What is collagen? A triple helix polypeptide molecule, collagen is a protein in our bodies - in fact, the most abundant one we have, making up about 65% of our total protein.

Proteins are made of amino acids, such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are amino acids that exist in collagen in varying proportions, depending upon the source. Collagen is the largest protein in the body, with a chain of over 1500 amino acids.

Where is collagen found? Everywhere: it is the prime component of muscle, bones, joints, ligament, skin, cartilage, hair, all the organs, the heart, the liver, the prostate, the bladder, the arteries, even the erythrocytes. Connective tissue. But as we age, production goes down, and any of these systems can be affected.

Why does production decrease? Hormonal changes, drugs, alcohol, processed food, white sugar, hydrogenated oils, overwork, radiation (especially UV), fluoridated water, nutritional deficits, dehydration, stress, trauma - the usual culprits.

COLLAGEN LOSS

What happens as collagen production decreases? Muscles and skin sag (ptosis). The bones lose density. The joints and ligaments become weaker and less elastic. Cartilage becomes thinner and weaker at the joints it is supposed to cushion. Hair loses its wave or curl or thickness. Organs may sag toward the floor (prolapse), and may malfunction. The lungs turn to paper. The heart weakens and enlarges. The liver and prostate may weaken and enlarge. The arteries weaken and are less able to resist plaque formation. Also they are more likely to develop a break in one of their 3 layers (aneurysm). The skin becomes thinner and it wrinkles.

Ever notice that kids never lick their fingers for friction when thumbing through the pages of a book - only adults do? Collagen breakdown. Ever notice that plastic surgeons often own large houses overlooking the ocean? Collagen breakdown.

COLLAGEN DIGESTION

Normal digestion breaks down protein into amino acids, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.

For the collagen found in most supplements to be utilized by the body, it must first be broken down by the digestive system, and then absorbed through the intestine into the blood, and then reassembled into your collagen at the proper site. All this is very complicated and inefficient, since it takes many metabolic steps to do all the breaking down and building up, using up a great deal of the body's enzyme reserves, minerals, and co-factors in order to do all the work.

With most collagen supplements, the strain on the body of going through this entire process does not justify the presumed upside of new collagen formation.

GLUCOSAMINE

We've all heard about Glucosamine sulfate - a protein supplement derived from the chitin of shellfish. Chitin is the hard material that makes up the shells. The theory is that in pure form, glucosamine sulfate will rebuild joints because it is a component of the shellfish's shells as well as a component of your cartilage.

An Italian researcher, Rovati, has been the world authority in the area of glucosamine sulfate, for the past 50 years. The main problem is stability - isolated glucosamine sulfate naturally tends to degrade into formless mush after about 30 days. In the 1970s, Dr. Rovati patented a process to stabilize glucosamine sulfate, which process is still used today.

There are many companies which do not use Rovati's method, and sell the cheaper unstabilized form, which may be worthless by the time it gets into your system. Fillers may be used to hide the decomposition of the active ingredient, so percent composition is also an issue in evaluating a brand of glucosamine sulfate. In addition, absorbability into the bloodstream is critical, after the supplement has gone through the digestion process.

Glucosamine sulfate can sometimes deliver what it promises - relieve joint problems. The problem is, in many cases the benefits are temporary: when they stop taking glucosamine, so often the problem returns.

BETTER IDEA: HYDROLYZED CARTILAGE

Collagen derived from bovine cartilage is hydrolyzed or broken down into its components. There are dozens of ways to hydrolyze, with a variety of results. The objective is to end up with small molecular weight intact amino acids that have not been damaged. Such nonessential amino acids are readily absorbed into the bloodstream without wasting energy for digestion. These amino acids may then act as the building blocks of new collagen.

The problem is that there have been very few collagen supplements that have ever gone to the trouble of hydrolyzing four separate times, because it is expensive and time-consuming to do so, and most people wouldn't know the difference.

But the resulting hydrolyzed protein provides the cleanest building blocks for new collagen, because it has been reduced to the smallest possible molecular weight. And that's what determines bioavailability at the cellular level of all those different tissues that are made of collagen.

New collagen then works to build lean muscle and provide for the other collagen deficiencies listed above.

Taken long-term it is practically impossible not to benefit from a product that provides new collagen, unless there is some serious underlying pathology. After a few weeks on daily collagen supplementation at this level, so many systems can show improvement:

• lean muscle gain
• muscle tone
• skin toning and thickening
• joint rebuilding
• arterial strengthening
• increased energy from musculoskeletal surcharge
• organ rebuilding: heart, prostate, lungs, liver, lungs, kidneys - name it

Chronic problems that can resolve include:

osteoporosis
high blood pressure
arthritis in joints
bladder weakness
chronic fatigue
shallow breathing
autoimmune situations
skin problems
splitting nails

Impossible? Why have we heard so little about the fantastic effects of collagen? Well just think - if a natural food supplement 100% clean, with no side effects could actually have powerful therapeutic effects on any system dependent on collagen, who would study that? University research labs funded by the drug companies?

In the mid 90s, a product emerged out of Canada that used the technology of hydrolysis. The product was clearly the best collagen supplement ever created because it was so clean and the amino acids were so well absorbed. The problem was that it was a liquid and could only be taken on an empty stomach. Even so, the company prospered and on its own merits the product became worldwide.

Then as so often happens, greed and mismanagement ruined the company. But the original idea was to re-emerge.

BEST OF TODAY'S COLLAGEN

These days there are many different collagen products available. You see them at health food stores and online. Most are made as cheaply as possible and marketed as the best possible, etc.

What actually determines a collagen supplement's value is its bioavailability: uptake at the cellular level. If the molecules are too large, most will just pass through the body without ever having been used. Molecular weight of collagen products is measured in daltons. Researching the various molecular weights of most collagens available through supplement distributors and stores, the molecular weight is not generally advertised. The reason is that even though the ads often use the phrase Low Molecular Weight, the molecules are usually quite large, in a range of 40,000 - 45,000 daltons. Such large proteins have difficulty being metabolized into building new collagen because of all the activity that has to take place to reduce the molecules to a workable size. As a result most of the collagen in this form is excreted unused from the body.

Hydrolysis is the process by which the raw materials are broken down and made into the collagen supplement. Most manufacturers use HCl and other acids for hydrolysis, again because it is the least expensive way to go. The problem is that the end product will be damaged by the harsh acids, and may contain residuals as well. The best way to hydrolyze is by proteolytic enzymes. These secure the integrity of the molecules and the purity of the final product.

In 2005, a product was developed in northern California that revived the original collagen technology of the Canadian company. The source is organic bovine collagen from South America.

This particular collagen supplement has a molecular weight under 3,000 daltons - about 10x smaller than most. Such size is accomplished by hydrolyzing 4 separate times, using the enzyme method. It is an expensive process, but the final result has no competitor in the industry.

We discovered that the addition of small amounts of 4 amino acids would significantly enhance the end results of this particular collagen supplement, especially in cases of organic function and athletic performance. The four amino acids are

* taurine

* glycine

* carnitine

* glutamine

Taurine protects heart muscle by acting as a direct antioxidant. That explains why so many heart patients keep ordering.

Glycine is the smallest amino acid found in the body. As such it makes the collagen even more bioavailable at the cellular level, acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, which is then able somehow to interrupt the pain pathway.

Carnitine is important for mitochondria production, which of course is going to promote natural energy levels and cause efficient oxidation of fats.

Glutamine is essential for healing of the gut mucosa, as well as muscle production. Which explains why so many patients with chronic digestive disorders see such quick improvement. Body builders and athletes benefit from the synthesis and growth of muscle tissue, which is a well recognized effect of proper glutamine levels.

The other difference is that this collagen is in powder form and can be mixed with fruit juice. No more fasting before taking it. Same philosophy - same physiology of new collagen formation - same low molecular weight - same far-reaching effects.

Because of the expense of the careful processing, our Collagen is a little more expensive than the rest: a large jar costs $50.

But there is no comparison in results. Taking it twice a day, most patients notice a significant difference in a week or less. After a month, many have experienced dramatic changes.

Some of the early work that was done with our Collagen involved cancer patients. As cancer progresses, it often destroys muscle tissue in a very aggressive fashion. People who have been around family members who are dying of cancer may notice the characteristic way that the muscles of the arms and legs seem to turn to limp string. Doctors call this condition cachexia.

As more and more patients began to use this new Collagen, a wide range of clinical gains were demonstrated. First the chronic arthritis conditions, especially of shoulders and knees that had been weak and painful for years -- suddenly, normal. For many patients the skin thickens and tightens, very soon. Hair thickens. Those changes we expected, although not quite as quickly as most people achieved.

But what was surprising was the number of organic dysfunction cases that showed dramatic improvement with daily collagen smoothies - liver problems, prostate problems, lung deficits, heart problems, especially blood pressure. Such improvements would show up with great regularity, and soon we came to almost expect the dramatic improvement. When the physiology of these conditions is considered, the logic falls into place. For the first time the body is being provided with the building blocks of its own new collagen. It prioritizes where the collagen is needed most. This is a completely different approach from the pain medications and anti-inflammatories which are self-defeating and ultimately destructive in the chronic case. Most patients thought drugs were their only option all these years.

Performing athletes and bodybuilders find this product a clean source of collagen protein for lean muscle gain, fast recovery time, and optimum performance.

Our Collagen it is now being marketed independently and is a runaway success. We didn't even have time to name it - it's just called Collagen. And it fulfills every criterion as a natural and holistic product, as set forth in the chapters of thedoctorwithin.com - a product that works with all the systems of the body at the cellular level.

To order, please call 408 298 1800 or Buy Collagen Now

REFERENCES

Guyton, A.C., MD Textbook of Medical Physiology
Lane, William Sharks Don't Get Cancer
Theodesakis The Arthritis Cure
Warberg, Otto The Metabolism of Tumors
Rotta Research Labs "Profile of Glucosamine Sulfate"
Woods, Chris "Repairing Parchment With Collagen" 16 Apr 97
Dougados, Maxime "The Current Classification of Drugs in Osteoarthritis and the Recommendations for their Development" Rene Descartes University Paris, France
Kelly, Gregory S. "Bromelain: A Literature Review and Discussion of its Therapeutic Applications"
James, Walene Immunizations: The Reality Behind the Myth