It’s that special protein that puts the spring in your step (literally), and this week, it’s the headliner at the Oliver’s Wellness Cabaret: please give a warm Sonoma County-welcome to our gal COLLAGEN! You might recognize this popular protein from, well, every tissue in your body, but it’s also what gives gelatin its jiggle and makes bone broth so darn healthful. This week, Oliver’s is proud to offer you fantastic deals on selections from Garden of Life’s line of collagen peptide powders, but more on that later. For now, let’s explore what it is about this bouncy protein that makes it so special – and completely necessary – in all of our lives, and learn about why supplementing collagen is a great way to support your overall health. We are most definitely ready for this jelly; let’s get started!

The Ties That Bind

When we say “collagen”, we’re actually referring to an entire group of proteins that both support and help to form the structure of your body, making up around one-third of the proteins found within it. From your skin, muscles, and organs to your bones, joints, and ligaments, collagen is responsible for binding your cells together and keeping them functioning properly. Think of it like a microscopic skeleton of rubber cement, lending your tissues crucial elasticity, holding everything together, and keeping your body strong and resistant to damage. Humans naturally produce collagen throughout our lives, but the amount we produce can be affected by a variety of factors. The most obvious of these factors is aging – as we age, our bodies produce less collagen, and the collagen we do produce is more brittle and less flexible. This causes a lot of the obvious signs of aging like decreased elasticity in the skin and decreased bone density, but it may also contribute to the more nefarious signs too, like increased joint pain and osteoarthritis. Along with aging, other factors that can affect collagen production include smoking cigarettes, having a diet heavy in sugar or other refined carbohydrates, and excessive exposure to the sun or other sources of UV light. Over time, these will have a similar effect to aging on the body, causing both the quality and quantity of collagen produced to decrease well before it might have begun to do so naturally.

Considering how many of us are exposed to these natural enemies of collagen production on a daily basis, you’re probably wondering how to best support the protein that keeps you looking and feeling young and fresh. As it turns out, it’s consuming extra collagen! Now, before we get into the nitty gritty on the benefits of supplementing collagen, we feel we should remind you: we are a market, not a clinic. If you think you have a legitimate medical concern, please speak to a qualified medical professional, and please always talk to your doctor before adding any supplements to your regimen. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk collagen supplements and why we love them!

Stick With Me, Kid

There are a number of ways to add more collagen to your diet, but some require a bit more effort than others. Naturally concentrated sources of collagen include foods like bone broth or gelatin, and it is possible to reap anti-aging health benefits by adding either one or both of these foods to your diet. That being said, consuming a large enough quantity of these foods often enough to see results is simply not feasible for the majority of people. Supplemental collagen peptides, on the other hand, offer all the benefits of a diet rich in collagen without having to nibble on pig’s trotters or drink your weight in bone broth! Across the board, studies have shown that adding supplemental collagen to one’s health routine brings a variety of benefits, including improving both the texture and firmness of the skin, improving blood flow to the skin, and even speeding up wound healing time. Of course, consumable isolated collagen peptides are still a relatively new invention, so choosing a product that is high quality and produced responsibly is a bit of a tricky must. Thankfully, we’re able to make it easy with quality products from Garden of Life!

Garden of Life offers a multitude of Grass-Fed Collagen products to meet your specific needs. Their entire line is Non-GMO Tested and Certified, Keto Certified, Paleo Certified, and NSF Gluten Free. Whether it’s fortifying hair, skin and nails or supporting healthy joints and mobility, they have the clean, convenient answer in their collagen powders. Their specially formulated powders dissolve completely no matter how you use them. Stir a scoop of their flavorless formula into drinks like this Strawberry Coconut Collagen “Daiquiri”, or use them to add a bump of richness and protein to baked goods! If you’re aiming to improve things below the skin, check out their Collagen Protein formula instead in delicious vanilla flavor. Boasting four super seed proteins and MCT’s along with plenty of vital collagen peptides, this supplement is ideal for helping to restore and maintain bone and joint health while also helping to repair and build muscle.

For whatever health benefit you are seeking from collagen, Garden of Life has three formulations featured this week to serve your needs. Bounce your way into Oliver’s this week and try any one of these quality Garden of Life products at very special prices! Our Wellness team members are also standing by, ready to answer your questions and be of service. And be sure to check out epic deals on everything you need to start making healthy smoothies at home!