Collagen Isn’t a Gimmick — But Only If You Take the Right One

takeaways

1. Collagen is described as the most abundant protein in the body, making up around 30% of total protein, with production said to decline from the mid-20s and losses of up to 1% a year from the 40s.

2. Anita Iles explains that for collagen to be absorbed it needs to be enzymatically hydrolysed to a small molecular weight (around 2 to 3 kilodaltons), which she says allows it to bypass digestion and be absorbed through the small intestine.

3. The discussion covers benefits beyond skin, including joints, gut lining and 'leaky gut', with case studies mentioned around cystic acne, psoriasis and menopausal (GSM) symptoms.

4. Anita describes how Totally Derma combines collagen (Arthred) with hyaluronic acid, high-dose vitamin C, antioxidants, copper and manganese, framing the aim as reducing inflammation.

5. The differences between bovine collagen (types 1, 2 and 3) and marine collagen (mainly type 1) are outlined, along with why dosage and reading labels matter.

6. Myths discussed include topical collagen creams (molecule said to be too big to penetrate skin) and adding collagen to hot coffee (said to denature the peptides), alongside emphasis on '5 pillars' of lifestyle.

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