In busy and active households across the country and the world, families move like fast-paced steam locomotives to keep up with today’s ever-challenging society. Women are the engines that keep everything moving forward.

Many women juggle careers, the family finances, take part in service to their communities, have active social lives and are disproportionately responsible for the upkeep of the home and care of children and eldercare. A woman's needs are usually last in line. And, during the 2020 pandemic, these responsibilities have intensified with new layers of stresses and responsibilities. 

With 2021 looking brighter and less stressed, now's the time women should feel and look brighter too. After all, the engine will not function well if it's not taken care of first. 

Healthful Tip: Healthful Seasons Collagen Peptides is meticulously designed for HER.

Collagen 

We’ve all had those moments when we look in the mirror one day and think where did that wrinkle come from or when did I start looking old?

It might seem to come out of nowhere, but the truth is, our skin starts aging earlier than we realize.

The decade of the 30s heralds the first signs of aging for women. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen. Changes slowly begin in the skin, body and hair, and by the time we reach our 50s, we experience a substantial decline in collagen(1).

Sure, there are prescription medications or skin injections available. But they come at a price to both your body and your wallet.

Luckily, there’s a healthier and more economical option – one that women have used for centuries: Collagen Peptides

Healthful tip: With Healthful Seasons Collagen Peptides, you can make your morning healthier without changing your whole routine. Have it your way! Our blend easily takes smoothies like a Classic Strawberry Banana or a Poolside Pineapple Smoothie to the next health level. Or add a scoop to your favorite hot beverage like coffee or hot chocolate. Because of the added health benefits of green tea, fruit, and veggies for healthy aging, we especially recommend trying collagen in hot or iced green tea or your favorite smoothie.

The Backstory: What is Collagen?

Collagen is often called the body’s scaffolding. It’s a hard, insoluble and fibrous protein that makes up one-third of the protein in the human body (2).

In most collagens, the molecules are packed together to form long, thin fibrils. These act as supporting structures to anchor cells to each other. They give the skin strength and elasticity. Over time and as we age, these molecules break down and so does their support of the skin. The result that we see is a loss in elasticity, which manifests itself as lines, wrinkles or crepey skin.

In nature, collagen is found exclusively in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals(3).  

New York dermatologist Whitney Bowe, author of The Beauty of Dirty Skin: The Surprising Science of Looking and Feeling Radiant from the Inside Out says: 

It’s the glue that holds the body together.

She says collagen makes up about 75% of the dry weight of your skin, providing volume that keeps skin looking plump and keeps lines at bay. It’s also rich in in the amino acids proline and glycine, which you need to maintain and repair your tendons, bones, and joints.  

 As we age, our bodies’ production of collagen slows down. The cell structures weaken and our skin gets thinner. The result is reduced elasticity in our skin and the appearance of wrinkles.  

Research Supports the Benefits

Many scientific studies have shown that collagen peptide supplements increased skin hydration, as well as joint health. 

 

A study in the Journal of Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals, research showed that hydrolyzed collagen did have a significant effect on improving wrinkle depth as well as elasticity and hydration of the skin(4).

Another study of 53 elderly men with sarcopenia, a loss of muscle caused by aging, found that those who took 15 grams of collagen daily, in addition to lifting weights three times per week for 3 months, gained significantly more muscle and lost more fat than those who only lifted weights (5).

Collagen has also been shown to act as a powerful wound healer, able to stop bleeding, recruit immune and skin cells, and stimulate new blood vessel formation.

The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found in a 2015 study that oral collagen peptide supplementation significantly increased skin hydration after 8 weeks. “The collagen density in the dermis significantly increased and the fragmentation of the dermal collagen network significantly decreased already after 4 weeks of supplementation. Both effects persisted after 12 weeks,” the study reported (6).

Transformational Protein 

In the United States, collagen gained popularity in the 1980s as an injectable filler to soften facial lines but in recent years, edible collagen has gained favor as a safe, effective and versatile way to reap the benefits of this transformational protein(7).  

 Healthful Tip: Vitamin C can help the body synthesize collagen. Since our favorite fruit and vegetables are loaded with the vitamin, collagen peptides and smoothies are a natural pairing. Read our ultimate smoothie guide to learn more about the benefits of smoothies and for our preparation tips.

Why are Types I and III Collagen so Important?

• Type I is the most abundant collagen protein found in the body and its fibers form the structural and mechanical scaffold (matrix) of bone, skin, tendons, cornea, blood vessel walls and other connective tissues.

• Type III is the second most abundant form of collagen protein and found most commonly in tissues with elastic properties such as skin, lungs, intestinal walls and walls of blood vessels. It's also found in fibrous protein in bone, cartilage, dentin (a strengthening coating on teeth), tendons, and other connective tissues.

Healthful tip: Healthful Seasons Collagen Peptides offers BOTH Types I & III +19 Amino Acids 

What are the most important Amino Acids in Collagen?

All proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. Collagen contains 20 different amino acids, the highest concentrations of which are hydroxyproline, glycine, and proline. 

Healthful Tip: Healthful Seasons Collagen Peptides contains 19 amino acids including hydroxyproline, glycine, proline PLUS the energy producer L-Carnitine. And, the blend is hydrolyzed, which means that the amino acids are broken down into peptides via a chemical process so they are more easily absorbed in the body.

Why Healthful Seasons Collagen Peptides

Healthful Seasons products are meticulously developed with women in mind‒created by women for women and designed to focus on her health, her body and her sexuality. Only women can truly understand the roller-coaster effects of aging and Healthful Seasons products promote mind, body, and spirit wellness that can carry her through every season of life. 

Our Collagen Peptides rate top on the list of important supplements for our customers. It contains a blend of Types I & III collagen peptides with 19 amino acids. There are no hidden additives or artificial colors, it’s gluten free, non-GMO and is third-party tested. 

Available in powder form, Healthful Seasons Collagen Peptides offer an easy way to make it part of your daily diet since the powder has no taste and can be mixed into hot or cold beverages, smoothies, soups and other recipes.

Most importantly, we care about our customers well-being and safety, and only sell products we believe in. That's why our customers are welcome to request proof of how we keep you safe. All our products are meticulously made in the USA in a Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) facility enforced and registered by the FDA and developed with experienced formulators.

Research

1. Marshall, Lisa. Collagen: 'Fountain of Youth' or Edible Hoax? 12 Dec. 2019, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20191212/collagen-supplements-what-the-research-shows.

2. “What Is Collagen, and Why Do People Use It?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 16 June 2017, 10:00am, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881#overview.

3. Mandal, Dr. Ananya. “What Is Collagen?” News, 5 June 2019, www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Collagen.aspx.

5. Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Baumstark MW, Gollhofer A, König D. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2015 Oct 28;114(8):1237-45. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515002810. Epub 2015 Sep 10. PMID: 26353786; PMCID: PMC4594048.

6. Asserin J, Lati E, Shioya T, Prawitt J. The effect of oral collagen peptide supplementation on skin moisture and the dermal collagen network: evidence from an ex vivo model and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2015 Dec;14(4):291-301. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12174. Epub 2015 Sep 12. PMID: 26362110.

7. Marshall, Lisa. “Collagen: 'Fountain of Youth' or Edible Hoax?” WebMD, WebMD, 12 Dec. 2019, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20191212/collagen-supplements-what-the-research-shows.