and digesting fibre that also produces beneficial short-chain fatty acids which are important for gut health, helping to regulate your immune system and influencing how the body responds to infections. It also helps to control brain health impacting the central nervous system and brain function. That’s a lot to do for one small environment.
How can we enhance gut health with Collagen?
A ground-breaking study undertaken last year by Drs Mariette Abrahams, Rochez O’Grady and Janne Prawitt on the Effect of a Daily Collagen Peptide Supplement on Digestive Symptoms in Healthy Women, indicated that 93% of those who completed the study experienced a reduction in digestive symptoms including bloating.
Here’s how taking a collagen supplement such as our Peptigen+ Multi collagen can transform your digestive system:
1. Collagen aids in digestion and nutrient absorption. As collagen moves through your GI tract, it assists with breaking down food such as proteins and carbs, helping to move your consumed food to your GI tract smoothly.
2. Easy-to-absorb collagen supplements like our Peptigen+ Hydrolyzed collagen can help with nutrient absorption, preventing you from becoming bloated and allowing you to get all the nutrients your body and microbiome needs.
3. Repairs your gut lining and supports your gut wall integrity. Rebuilds and strengthens your gut lining with its amino acids (particularly glycine and glutamine) these produce antioxidants that help your body protect its cells and are distributed to your gut to heal and repair damaged parts of your intestinal lining that cause GI distress.
4. Heals leaky gut syndrome and relieves IBS. Research has found that people with lower levels of collagen production have high tendencies to experience digestive imbalances- increasing collagen will help to heal these and improve the absorption of nutrients.
5. Reduce inflammation: Collagen is made up of many amino acids, including arginine, cysteine, and threonine, which can boost your intestinal tract’s immune functions. And, of course, glutamine can also reduce inflammation and support intestinal mucosal healing.
So trust your gut and empower your microbiome to optimise not only digestion but your health overall. Support your gut with Peptigen+ and reap more than just the glowing benefits of collagen today.
References:
Guts UK. Digesting the Facts: What people are thinking about their digestive health.
Abrahams M, O'Grady R, Prawitt J. Effect of a Daily Collagen Peptide Supplement on Digestive Symptoms in Healthy Women: 2-Phase Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Form Res. 2022 May 31;6(5):e36339. doi: 10.2196/36339. PMID: 35639457; PMCID: PMC9198822.
Ruairi Robertson, Ph.D. 'How Does Your Gut Microbiome Impact Your Overall Health?'