Collagen is one of the most commonly seen proteins in the body and is responsible for forming ligaments, tendons and skin. Although the body produces collagen, it may also be obtained through supplements and foods such as bone broth. Collagen provides several health advantages, including strong and healthy hair. The following are four evidence-based reasons that consuming collagen in any form (for example, collagen gummies) can benefit your hair:
Provides Amino Acids for Hair Growth
Keratin is the protein found in hair. Your body synthesises keratin from a variety of amino acids, some of which are present in collagen. When collagen and other proteins are consumed, the body converts them to amino acids, which are then utilised to make new proteins and chemicals.
There are about eleven non-essential amino acids that your body can synthesise and nine essential amino acids that you must acquire from food. Meanwhile, collagen is composed mainly of three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.
Additionally, proline is the primary component of keratin. As a result, ingesting collagen high in proline should give your body the basic components necessary to grow healthy hair.
Assists in the Fight Against Hair Follicle Damage
Collagen can function as an antioxidant, preventing free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules that accumulate in your body due to air pollution, stress, poor dietary choices, smoking and alcohol, among other environmental factors. Excessive amounts of free radicals can cause damage to your DNA, proteins, and cells.
According to research, free radicals may potentially cause harm to hair follicles. And due to the fact that your body’s protection against free radicals diminishes with age, older individuals are more prone to hair damage. Antioxidants are required by the body to combat free radicals and support healthy hair. In this context, numerous test-tube experiments have demonstrated that collagen (mainly derived from fish scales) may possess significant antioxidant potential.
May Help Prevent Aging-Related Hair Thinning
Collagen accounts for 70% of the dermis, the layer of skin in the middle that includes the base of each hair strand. Collagen, in particular, helps maintain the flexibility and strength of your dermis. And with aging, the body’s ability to produce collagen and replace cells in the dermis decreases. This might be one of the reasons why hair thins with age. Thus, supplementing your body with collagen may aid in the maintenance of a healthy dermis and the prevention of hair loss.
May Aid in Delaying Grey Hair
Collagen’s antioxidant capabilities may enable it to combat cell damage and delay greying. While heredity plays a significant part in age-related hair greying, free radical damage to the cells that create hair colour may also play a role.
The cells that generate the melanin pigment that gives your hair its colour gradually begin to die as you age. However, free radicals produced by poor nutrition, stress, and environmental contaminants can also cause harm to melanin-producing cells. And since collagen has been demonstrated in test tubes to combat free radicals, it may theoretically help prevent harm to the cells that generate hair colour. As a result, it may prevent or delay premature greying.
Consuming collagen in the form of supplements or just eating products like collagen gummies can aid in the maintenance of healthy hair in a variety of ways. For one thing, your body may be able to utilise the amino acids in collagen to synthesise hair proteins and strengthen the skin surrounding your hair roots. Additionally, it may protect hair follicles from injury and premature greying. But, if you have allergies, ensure that the supplements you take are not derived from the collagen sources you are allergic to.
