What is collagen

I have read a lot about Collagen. Kindly let me know what it is.

Hauwa (by SMS)

 

Collagen is a type of protein. Certain foods, such as animal skin and ligaments, are rich in collagen. Collagen is also available as a supplement. Many people hoping to support the health of their skin, joints, and hair pop collagen supplements daily or add collagen powder to their morning coffee, tea, or smoothie. Even though the use of collagen supplements and other collagen products is on the rise, most people don’t know what collagen actually is or what it does in the body. Collagen is a type of protein. In fact, it’s the most abundant structural protein in animals. A structural protein is one that makes up the structure or framework of your cells and tissues. There are 28 known types of collagen, with type I collagen accounting for 90% of the collagen in the human body. Collagen is found in connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage. It provides structural support to tissues and plays important roles in cellular processes, including; tissue repair, immune response, cellular communication as well as cellular migration, a process necessary for tissue maintenance. Connective tissue cells called fibroblasts produce and maintain collagen. As people grow older, their collagen becomes fragmented, fibroblast function becomes impaired, and collagen production slows. These changes, along with the loss of another key structural protein called elastin, lead to signs of aging such as sagging skin and wrinkles. Your body naturally produces collagen, and you can consume it through dietary sources such as chicken skin and fish skin as well as collagen supplements.

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