Collagen in the most abundant protein in the body. As well as being a major component of our skin, hair and nails, it is also the main building blocks of our bones, ligaments, muscles, the lining of our organs � it�s even in our eyes and teeth!

Children and young adults produce collagen at a rapid rate. However as we age, our ability to synthesise collagen slows and our levels begin falling. It is estimated that we lose roughly 1.5% of our collagen each year after the age of 25.

Collagen in supplements is always hydrolysed. This is where the large collagen molecule is broken down into smaller molecules called collagen peptides. Collagen can be hydrolysed roughly or finely. The best quality collagen has been very finely hydrolysed to produce collagen in the lowest Dalton weight (this is how collagen weight is measured).

The lower the Dalton weight of collagen, the easier it is for the body to absorb. In most supplements, the collagen weight is 5,000 Daltons or above. The lowest collagen weight is 2,000 Dalton or below � which is the size that can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. Ingenious supplements only use the finest collagen that is 2,000 Daltons or lower.

All collagen is derived from animal sources. Typically the collagen in supplements comes from bovine (cows) or marine (fish) sources. Marine collagen is the more environmentally friendly choice, and marine collagen from sustainably caught, wild swimming fish (like the type in Ingenious supplements) will not contain any traces of antibiotics.

When collagen is consumed in a supplement, (unless it is protected) it will be broken down in the stomach. This is where most collagen in supplements is wasted. However, if the collagen is protected, (as Ingenious do with our patented capsule) then it will pass through the stomach intact and reach the small intestine. There, collagen that is 2,000 Daltons or lower can pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.

Over a decade ago, in the original collagen trials participants took 10,000mg (10g) of collagen daily. However, since then collagen has become more sophisticated. We now know that most of this collagen was broken down in the stomach and wasted. When collagen is protected you can use far less collagen but achieve superior results.

During menopause the body experiences rapid falling collagen levels. It is estimated that on average a woman will lose around 30% of her collagen in just a few years. This can lead to dryer skin, hair and nails and an increase in wrinkles. Supplementing with collagen can help mitigate some of these effects, as can treatments such as HRT.

Smoking, sugar, high intensity exercise and sunbathing are all proven to deplete our collagen levels. In fact professional athletes often take collagen to combat the losses they experience from putting their body under so much physical stress.

Because collagen is just about everywhere in your body, your whole body will benefit from a quality collagen supplement.