A Look at Bioactive Collagen Peptides

When we formulate our products, we continuously strive to create holistic supplements with the whole body in mind. If you read our labels, we want you to understand every word and feel good about what you are putting in your body. Not only do we try to keep our ingredients as natural as possible, we also do our best to source them from the highest quality. So if you’ve looked at our Healthy Skin Boost in Acai Berry or Citrus, you may have wondered about the Bioactive Collagen Peptides. To honor our policy of protecting your health, we wanted to shed some light on this amazing product.

First let’s take a look at what collagen is and why it’s beneficial to our bodies. Collagen is the binding substance that holds our bodies together. It is a type of protein that builds and strengthens tendons, connective tissues, bones and comprises about 80% of the structure of our skin. It makes up the dermis layer deep within and is what keeps us plump and wrinkle free. It is also a foundational component of our hair and fingernails. At the beginning of life, the body naturally creates sufficient levels to keep us young and fresh, but environmental and endogenous factors take their toll, and our natural production begins to slow.

When we protect our skin, we think of the obvious culprits, sun, food toxins and pollutants.  We then combat them however we can by using a good face wash, a daily skin cream and sunscreen, eating organic, non-greasy foods and having as little exposure to chemical pollution as possible. Unfortunately, there is a major attack on the health and beauty of our skin that we have no control over, time! Aging is inevitable. Luckily, science has given us numerous ways to slow this process down. Collagen peptides is one of those break throughs.

Natural collagen can be supplemented through food, but as we eat healthier we get less of it. When you cook chicken soup or beef stew and that thick layer of goo forms on the top, that is collagen. It seeps out of the bones and animal fat, and it is often the first thing we throw out. Many people now buy lean cuts, boneless, skinless or have chosen animal-free diets. If this is the case, then we do not have a strong food source and must rely on a credible supplement. That’s why Terra Origin chose to formulate a unique powder to support your skin, hair and nails.

You have probably read collagen on ingredient labels and heard of it from others, but there is a distinction to be made between collagen and hydrolyzed collagen peptides. Primarily that standard collagen, in a supplement form, has not proven affective in clinical trials. The molecules are too big to be absorbed properly and tend to get discarded by the body.

We chose VERISOL ® Bioactive Collagen Peptides because they have numerous double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that have proven their success. These are much smaller amino acids that get rapidly absorbed by the body and begin to form chains, which are called peptides. Peptides are messengers in the body to elicit functions to occur which earns them the title bioactive.

In the case of collagen peptides, they are able to reach the deepest layers of your skin, the dermis level, where they set off stimulated response.

As we age and our bodies lose this protein, it develops weak and empty spots in the dermis where the epidermis, outer layer of the skin, slips down and wrinkles are formed. This deficiency also plays a role in the prominence of cellulite, the places on the body where pockets of subcutaneous fat have pushed upward making visible dimples. When we have constant regeneration of cells, they form a cushy bed underneath that keeps the surface smooth, but the cellular growth is what wanes with the years.

That is what makes bioactive peptides superior. They reach those deep inner layers and die off. That’s right. Your supplement is not what’s actually boosting up those lines on your forehead. It is what tricks the body into thinking there has been substantial cellular decay, and it must start generating new collagen growth immediately. Thus the bioactive response kicks in. New collagen growth begins and your dermis layers begin to fill out, once more returning the youthfulness to your appearance.

VERISOL ®, is formulated by Gelita and is the only bioactive collagen peptide that has undergone significant testing and shown continuous results with no harmful side effects. In one study with 100 women between 45 to 65 years of age, they analyzed their improvement and found a considerable increase in skin procollagen concentration, elasticity and smoothness after four weeks. They’ve done similar studies on a decrease in cellulite visibility and the health and strength of fingernails. Both showed impressive outcomes!*

The final part of our selection came in making a safe and environmentally friendly choice. Most collagen on the market is made from shark cartilage, shell fish or eggs. Another reason we prefer Gelita is due to their sourcing and clean food choices. They have found responsible manufacturing of natural gelatin from which they extract collagen proteins and then convert them into peptides. Their product does not contain any E number additives and is registered as a highly digestible, non-allergenic food. This particular supplement is not considered vegan and is only accepted by vegetarians who have made the conscious selection.

We recommend our Healthy Skin Boost Powders as part of a balanced nutrition and lifestyle plan. They are not meal replacement but can be added to morning shakes, smoothie bowls or simply drank with water. Use the recommended one scoop daily for four to six weeks to see initial results, and continue use for a minimum of six months to retain skin improvements. Most of all, we hope you enjoy including the delicious, fresh flavors in your daily routine.

 *All studies can be read on their site.