Getting my knees back
How I recovered my knees, reduced my wrinkles, increased the strength and flexibility of my joints, made my bones stronger, and my skin more hydrated ... I got so many benefits by being stubborn. Well, and from the discovery of collagen protein, thanks to Dave Asprey.
THE COLLAGEN THAT I USE ...
Bulletproof collagen protein
On my list to try:
Great Lakes collagen hydrolysate (verified no glyphosate)
I have not tested marine collagens yet.
THINGS TO KNOW
To help the body produce and use collagen, think about:
A diet rich in vitamin C
Plant sources of silica (nettle, comfrey, horsetail)
I wasn’t even fifty yet, but there I was sitting across from a French doctor who said, "At your age, ma petite dame, you should stop doing sports." After a spurt of anger, followed by authentic disbelief and even inability to conceive of a future so bleak, my answer was clear. "Wrong!" (I was not so polite in my head.)
I managed to escape this future with a good dose of persistence (which some called denial), a lot of research, and lifestyle changes, including the discovery of collagen as a dietary supplement. I had already stopped gluten, an inflammatory food, and that had allowed me to recover some mobility a first time. But to regain the full mobility of my knees, I needed more.
WHAT IS THE COLLAGEN?
Collagen is a protein and the main component of our connective tissue. It is found in bones, teeth, muscles, skin, joints—it's a bit like the glue of our body. It is the most abundant type of protein in the human body. There are 28 different types of collagen, but the key ones are:
Type I and III that form skin, muscles and ligaments.
Type II found in cartilage and eyes.
THE BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN
Beautiful skin with fewer wrinkles
Joints that work, are more resistant, less painful
Stronger bones
Deeper sleep
In addition, collagen heals the digestive system
WHERE TO FIND COLLAGEN
The first choice is always the food: homemade broths, pork, salmon or chicken skin, pieces of gelatinous meat, egg yolks. Think about gelatin and offal.
To go further, I also opted for dietary supplements. Why? Although the body produces collagen every day, this production decreases with age. So, I add more, choosing to do so with collagen peptides (that is, hydrolyzed collagen or collagen protein). The hydrolysis process breaks down collagen into a smooth, light powder. The final product has a low molecular weight, making it easier to digest and allowing amino acids to be better absorbed by the small intestine.
Not just any collagen
Choose:
Either collagen made from cattle (grass-fed, raised without hormones and organic), which contains types I and III
Or marine collagen from a clean source. This is a type I collagen, and apparently is a bit easier to absorb. You’ll have to test.
Carefully read the ingredients when you use dietary supplements, and look for those without too many additives.
I HAVE COLLAGEN ... WHAT DO I DO?
As hydrolyzed collagen is tasteless, I put it everywhere—in my butter coffee from time to time, or in a smoothie, or in a broth, or in coconut milk yogurt ... Find what suits you, and let me know!