Acai Berries have enjoyed fantastic reviews on television shows and in many health and fitness magazines. This inch-long reddish, purple fruit comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea), which is native to Central and South America. Acai Berries contains powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins and flavonoids that help defend the body against free radicals in the body. Acai Berries have an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, a measure of levels of antioxidants in foods to determine the nutritional benefits) score of around 167, which is 5 times more than the blueberry.

The benefits associated with Acai Berries are maximised when the fruit is in its natural form, and quickly diminish once the fruit has been picked. Therefore it is vital that the fruit is freeze dried to preserve those benefits. Pure Acai is such a product and contains only Freeze Dried Organic Acai Berry Powder. If a product has been manufactured without using the freeze drying technique, do not buy it.

The Acai Berry is a true superfood , and Pure Acai Supplement Capsules may benefit the following:

Weight Loss

Acai Berries contain fatty acids that can speed up your metabolism and decrease your cholesterol levels. Pure Acai may help your body burn calories quicker and use stored fat as energy. This is not a magic weight loss pill, but promotes healthy weight loss while helping strengthen your body’s defences. Pure Acai should be used in conjunction with excercise and sensible eating habits.

Increased Energy and Stamina

Acai Berries are rich in Omega Fats, giving a healthy dose of unsaturated fats including Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9. These essential fatty acids are known to increase energy and stamina levels. Pure Acai won’t make you feel lethargic or weak due to it being rich in good carbohydrates and natural proteins.

Anti-Aging

Acai Berries are high in anti-oxidant that may help protect your body from harmful free radicals that can cause damage to your cells, thus contributing to the aging process. Acai supplements are an ideal option for increasing your anti-oxidant intake, thus helping protect yourself from degenerative diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Healthier Skin

The fatty acid content in Acai Berries resembles that of olive oil. Rich in monounsaturated oleic acid, which appears to help Omega-3 fats penetrate the cell membrane. Together they may help make cell membranes more supple, thus feeling younger. Also Pure Acai has a high-fiber and protein content, as well as containing Vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E. For every 100 grams of Pure Acai, you receive more than 1000 IU of Vitamin A, which is known to enhance the moisture and health of your skin.

Protecting against, heart disease and diabetes

Red wine consumption by the French is thought to play a role in their relatively low incidence of heart. This is thought in part to be due to the Anthocyanins in red wine. Acai Berry has up to 30 per cent more Anthocyanins than red wine.

Pure Acai’s Vitamin C content is as high as that of blueberries, and also contains essential minerals including Potassium, Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, and Zinc. This balance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may help decrease 'bad' cholesterol, while increasing levels of 'good' cholesterol.

Strengthening the immune system

Research has shown that in addition to the Anthocyanins and Essential Fatty Acids, Acai also contains a healthy dose of Plant Sterols, another class of phyto-chemicals that have been shown to reduce cholesterol, protect the immune system, and may relieve prostate enlargement. In fact, Acai is in the same family as Saw Palmetto, a common herbal treatment for prostate enlargement. Researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have discovered that pure Acai Berry may be used to fight infection.

Warning

Acai Berries have many great potential health benefits, however not all Acai Berry supplements are the same. Pure Acai is a premium quality Freeze Dried Organic Acai Berry Powder contained in Vegetarian Capsules, with no flowing agents or fillers.

Medical Conditions & Disclaimer

The medical and health information presented on this web site is meant for general educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your physician or other healthcare professionals. It is recommended that anyone with a medical condition should consult their physician or therapist before taking food supplements and before making any change to prescribed medication. We do not claim to treat, cure or heal.

The menopause is not an illness, despite many medical professionals treating it as such. With many women worried about reported increased risk of certain cancers associated with long term HRT use, this has resulted in more women seeking other more natural approaches to counter menopause symptoms.

Perfect Harmony natural HRT alternative provides a 100% natural herbal approach to the menopause and hormone balance. Herbs to help lessen the menopause symptoms have been in use for centuries, and today many women are using natural herbal alternatives to pharmaceutical HRT, but what other steps can be taken to help lessen the symptom associated with menopause and indeed PMS.

Diet

Diet is known to be related to hormone imbalance, and those women who experienced premenstrual difficulties during their reproductive years often find they suffer more with menopausal symptoms.

A diet rich in food in as natural a state as possible, including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, seeds and nuts may help. Try reducing your meat intake and avoiding processed and 'junk' foods as much as possible. Avoiding or limiting your intake of salt and spicy foods may also help. Many meat and dairy products are found to contain traces of hormones deliberately given to animals to increase milk and meat yields, so again reducing your intake may help. You could try replacing these with soya based products.

If you are trying to lose weight, avoid fad diets, instead adopt a sensible balanced approach to your diet reducing overall calorie intake. Joining a support group based diet may help. It is also important to eat regularly as hot flushes may be related to fluctuations in blood sugar levels. This situation is also aggravated by sugary foods.

The recommended daily amount of calcium is 1000mg prior to the menopause, rising to 1500mg during and after the menopause, so if you are reducing your dairy intake try to eat more foods such as seeds, nuts, oats, blackstrap molasses, sardines, salmon, figs and parsley.

'Phyto-oestrogenic' foods which include soya, corn, apples, bananas, almonds, cashew nuts, oats, pulses, broccoli, cauliflower and green leafy vegetables help maintain a good level of hormone. Japanese women, whose diet is rich in these foods, rarely suffer from the menopausal symptoms.

Hydration is also an important part of diet, aim to drink two litres of water per day.

Exercise

Exercise is important for your overall health and wellbeing, as well helping maintain bone density, delaying the onset of osteoporosis, and helping prevent weight gain. There are many options available, but if you do not already exercise regularly build up slowly. You may also want to seek professional advice if you have medical issues.

Reducing Stress

Stress may aggravate your symptoms so make sure you take time to relax. Regular exercise, yoga, and meditation should help.

Herbal HRT Alternatives

You may also wish to consider a herbal alternative to pharmaceutical HRT such as Perfect Harmony which contains 6 key natural ingredients, aimed at providing relief from the major symptoms of menopause.

Collagen Type II has a limited ability by itself as for example cartilage is not one kind of cartilage but four. Therefore, any product which only supplied a single type of collagen would be very limited. Dr. Jean-Yves Leroux, well known Canadian collagen research expert and immunologist.

Scientists have known of collagen Type II limitations, which is one reason they have concentrated on derivatives, such as glucosamine. According to well known Canadian research scientist, Dr. Jean Yves Leroux, the derivative will perform much better than just the collagen component alone, however there is a better alternative.

The More Superior Collagen Matrix

A collagen matrix is a safe, formulated substance that stimulates the production of many different kinds of collagens in the body. The collagen matrix, formulated from pure collagen, produces incredible results in the human body when used on a regular basis. Results are usually seen within a few days to weeks. It seems that the mechanism for action by the collagen matrix is its effect on the white blood cells located within the GALT (gut-activated lymphoid tissue) that is part of our immune system. As we age the immune system, along with free radicals, begins attacking the body's cartilage, inducing many of the collagen diseases that we have discussed. When the collagen matrix is introduced into the body, the cells doing the attacking devour some of the new collagen Type II cells that are produced and then identify them as a friend and not an enemy. The immune system is then alerted to stop attacking the collagen Type II. Ultimately, this decreases the number of incidents partly responsible for the inflammation reaction in arthritis and other joint pains.

A matrix-produced collagen's supply of proteoglycans also inhibits blood vessel formation in joints and reduces enzyme attacks on the cartilage. This produces a rejuvenation of the cartilage-producing cells and a decrease in the destruction of the joints. These same proteoglycans also increase the thickness and lubricating effectiveness of the synovial fluid, the lubricating fluid of the joints.

As an added plus, an effective collagen matrix supplement such as Pure-Col in its pure form, cold-pressed and non-pasteurized, also floods the body with free radical inhibitors. Unfortunately, all but one of the collagen products on the market ruins much of its efficiency by pasteurization and by adding it to a liquid. That is the bad part. The good part is that we only need one product.

Collagen Products Are Not All the Same

Not all collagen supplement products are the same, there being a wide variance in effective collagen absorption, most in the neighbourhood of twenty percent.

There are only two collagen products that are of help in weight loss, injury repair, and skin enhancement. One is a Type II liquid collagen and the other is the collagen matrix delivered in capsule form, such as Pure-Col.

Pure-Col is the best of the products because it is, first of all, a collagen matrix. It stimulates production of all kinds of collagen rather than furnishing only one of the fourteen. Pure-Col is produced from pure collagen through a difficult formulation process which foregoes the pasteurization and immersion in liquid. The end product is Pure-Col, which has been demonstrated to have the highest bio-availability (95%) of any of the collagen products, including the liquid.

A little known fact is that any type of collagen, especially Type II, begins to degrade the moment it is exposed to liquid. Thus, liquid preparations made with this kind of collagen start degrading immediately. To stop this, fillers, preservatives, and other ingredients are added to slow the process. This additional processing causes a negative bio-conversion, which limits the product's effectiveness.

In a very significant three-month study that compared Pure-Col with a liquid and a market collagen, Dr. Stephen Ho, a well known trauma physician, evaluated the results using five groups of test subjects. Each group consisted of 30 subjects, all similar in size, weight, health condition, age, and gender.

The first group was given the Pure-Col product to be taken over a 90-day period; the second group took the liquid collagen; the third group received a common drug store market collagen supplement; and the fourth group was given a placebo composed of neutral ingredients; while the fifth group (the control group) was given nothing at all.

A physical history was taken before and after the 90 day study to compare the groups. The Pure-Col Group scored the best, followed by the liquid collagen, the market collagen, the placebo, and then the control group. The study was independent, and Dr. Ho was not paid by any commercial entity for conducting it.

Conclusion

The collagen matrix and collagen Type II work. The matrix is better. Independent research has shown Pure-Col to be the most usable and easiest to assimilate of all the collagen products available in the market place.

Medical Conditions & Disclaimer

The medical and health information presented on this article is meant for general educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your physician or other healthcare professionals. It is recommended that anyone with a medical condition should consult their physician or therapist before taking collagen as a food supplement and before making any change to prescribed medication. We make no claim to treat, cure or heal. The information here covers “Collagen” in general and is taken from a variety of sources. Please note that our product, Pure-Col is a pure hydrolysed pharmaceutical grade collagen matrix.

Collagen is a structural protein that forms the main connective tissue that holds our body together. It is the major component of the tissues that form tendons, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage. It is what gives our skin, hair, and nails thickness and strength. Unfortunately with age our bodies naturally produce less, and as the collagen is reduced skin thins and wrinkles, and connective tissues weaken and wear. Injury occurs more easily, and worn joints lead to pain and inflammation.

The benefits of collagen supplements are not experienced by all those taking them, as not all collagen supplements are affective. Not all collagen supplements are produced in a form that can pass directly through the intestine wall. For the benefits of collagen supplements to be experienced the best form is a matrix of pure hydrolysed pharmaceutical grade Collagen. Pure-Col is such a product, with an absorption rate of 95%. It is absorbed directly as it enters the stomach, avoiding the diminishing effects of acid breakdown from further digestion.

How Does the Body Works with the Absorbed Collagen

During the first few hours of sleep our bodies enter the Alpha Sleep phase of the brains sleep cycle. During this cycle the brain's pituitary gland releases hormones into the blood-stream and our bodies perform their main rejuvenation, and repair work. This process of protein synthesis is a metabolic process requiring collagen as a catalyst. The presence of the collagen that you have ingested also helps stimulates the body's own collagen production. Collagen Synthesis is something that those of us who wish to look and feel younger should be interested in.

The Benefits of Collagen Supplements

Anti-Inflammatory, Pain Relief, Joint Health

Collagen Supplements have been shown to reduce damage to joints and stimulate reductions in joint pain, tenderness and swelling.

A Harvard Medical School study on the effects of orally administered collagen for reducing inflammation and relieving pain (Dr C Searling, Fresco CA.) proved conclusively that almost 90% of those taking part had remarkable results The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases described amongst the many benefits of collagen supplements the relief from joint pain and stiffness.

Collagen naturally stabilizes the body's immune system and helps neutralize the production of abnormal molecular structures known to be a major cause of joint misery and stiffness, especially in rheumatoid arthritis.

Collagen Supplements naturally consists of 15% glucosamine and 15% chondroitin sulphate - two substances renowned for their beneficial anti-inflammatory properties. Collagen functions as a chondro-protective agent and protects cartilage and synovial fluid against deterioration. Collagen is responsible for keeping cartilage and joints intact and mobile by maintaining the fibrous and elastic structure of bones and joints so they move freely without pain or discomfort.

Faster Wound Healing

Another benefit of collagen supplements may be faster wound healing, as these supplements trigger the production of platelets that are required for covering the wound, thus speeding the repair process.

Weight Loss & Reducing Body Fat

Collagen Supplements can help the body metabolise fat. As fat is the energy source for the body's renewal and repair, and collagen supplements can stimulate your body's own collagen production and repair work, the overall effect may be an increase in fat burn and thus a decrease in body fat. The majority of the body's renewal and repair takes place during the first two hours of sleep, and is why collagen supplements are generally taken at night time.

Wrinkle Reduction

Skin wrinkle reduction is one of the possible benefits of collagen supplements. Regular users of quality Collagen Supplements have reported improvements in skin condition and complexion. As the body’s most abundant natural protein (75% of skin is collagen), collagen can help to rebuild the connective tissues in our skin making it firmer and more elastic. Studies have shown that taking collagen capsules activates the formation of new collagen by the body, thus acting as an anti-aging supplement. Collagen is a powerful long-term anti-ageing protein, helping improve the skin's elasticity and suppleness, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Within a few week of taking a quality collagen supplement your skin should feel smoother and gradually becoming firmer.

Conclusion

A lack of collagen has a major impact on many of the symptoms we associate with aging. The body’s own collagen production can be increased by ingesting a quality collagen supplement. Unfortunately not all collagen products are the same, as discussed in a Collagen-Supplements-Do-They-Work . To benefit please ensure you take a premium product such as Pure-Col.

Medical Conditions & Disclaimer

The medical and health information presented on this article is meant for general educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your physician or other healthcare professionals. It is recommended that anyone with a medical condition should consult their physician or therapist before taking collagen as a food supplement and before making any change to prescribed medication. We make no claim to treat, cure or heal. The information here covers “Collagen” in general and is taken from a variety of sources. Please note that our product, Pure-Col is a pure hydrolysed pharmaceutical grade collagen matrix.

Unfortunately with age and as a result of exposure to the sun, collagen fibre components begin to weaken, become less pliable and tougher. The body produces less naturally over time, the result being the development of dry, wrinkled skin that has lost it's inherent elasticity.

The question is, can orally ingested collagen supplements replace missing collagen and activate the formation of new collagen by the body, thus helping arrest and reverse this condition.

Collagen Products Are Not All the Same

Not all collagen products are the same, and not all are effective. Most collagens are so poorly absorbed that they are a waste of money. Of the very few collagen products that remain, most have a very low absorption rate, something in the region of twenty percent.

Fortunately, a significant scientific breakthrough occurred as the result of a partnership between a French formulator, a talented group of bio-chemists, and a well known Canadian medical grade laboratory. After considerable research and expense, the partnership developed a highly bioactive collagen matrix that the body assimilates early in the digestive process.

Pure-Col is formulated through a complex process which is the result of over 25 years research and development. This has resulted in a pure collagen supplement with very high bio-availability leading to over 95% absorption. Due to it's formulation Pure-Col can be absorbed directly as it enters the stomach, avoiding the diminishing effects of acid breakdown from further digestion. As Pure-Col is a pure hydrolysed collagen matrix it stimulates production of all kinds of collagen rather than only one of the fourteen.

Pure-Col is the premium collagen supplement product available, and in a 90 day trial by Dr. Stephen Ho Pure-Col was found to be far superior to liquid or the market collagens. He also concluded that Pure-Col, taken on a regular basis, resulted in a more youthful appearance and feeling. Pains were reduced along with a significant decrease in body weight and body fat. He also reported that the group taking Pure-Col experienced a more restful and longer sleep period and more energy during the activity hours.

A little known fact is that any type of collagen, especially Type II, begins to degrade the moment it is exposed to liquid. Thus, liquid preparations made with this kind of collagen start degrading immediately. To stop this, fillers, preservatives, and other ingredients are added to slow the process. This additional processing causes a negative bio-conversion, which limits the product's effectiveness.

OTHER CLINICAL STUDIES

A 2008 study in Tokyo (3) of 33 women ages 40-60 who took 10 g of Hydrolysed Collagen daily for 2 months showed a 91% increase in skin hydration and resilience.

A Dermiscan study in Lyon France in 2008 showed in an age group of 35-55: an increase in skin smoothness and hydration, using the new Corneometer and Skin Image Analyzer technologies. (4, 5) After 12 weeks of 10g Hydrolyzed Collagen daily, 41% less furrowing, less wrinkles, more resilient, more hydrated.

Other scientists have shown exactly how the new collagen is rebuilt, not only in the skin, but in bones and ligaments. Metabolites of Hydrolyzed Collagen build bone, skin and ligaments by attracting fibroblasts. This is how they trigger the synthesis of new collagen(6).

Hydrolyzed Collagen also increases the diameter of collagen fibrils in the dermis by the same mechanism: fibroblast stimulation. This in turn increases cohesion of the dermal collagen fibers themselves, which is a true anti-aging step. In the skin, this action means increased thickness, suppleness and resilience, as well as hydration.

There is growing evidence to show that substituting diminishing levels of collagen with a high quality hydrolysed collagen will help replace that lost from the skin to make it appear younger, firmer and more hydrated.

References:

• 1. A. Berton, V. Rigot, E. Huet, M. Decarme, Y. Eeckhout, L. Patthy, G. Godeau, W. Hornebeck, G. Bellon, and H. Emonard. Involvement of Fibronectin Type II Repeats in the Efficient Inhibition of Gelatinases A and B by Long-chain Unsaturated Fatty Acids, Journal Of Biological Chemistry, June 2001.
• 2. Alex Suh, DC, during a personal interview conducted during April, 2003.
• 3. SOUKEN study Tokyo Japan: two month study hydrolyzed collagen 2008
• 4. DERMISCAN study Lyon France Cutaneous propoerties of hydrolyzed collagen 2008.
• 5. COURAGE and KHAZAKA study moisturizing effect of hydrolyzed collagen measue with Corneometer and Skin Image Analyzer.
• 6. Posstlethwaite, A – 1978 Chemotactic attraction of human fibroblasts National Acad. Of Sciences vol 75(20 p 871 )
• 7. Sumida E The effect of oral ingestion of collagen peptide on skin hydration Journal of Nutritional Food vol 7(3) p 45

Founded in Australia in 1998 Skin Doctors Cosmeceuticals are industry leaders in the development and marketing of breakthrough, clinical strength cosmeceuticals that offer consumers topical alternatives to surgery. Skin Doctors products are based on cutting edge formulations developed in conjunction with leading research institutes and cosmetic surgeons. Clinical strength results No doctors, no needles, no pain!

Formulation

Skin Doctors formulations are helping to change the way people perceive skincare and the results it can deliver. The Skin Doctors brand balances a serious, scientific, efficacious function with the aspirational appeal of beauty products. This clinical, aspirational balance is reflected in the products, packaging and marketing.

Skin Doctors drives innovation globally. In fact, we are now available in over 50 countries worldwide and growing. It is through our global networks we are able to stay ahead of skincare trends and deliver cutting edge formulations reflective of consumer needs.

Values

First, Skin Doctors believe the purpose of health and beauty products is to make an actual visible difference to your wellbeing or skin’s appearance and not just to appear as pretty packaging on the bathroom shelf. This is why we include optimum amounts of ingredients in our products not just enough to claim it as an active on the label.

Second, Skin Doctors believe that a single measurement is worth a thousand opinions. That is why we do not trade in opinions, but will only offer products with ingredients that have been proven in strict scientific conditions or through hundreds of years of traditional use.

Third, Skin Doctors believe in offering great value and selling with integrity. That is why we provide detailed product information including active ingredients to help you understand the science behind Skin Doctors and how the products work.

Cosmeceutical

Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products that include ingredients designed not only to enhance the appearance but to also have a positive physiological effect at the cellular level. They provide lasting benefits and satisfy both beauty and health needs.

Light years ahead of ordinary skincare, Skin Doctors is not just another range of “fluffy moisturisers” but rather cosmeceutical strength preparations formulated to make a real, visible difference to the appearance of the skin. Skin Doctors is able to “bridge the gap” between ordinary skincare and cosmetic surgery and that is why many of the results have been compared to cosmetic surgical procedures.

For every skin problem there is a specific Skin Doctors solution. The Skin Doctors range is the most comprehensive on the market, with treatments for almost every major beauty problem from spider veins, puffy eye bags, wrinkles and skin ageing, to pigmentation and even micro-dermabrasion and chemical peels. The range provides solutions that can be used in the privacy of your own home and they deliver dramatic results that require no recovery time, unlike surgery. They are a fraction of the price of a cosmetic procedure while being safe and non-invasive.

Collagen gives the different organs and tissues their strength and elastic properties. Twenty-five percent of the dry protein weight of the human body is collagen. Seventy-five percent of our skin is made of it, and in total - some thirty percent of our entire body is collagen. Collagen is part of the natural make-up of tendons, ligaments, joints, muscles, hair, skin, and vital organs. When the body's essential supply of collagen is reduced, the body is affected. Weakness, fatigue, aches, pains, and an overall lack of performance are frequent symptoms of the problem - symptoms that only increase as we get older.

Besides its many structural properties, collagen serves as the major catalyst for growth and repair of nearly all the body's tissues. Many different aging diseases are related to the body's supply of this vital protein and to disorders in the collagen itself. When our body's collagen production is out of whack, so are we!

The body's production of collagen slows dramatically with aging. This slowing process is stealth-like and rather insidious. It starts slowing in our mid-twenties, picks up speed in our thirties and forties, then roars like a freight train through our fifties and sixties. Lack of collagen, or the body's improper use of collagen, is the stuff that old age is made of.

Research scientists have been aware of the problem, but until very recently there was little that could be done because most non-medical collagen supplementation was useless. The body was simply unable to assimilate it. Oh sure, you could find collagen supplements in some health food stores, in the backs of magazines, and, occasionally, in a pharmacy. But they did little or nothing other than cost you money.

Fortunately, a significant scientific breakthrough occurred as the result of a partnership between a French formulator, a talented group of bio-chemists, and a well known Canadian medical grade laboratory. After considerable research and expense, the partnership developed a highly bioactive collagen matrix that the body assimilates early in the digestive process. The product is called Pure-Col, and its development is so important in slowing the aging process, easing age-related pains, and improving appearance, that I will be discussing it in a section of its own in this chapter. However, never take any supplement without completely understanding why it is necessary. I feel that this product is necessary and here is why.

Why Collagen is Necessary for Youth and Health Collagen is naturally produced by the body and ca be taken in from select food sources. It is vital to the body's functioning because it is the tie that binds! The body's use of collagen cannot be overstated. It makes up the body's joints, muscles, hair, skin, tendons, and ligaments. It provides the structure to our body and forms the molecular cables that strengthen the tendons. Collagen makes up the vast resilient sheets that support our skins and internal organs. Bones and teeth are made when the body adds mineral crystal to the body's collagen. (2)

Collagen fibers are woven together like pieces of fabric to form a network in which new cells grow and reproduce. Any time the body needs to build new cells, such as in the healing or growing process, collagen plays the central role. Collagen is the substance that protects and supports the softer tissues of the body, and it is what connects them with our skeleton. (3) In other words, collagen is both the material and the glue that holds our body together.

Appendix

(1) Miller-Keane Medical Dictionary, 2002.

(2) A. Berton, V. Rigot, E. Huet, M. Decarme, Y. Eeckhout, L. Patthy, G. Godeau, W. Hornebeck, G. Bellon, and H. Emonard. Involvement of Fibronectin Type II Repeats in the Efficient Inhibition of Gelatinases A and B by Long-chain Unsaturated Fatty Acids, Journal Of Biological Chemistry, June 2001.

(3) Alex Suh, DC, during a personal interview conducted during April, 2003.

Whether the body can efficiently rebuild and repair itself is dependent upon its ability to convert one body resource into another. This process of protein synthesis is a metabolic process requiring collagen as a catalyst. As collagen diminishes in the body, both the resource and the catalyst are reduced.

Research has shown that much of the body's vital metabolic repair work takes place when we sleep. (1) It has long been known that the body switches gears shortly after we fall asleep. It moves from its normal, active-involvement state to a rebuilding-and-maintenance state. It is during this sleep that the body searches about for available collagen and other important nutrients to convert them into the important materials needed by the body.

Collagen synthesis is something that those of us who wish to look and feel younger must be interested in. Therefore, any food supplement that can enhance the rebuilding or the healing process is something that we should strongly consider.

Producers of health food supplements have consistently recognized the need for collagen supplementation. But, non-medical collagens are not bio-available ( a fancy term meaning that the body cannot use it). To get around this, some less than ethical manufacturers have engaged in hoodwinking schemes to encourage supplementation of collagens that are unabsorbable or certain hormone precursors that do nothing for the collagens.

The body manufacturers its own collagen every single day, but since production diminishes with age, the available supply of collagen quickly becomes less than enough. Deterioration of various body parts gradually follows suit. One of the first visible signs is wrinkling of the skin and the beginning of unexplained joint pain. Note that I said, visible signs of aging. The wrinkling and joint pains only represent what is happening to the outside of the body. One can only imagine what is going on inside.

Once begun, the degenerative conditions of arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other associative joint pain syndromes are relentless. Little can be done to alleviate the pain, much less stop the degenerative process. Don't get me wrong. The body does have the ability to heal itself, but it must be given the correct materials to work with. Healing starts from the inside out. So does youth! Therefore, the only thing that works is to eliminate the origin of degeneration before it occurs.

Bursitis, Tendonitis, and Tendinosis

Bursitis, tendonitis, and tendinosis are three of the more common collagen diseases affecting us as we age, causing us to look and feel older. Bursitis is caused by arthritis inflammation or by infection. (2) The joint areas most commonly affected are the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, back, and ankle. Individuals with bursitis will have pain, tenderness, and stiffness near the affected area. (3) As a result, local muscle weakness frequently develops as a result of avoiding painful joint movements, such as those caused by climbing stairs.

Tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons, has mostly been considered the cause of tendon pain and an associated loss of strength and movement. More recently, researchers discovered that most people diagnosed with this disease have no signs of tendon inflammation. Consequently, medical sciences have come to see tendonitis more properly classified as tendinosis. Today, the terms are used interchangeably.

Tendinosis/tendonitis is caused by a breakdown of the collagen-composed tendon tissue. Collagen contributes to the robe-like structure of a tendon and to its strength. When collagen breaks down, small tears appear in the tendon, weakening it and causing pain. This collagen disease can affect children and young adults just as those who are aging. It is especially wearing on those who perform repetitious task in their jobs, sports, or daily activities. Carpet layers suffer this affliction in their knees, writers in their wrists, and tennis players in their elbows.

Bursitis and Tendonitis/tendinosis can be successfully treated by resting the painful areas, applying ice, or taking pain relievers. This gives the body time to repair and reproduce the cartilage damage. provided the body is still producing the necessary amounts of collagen.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term describing inflammation in joints. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is also called degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints and most commonly occurs in the hips, knees, and spine. It can dramatically affect the finger joints and the joints of the toes. (4) With sixty million Americans suffering from arthritis, there is an arthritis epidemic. John Klippel, Medical Director of the arthritis foundation, flatly stated, This should be a wakeup call. We've always suspected the problem was greater than we had known about.

Unfortunately, the common methods of treatment won't change the progression of osteoarthritis. However, two nutritional supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin have been observed to relieve pain and to slow the breakdown of cartilage, which in itself is a significant part of osteoarthritis. What is particularly interesting is that glucosamine and chondroitins (both sulfates) are components of normal cartilage. Some researchers have successfully demonstrated that the two substances appear to stimulate new collagen production. The only thing better would be to take a bio-available collagen supplement directly.

Cartilage

Cartilage is a rather firm rubber material that covers the ends of bones in normal joints. The primary function of cartilage is to reduce joint friction and, since cartilage can change shape when compressed, serve as a shock absorber for the bones.

Cartilage can change shape because it is composed of more than seventy percent water, which can be redistributed with compression or movement. Since cartilage does not contain nerves, you never feel pain when these changes occur. When collagen disease strikes as we age, this shock absorbing quality is reduced. That is why activities like running and jumping feel less comfortable as we age than when we were younger.

Collagen is a key component of cartilage, providing it with its strength. When the body's collagen production is reduced, cartilage production is affected and so are all the body systems that contain cartilage.

Collagen, Wrinkles, and Stretch Marks

The body's production of collagen in the skin begins dropping around the age of twenty-five. (5) But, it really picks up speed in the forties and fifties. Many studies have demonstrated that our skin's natural production of collagen decreases at a rate of 1% per year after the age of forty. So, by the time a person reaches fifty-five, they have lost and additional fifteen percent of their collagen production capacity. By age seventy, the loss is over thirty percent and climbing. (6)

Dr. Sal Martinganon, a internationally recognized collagen authority.

With a lowering of collagen production, skin retains less water, thins, and begins to wrinkle much like a plum becoming a prune or a grape becoming a raisin. As a result, the elastin in the skin becomes even more damaged, holds less water, and becomes much less elastic and resilient.

You'll notice that we have had a bit of a face lift (check out our Anti-Ageing products) and not only do we have a completely new look and feel, but we also have a new logo.

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