choosing collagen

Choosing Collagen

You may have heard that collagen is something that benefits hair, skin, nails, or joints and choosing collagen can be a challenge. All true!

Collagen is a type of protein that’s vital for youthful-looking skin, and you need it for strong muscles and tendons.💪 However, your body’s ability to make collagen declines with age.😟 All of this is why we like supplementing with collagen.

If you’re curious, here are the key things to look for when choosing collagen as a supplement.

Collagen Product Checklist

Does it have all 9 essential aminos? The 9 essential amino acids that your body needs to support protein synthesis are phenylalanine, valine, tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, leucine, and lysine. These are important building blocks for all proteins, including collagen. But collagen by itself has only 8 essential amino acids, so aim for a collagen product with all nine.
Does it provide collagen types I and III? There are at least 28 types of collagen, but the most abundant is type I, which is found in your skin, joints, bones, tendons, and all over your body. Type III is a collagen protein found in your skin that decreases with age. So you’ll want both type I and type III in your collagen supplement.
Does it have vitamin C? Your body can’t effectively produce collagen without vitamin C. It aids in collagen synthesis and helps protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Your body can’t produce vitamin C on its own, so you’ll need it in your diet or your supplement.
Does it include biotin? Also known as vitamin B7, biotin is another nutrient that can help support healthy hair, skin, and nails. Also, biotin deficiency has been shown to lead to hair loss and skin and nail problems. So make sure your collagen supplement has this one.
Is the source grass-fed? Most collagen supplements come from animals, so it’s best to choose a product that is sourced humanely and sustainably. For bovine collagen, choose one that is grass-fed and pasture-raised. This means that the animal was raised humanely and fed only grass so that it’s as close to their natural diet as possible.

🤔 Looking for something that checks all the boxes?

If you want a collagen product that’s sustainably sourced and contains the key nutrients above, check out Collagen-9^™. Collagen-9 includes the missing amino acid that makes it a complete protein. With 10 g of collagen per serving, plus 100% DV of vitamin C and biotin, it might be one of the best things you add to your nutrition routine.

There are 3 options for Collagen-9:

October 12, 2023

Hydration tips

When my mother was living with my niece, she was taken to the hospital twice. The problem: Dehydration. She wasn’t getting proper hydration. Mother has some memory issues and does not like to drink water. She was not well supervised and was left to sit on the sofa all day in front of the television. She was given a bottle of water but seldom finished it by the end of the day.

When I ask my clients how much water they drink a day, the answer is most often, “A lot. I get enough water.” After they spend a day or two measuring the water they actually drink, a majority of them are shocked at how little they really are taking in.

I am currently in a group that is working on getting enough water and developing habits to make sure that we reach our water intake goals each day. You might be surprised at how easy it can be, once you know and practice the steps.

Here are a few things to help you get there:

Plan for at least 64 ounces of water per day. ( the pervasive rule of thumb is divide your body weight by half and go for that many ounces.)
Drink water first thing in the morning, before any other beverage.
Drink 4 to 8 ounces of water before breakfast.
Drink 4 to 8 ounces of water before snacks.
Drink 4 to 8 ounces of water before dinner.

As you can see, it is a simple process. It only takes the effort to make it a habit. And habits develop at different rates for different people.

You might be thinking, wow 64+ oz is a lot of water, how am I going to drink that much? Well, we’ve got lots of tips!✨

First, let’s talk about how much water your body actually needs.🤔 While the EXACT amount you need depends on your activity level, health conditions, height and weight, gender, and even fiber and caffeine intake, there are some general guidelines. According to the Institute of Medicine‘s recommendations:

Men should drink 13 cups (about 3 liters) of water each day.
Women should drink 9 cups (just over 2 liters) of water each day. Pregnant women should drink 10 cups of water daily, and breastfeeding women should drink 12 cups.
Kids and teens should drink 6 to 8 cups of water a day.

💧 HOW HYDRATED ARE YOU?

A practical way to track your hydration level is to note the color of your urine right after you get up in the morning. Straw or lemonade-colored urine is a sign of proper hydration. Dark-colored urine—closer to the color of apple juice—indicates dehydration. Let’s see how getting more water might change the color of your pee. Don’t be shy––we’re all in this together!

One thing that helps me drink more water is having a nice water bottle that shows how much water I need to be drinking. It is also a good way to keep measurement of your intake.

If you don’t measure, you don’t really know. After a while, you will have a feel for how your hydration level is.

September 3, 2020September 8, 2020

Turmeric potency varies among products

What do apple slices have to do with turmeric?

You are a kid who loves apple slices. Each day you go to the local fruit stand and give him your dollar. He gives you an apple slice and you are so happy. You are “Keeping the doctor away.(?)”

You go to visit your cousin who also loves apple slices. When you accompany him to his local vendor he gives the man a dollar and a half and the man gives him 19 apple slices.

How do you feel about your vendor and the apple slice you get? You are getting only 5% while your cousin is getting 95%.

From Apples to Turmeric

You see, this is like turmeric. If one is taking turmeric from the grocery store spice aisle, he or she is only getting about 5% curcumins, the active ingredient in turmeric root. If he or she is taking Shaklee’s Turmeric Boost, they are getting 95% curcumins. Shaklee is using a Standardized Extract of turmeric. Standardized! Understand how much more value and benefit is there in a standardized extract. Standardized Turmeric extract is heads above Turmeric root.

Turmeric has been used for ages as a seasoning for food. Many began to see the health benefits of this spicy root as well. As with any food item, the nutritional value varies from product to product. This orange may have many times the vitamin C as that orange. Growth and processing methods also affects the nutritional value of foods.

I only began using turmeric when Shaklee introduced Turmeric Boost. After a short time, I noticed a big difference in a cranky hip. It is so much better now that I am being consistent with my “curcumin” intake.

Links for more information

For more information, watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6HxmWtIOvRI

You can buy this standardized product at Dallas Health Helpers

May 6, 2013

Joint disease, joint movement improved with exercise for muscle strength and the healthiest foods to help anti-inflammatory

Achy and swollen knees. Stiff fingers. Reduced, difficult flexibility. These could all be signs and symptoms of arthritis, a joint disease. In fact, arthritis affects one out of every five adults living in the U.S. One in three adults report that arthritis limits their ability to work. If current trends continue, an estimated 67 million people will have arthritis within the next 20 years.

Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, the two most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, usually comes with age. Cartilage (the cushioning material between joints) breaks down, leading to joint pain and stiffness. Most affected joints are those in our fingers, knees, spine, and hips. It also can occur after an injury to a joint as in a young soccer player who injures a knee could develop arthritis down the road, some 10 to 15 years later.

Rheumatoid arthritis is believed to be a systemic inflammatory disease and can develop at any age. It can

► show up in many different joints of the body

► leads to the deterioration of cartilage and bone

► can cause joint deformity, pain, swelling, and redness.

Although the exact cause is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests a faulty immune response may be involved.

There’s plenty you can do now to prevent arthritis, protect your joints, or improve your symptoms if you already have arthritis. Talk to your doctor to determine the best course of action.

If you’re overweight, weight loss should be your next step! Losing as few as 11 pounds can reduce the risk of getting osteoarthritis by 50%.

Being more active sounds counterintuitive, but moving more can actually keep your joint movement better, help with weight control, and maintain muscle strength. Also, do exercise for muscle strength.

What you eat or don’t eat can make a difference, too. Some of the healthiest foods that help to lower inflammation include:

► Fish and walnuts.

► Olive oil.

► Red wine and dark chocolate.

► Turmeric.

► Tart cherries.

Lastly, try natural alternatives. Studies show that long-term use of glucosamine helps maintain healthy cartilage and may even reduce the need for knee-replacement surgery in people with osteoarthritis. Results from a clinical study suggest the anti-inflammatory activity of Boswellia serrata extract reduces joint pain and stiffness, while fish oil supplements also have been shown to help fight inflammation.

September 5, 2012

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas, Dallas Health Helpers, talks about joint pain relief.

Shaklee Distributor in Dallas, Dallas Health Helpers, talks about joint pain relief.

Many people experience joint pain. This pain may come from arthritis, a simple structural abnormality, over use or repetitive use. There are many reasons for joint pain. One source that is prevalent is being over weight or obese.

Obviously, the first step is to get to a recommended body weight. That will take much pressure off the hip, knee and ankle joints. Take advantage of this pain-reliever that will offer many other benefits.

With joint pain, it is also important to keep moving. Often, those with joint pain will tend to remain as immobile as possible to avoid aggravating their condition or for fear of causing more pain. In general, keeping a joint functioning will help to keep it mobility and range of motion. The old adage that if you don’t move it you lose it has some merit.

Find an exercise that you like and can easily do regularly. With joint pain, one should avoid high impact activities. Generally, easy movements done regularly will help to get good circulation to the tissue surrounding the joints, bringing nutrition and oxygen to them and helping to remove toxins and metabolic waste products.

One with joint pain should also avoid inflammatory foods. Things such as desserts, red meats and processed foods can add to inflammation, causing more pain.

Avoiding stress can also help to lower inflammation.

Many people have begun to use joint pain preparations that include glucosamine and chondroitin. However, recent studies have proved that chondroitin is actually counterproductive to building health of the joint. It actually inhibits the absorption of glucosamine. When looking for a joint product, make certain is does not contain chondroitin.

Shaklee Corporation produces a product called Advanced Joint Health Complex. This product works in a matter of days and it works to heal the tissues around the joint, not just alleviate pain. They also offer a money back guarantee. Try it here.

Dallas Health Helpers, Shaklee Distributor in Dallas is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214.252.9596 or email us to learn more about vitality and health.