It’s relatively easy to decide whether or not to start taking marine collagen.
But deciding which one? Ooh, trickier. And then, why marine collagen? Why not collagen from other sources? What are marine collagen benefits? Time to answer those questions.
Collagen products are not all created equal. There are dozens (hundreds?) from which to choose, and dozens of suppliers. Each one has its own set of benefits and features. It can feel overwhelming.
This article is a simple guide intended to make the process easy, and focuses specifically on marine collagen.
First of all … the evidence is not comprehensive
It’d be wonderful to be able to say there are millions of studies out there documenting the health benefits of collagen (and specifically, marine collagen) supplements.
Sorry. Can’t do that.
There is, however, considerable evidence that is at least modest, significant, and well-documented.
Here are the health benefits attributed to marine collagen:
Collagen is a protein, found and used in the skin, hair, nails, tendons, joints, and muscles.
It helps keep your skin elastic and stretchy. And you lose approximately 1% of it every year of your life. It’s part of the ageing process, and makes your skin look wrinkly and droopy in places.
Boosting the collagen in your skin just reverses the appearance of decline, and brings strength where it was lost.
In exactly the same way, collagen is what helps keep your hair and nails strong. And you lose 1% of this per year, too.
So boosting collagen in your hair and nails makes them less prone to fraying and splintering.
Many people who suffer from arthritis or other joint pain report feeling less pain when taking collagen.
Higher protein intake generally will boost muscle mass and strength. Collagen, being a protein, will contribute to this, although collagen alone is not the most effective protein to do this with.
There is small evidence that blood sugar and insulin levels in diabetics will improve with collagen intake. However, the key word there is small.
Collagen supplements are extracted from animals. So if you are on a vegan diet, collagen supplements of any kind are not for you.
If you’re not vegan, the animal source might matter if you have any food allergies or other diet restrictions. Those allergic to fish, for example, must steer clear of marine collagen, whereas for kosher dieters it’s about the only collagen source they can consider.
Now that you know marine collagen benefits, here are the factors to consider when selecting a marine collagen product:
Where do the fish come from? Freshwater or seawater? And what species of fish?
You might be allergic to the latter, but not the former. Or to a specific species of fish, or to shellfish. (Shellfish allergies are quite common, so you want a supplement that is very clearly labelled Shellfish-Free.)
If freshwater, have the fish been farmed or wild-caught?
This makes a difference to some people who think farmed fish are susceptible to fungi or diseases that spread easily in confined spaces.
Scientifically proven results (studies) from third parties
It’s easy to make a claim that sounds convincing. But can they back it up?
If their product has been verifiably third-party-tested, they can. And you can check them on it. You can follow the trail of evidence yourself.
You might decide you don’t find the evidence convincing, but at least with third-party-test results, you can be sure the numbers haven’t just been invented by a smooth talker.
With partially-hydrolyzed collagen, the protein chains have been stretched out and somewhat swollen with water. This forms a gelatin, which will be more easily absorbed by the digestive tract.
With fully-hydrolyzed collagen, the protein chains are broken down further, making them (so the theory goes) more absorbable still. However, the scientific evidence for this is modest and incomplete.
Are you suspicious of companies doing genetic meddling with the food you eat?
If the product is tagged as non-GMO, it means that no genetic engineering techniques have been applied anywhere in production of the collagen supplement.
Your body needs small quantities of some metals to function properly.
Very small quantities. Of specific metals, eg zinc, iron, calcium, potassium, and a few others. They are comparatively low-molecular-weight metals that exist commonly throughout nature.
Higher-molecular-weight metals, or heavy metals, do not occur commonly in nature.
And they are harmful to nature (and to life). Examples include lead, mercury and cadmium. Lead, for example, is linked with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s not normal for such metals to be found in fish, but neither is it uncommon.
You want to be sure whatever fish-derived (ie marine) collagen supplement you buy has been verified to contain acceptably-low levels of heavy metals.
Your body needs antibiotics … when you’re fighting an life-threatening infection (and only when).
Any other time, they’re undesirable. Reason: They train the nasties to resist them in the future. It’s tempting for supplement producers to fight infection in the fish antibiotics - it keeps production (and revenues) up. But if collagen is extracted from those fish, the antibiotics make their way into you.
You want a product that has not been produced using antibiotics in any way.
Same argument applies here for hormones and preservatives.
They help suppliers with production rates and profits, but at a cost to your health.
Is it a long list? Of complicated-sounding ingredients?
Or just a handful of simple, easy-to-understand ones? (Maybe only one.) The more ingredients there are, the more complicated the process has been to create the product. Sometimes, you need that, but not always.
What are those additional ingredients? Why are they there?
What do they do? Does the label on the bottle tell you, in plain terms? If you are buying marine collagen, you really only need one ingredient: collagen, derived from farmed or wild-caught fish.
Period.
Given the source of marine collagen, it would be natural for collagen to carry a hint of fish flavour or odour.
But if it’s been processed properly, it shouldn’t. In which case, the label should clearly say No fish flavour or smell (or similar).
In some marine collagen products, artificial flavouring may have been added. This is likely to mask a fish flavour that the manufacturer has not eliminated. In this case, the specific flavouring ingredient should be listed on the label (or at a minimum, the words “artificial flavouring”).
Marine collagen generally is available only in capsule or powder form. Which do you prefer?
With powder, your dosage is flexibly adjustable - just take a bit less (or more) than recommended. Health benefits are also typically faster with higher dosages, and some people dislike swallowing capsules.
With capsules, there is no measuring of powder to do - just swallow a capsule with water.
Done.
]]>
Anyone who’s only just heard of L-Glutamine will, quite reasonably, have questions.
What does it do? Why bother taking it? What are the side effects?
What does the “L” mean? Is there another kind? What do the other kinds do? Etc, etc.
And then some people have heard of it in relation to a specific health condition or health objective they have. Their questions will be more poignant, because they have a specific problem to solve.
Here are the more common questions posed by people new to L-Glutamine, and some answers:
L-Glutamine is an amino acid.
It is, in fact, the most plentiful amino acid in the human body. (There are 20.) It is one of the building blocks of all proteins in your body. And there’s even evidence to suggest that it’s conditionally essential, i.e. when you’re critically ill, a ready supply of L-Glutamine will help keep you alive.
Crazy fact: The human body produces it naturally. And consumes it naturally. (So do most living creatures.) You couldn’t stop producing (and consuming) it if you tried.
Best way to think of L-Glutamine is as bricks used to build the house you live in.
The arrangement and distribution of bricks can change to build different house designs, for different purposes. Proteins are the walls and trusses. L-Glutamine is one of the brick types in the wall.
But your house is under constant construction and re-construction. Hence it needs a ready supply of bricks.
There’s a brick kiln on-site, churning out bricks.
That’s your body manufacturing L-Glutamine. But the demand for bricks rises and falls over time. When you’re sick or injured, for instance, your body needs to rebuild quickly, so the demand for bricks rises. Your onsite kiln can’t keep up, so you have to make up the shortfall through your diet.
Fortunately, L-Glutamine exists in most of the foods you eat.
And it’s also easy to produce synthetically in a concentrate, from a variety of natural sources: beets, corn and shellfish are the most common.
Longer answer: L-Glutamine is one of two glutamines, the other being D-glutamine.
Both have the chemical formula C5H10N2O3, but have slightly different molecular arrangements.
Of the two, only L-Glutamine occurs plentifully in your body (and in nature). Only L-Glutamine is actually useful to you.
D-Glutamine is both unimportant (and a slight nuisance) in your body. You have no need for it, and should not think about trying to take D-Glutamine supplements.
Short answer: No
Longer answer: If you take it while embarking on a deliberate weight gain or bodybuilding programme … yes, you will probably gain weight, and it will contribute towards that objective. The weight gained will mostly be muscle.
If you don’t take it while embarking on a deliberate weight gain or bodybuilding programme … you will probably still gain weight, just not as much.
If you take it without any weight gain or bodybuilding programme … you might gain weight slightly, or you might not gain at all.
Supplemental L-Glutamine is an enhancer, not a cause. It isn’t a dominant driver. It accelerates the journey you’re already on, and takes you further down the road.
So could you gain weight, or get fat, while taking L-Glutamine? Yes, but the L-Glutamine won’t be to blame.
L-Glutamine reduces inflammation, which is behind most chronic conditions affecting large and small intestines.
It also regulates the bacterial populations in the intestines, and suppresses the growth of pathogens.
All of this reduces the risk and complications of chronic constipation, cancer, weight gain, and inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
It also counters the likelihood of so-called Leaky Gut Syndrome, in which bacteria escapes the confines of your gut to do damage elsewhere in your body..
L-Glutamine is an essential fuel source for white blood cells, T-helper cells, and specific types of cells in your intestinal system (which is itself fundamental to the immune system).
As with inflammatory bowel diseases, inflammation is behind a lot of heart disease. Hence L-Glutamine has the same anti-inflammatory power for the heart.
The evidence is mixed. But because of its role as a protein building-brick, L-Glutamine has been linked to improvements in muscle gain, exercise performance, and improved post-workout recovery.
The brain doesn’t depend directly on L-Glutamine.
It does, however, depend on Glutamate (or Glutamic acid), from which the body naturally produces L-Glutamine. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter in your brain.
Hence any prolonged deficiency of L-Glutamine will disrupt Glutamate levels, and potentially deprive the brain of an essential neurotransmitter. Brain function will be affected.
Brain and mental health problems that have been linked with a Glutamine-Glutamate imbalance include epilepsy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression.
Can L-Glutamine cause diarrhea, for example?
Short answer to that specific question is … Only if you took an insanely large quantity of an L-Glutamine supplement. (And if you did, diarrhea might be the least of your problems.)
As long as you take L-Glutamine in small doses, as directed, diarrhea is very unlikely. The same is true of other side effects.
Medical literature suggests that people with histories of kidney or liver disease, Reye’s syndrome or cancer, are at higher risk of side effects, and would be well advised to consult their doctor before taking L-Glutamine long-term. (Key word there: long. Short-term use carries no additional risk.)
For any of the following 3 simple reasons:
It depends entirely on your preferences and priorities.
Some people don’t want to take L-Glutamine derived from corn - they’re allergic, or they don’t want to consume anything that might have been genetically-modifed. So you’d want an L-Glutamine supplement clearly labelled Corn-free, Non-GMO.
Some supplements combine L-Glutamine with other ingredients, e.g. creatine, theanine, collagen, artificial flavours, preservatives, etc. This may or may not suit you. If it does not, look for an L-Glutamine supplement labelled Single-ingredient.
If you have other dietary restrictions, e.g. halal, kosher, vegan, then you will want a supplement that clearly specifies compliance with those restrictions. Same goes for any allergies you have.
]]>It’s relatively easy to decide whether or not to start taking marine collagen.
But deciding which one? Ooh, trickier. And then, why marine collagen? Why not collagen from other sources? What are marine collagen benefits? Time to answer those questions.
Collagen products are not all created equal. There are dozens (hundreds?) from which to choose, and dozens of suppliers. Each one has its own set of benefits and features. It can feel overwhelming.
This article is a simple guide intended to make the process easy, and focuses specifically on marine collagen.
First of all … the evidence is not comprehensive
It’d be wonderful to be able to say there are millions of studies out there documenting the health benefits of collagen (and specifically, marine collagen) supplements.
Sorry. Can’t do that.
There is, however, considerable evidence that is at least modest, significant, and well-documented.
Here are the health benefits attributed to marine collagen:
Collagen is a protein, found and used in the skin, hair, nails, tendons, joints, and muscles.
It helps keep your skin elastic and stretchy. And you lose approximately 1% of it every year of your life. It’s part of the ageing process, and makes your skin look wrinkly and droopy in places.
Boosting the collagen in your skin just reverses the appearance of decline, and brings strength where it was lost.
In exactly the same way, collagen is what helps keep your hair and nails strong. And you lose 1% of this per year, too.
So boosting collagen in your hair and nails makes them less prone to fraying and splintering.
Many people who suffer from arthritis or other joint pain report feeling less pain when taking collagen.
Higher protein intake generally will boost muscle mass and strength. Collagen, being a protein, will contribute to this, although collagen alone is not the most effective protein to do this with.
There is small evidence that blood sugar and insulin levels in diabetics will improve with collagen intake. However, the key word there is small.
Collagen supplements are extracted from animals. So if you are on a vegan diet, collagen supplements of any kind are not for you.
If you’re not vegan, the animal source might matter if you have any food allergies or other diet restrictions. Those allergic to fish, for example, must steer clear of marine collagen, whereas for kosher dieters it’s about the only collagen source they can consider.
Now that you know marine collagen benefits, here are the factors to consider when selecting a marine collagen product:
Where do the fish come from? Freshwater or seawater? And what species of fish?
You might be allergic to the latter, but not the former. Or to a specific species of fish, or to shellfish. (Shellfish allergies are quite common, so you want a supplement that is very clearly labelled Shellfish-Free.)
If freshwater, have the fish been farmed or wild-caught?
This makes a difference to some people who think farmed fish are susceptible to fungi or diseases that spread easily in confined spaces.
Scientifically proven results (studies) from third parties
It’s easy to make a claim that sounds convincing. But can they back it up?
If their product has been verifiably third-party-tested, they can. And you can check them on it. You can follow the trail of evidence yourself.
You might decide you don’t find the evidence convincing, but at least with third-party-test results, you can be sure the numbers haven’t just been invented by a smooth talker.
With partially-hydrolyzed collagen, the protein chains have been stretched out and somewhat swollen with water. This forms a gelatin, which will be more easily absorbed by the digestive tract.
With fully-hydrolyzed collagen, the protein chains are broken down further, making them (so the theory goes) more absorbable still. However, the scientific evidence for this is modest and incomplete.
Are you suspicious of companies doing genetic meddling with the food you eat?
If the product is tagged as non-GMO, it means that no genetic engineering techniques have been applied anywhere in production of the collagen supplement.
Your body needs small quantities of some metals to function properly.
Very small quantities. Of specific metals, eg zinc, iron, calcium, potassium, and a few others. They are comparatively low-molecular-weight metals that exist commonly throughout nature.
Higher-molecular-weight metals, or heavy metals, do not occur commonly in nature.
And they are harmful to nature (and to life). Examples include lead, mercury and cadmium. Lead, for example, is linked with Alzheimer’s Disease. It’s not normal for such metals to be found in fish, but neither is it uncommon.
You want to be sure whatever fish-derived (ie marine) collagen supplement you buy has been verified to contain acceptably-low levels of heavy metals.
Your body needs antibiotics … when you’re fighting an life-threatening infection (and only when).
Any other time, they’re undesirable. Reason: They train the nasties to resist them in the future. It’s tempting for supplement producers to fight infection in the fish antibiotics - it keeps production (and revenues) up. But if collagen is extracted from those fish, the antibiotics make their way into you.
You want a product that has not been produced using antibiotics in any way.
Same argument applies here for hormones and preservatives.
They help suppliers with production rates and profits, but at a cost to your health.
Is it a long list? Of complicated-sounding ingredients?
Or just a handful of simple, easy-to-understand ones? (Maybe only one.) The more ingredients there are, the more complicated the process has been to create the product. Sometimes, you need that, but not always.
What are those additional ingredients? Why are they there?
What do they do? Does the label on the bottle tell you, in plain terms? If you are buying marine collagen, you really only need one ingredient: collagen, derived from farmed or wild-caught fish.
Period.
Given the source of marine collagen, it would be natural for collagen to carry a hint of fish flavour or odour.
But if it’s been processed properly, it shouldn’t. In which case, the label should clearly say No fish flavour or smell (or similar).
In some marine collagen products, artificial flavouring may have been added. This is likely to mask a fish flavour that the manufacturer has not eliminated. In this case, the specific flavouring ingredient should be listed on the label (or at a minimum, the words “artificial flavouring”).
Marine collagen generally is available only in capsule or powder form. Which do you prefer?
With powder, your dosage is flexibly adjustable - just take a bit less (or more) than recommended. Health benefits are also typically faster with higher dosages, and some people dislike swallowing capsules.
With capsules, there is no measuring of powder to do - just swallow a capsule with water.
Done.
]]>
One of the most potent antioxidants is glutathione. Glutathione's active ingredient has been studied extensively since its discovery in Japan during the 1950s.
Liposomal glutathione is the only type of glutathione supplement with the most efficient absorption rate. In this article, we will first discuss the advantages of supplementation with liposomal glutathione, and then recommend the finest glutathione products available.
Liposomal Glutathione is a form of the master antioxidant, L-glutathione that has been encapsulated into small unilamellar vesicles (SUV) or multivesicular bodies (MVB). It supports overall health by detoxifying the body and promoting healthier immune function.
These dietary supplements are created by combining glutathione with a novel delivery method that helps to optimize the supplement's advantages. It is claimed to be more effective and simpler to absorb than conventional glutathione.
Liposomal glutathione is created from the same ingredients as glutathione, but the production technique is unique. Because of this, many individuals prefer to boost their glutathione levels using liposomal glutathione. In addition to softgels and liquid, the supplement may be purchased in a number of other ways.
Glutathione is made in the liver and is found throughout the body. It is in charge of safeguarding the body against toxins, oxidative damage, and other potentially harmful chemicals.
Glutathione is also beneficial to the immune system and in the fight against cancer. It has the ability to decrease inflammation, provide greater absorption of nutrients, help in improved brain function, and aid in anti-aging. As a potent anti-oxidant, it protects your cells and DNA from free radical damage.
The health benefits of liposomal glutathione are vast. Toxins are removed, oxidative stress levels are lowered, and a healthy immune system is stimulated. In case you didn't know, glutathione is essential for brain health, important cellular functions, metabolic processes such as DNA synthesis and repair, and the proper function of organs such as the lungs and kidneys.
Taking these supplements ensures you are properly supporting your body. Take good care of yourself by making sure you are fully benefiting from your oral glutathione supplementation.
In terms of bioavailability, liposomal glutathione is superior to oral glutathione. According to this study, Glutathione (GSH), one of the most abundant antioxidants in our system, is a key regulator of oxidative stress.
The oral delivery of liposomal GSH was tested to see whether it may boost GSH levels in humans. The results indicate that GSH levels increased by 40% in the whole blood while oxidative stress reduced by 35% in plasma.
It is clear that a daily dosage of liposomal with glutathione is more effective than taking GSH alone. In addition to enhancing GSH levels, liposomal GSH has an influence on immunological function and oxidative stress levels.
To ensure maximum absorption of the antioxidant glutathione, liposomal solutions must be used. The production of glutathione occurs in every cell, but the body may need more cellular support due to environmental stress and contaminants.
Due to its superior performance, liposomal glutathione products are more expensive than an oral dose of GSH but less costly than intravenous glutathione (IV GSH). Here are a few things to look for when purchasing these supplements.
Make sure the Setria Gluthathione is of the highest grade. Since it has been scientifically shown to raise blood levels of glutathione, it is the gold standard among glutathione supplements. Taking GSH supplements on a daily basis may help increase the human body's stores of glutathione, according to this pilot study.
Liposomal glutathione is better absorbed than standard oral glutathione in both softgel and liquid form. Softgels are convenient due to portability. However, the liquid form allows you to adjust your dosage as needed and absorbs faster in the body for more complete absorption.
In liquid form, you have more control. You may begin with a lower dosage and gradually increase it to satisfy your body's needs. This allows your body to adjust to the supplement in a healthy manner. The softgels do not have this capability.
For your convenience, we offer the highest grade of Setria Reduced L-Glutathione in liquid form in a 40-day supply. For better, more complete absorption, each bottle of Bio Absorb Neutraceuticals Liposomal Glutathione Liquid Supplement includes 40 doses of 450 mg of highly accessible antioxidants.
The best way to use liposomal glutathione is to learn the right dosage and delivery method. You will need a teaspoon or dropper if you choose the liquid form.
The recommended daily dose of Bio Absorb Neutraceuticals Liposomal Glutathione Liquid Supplement for adults is 1 teaspoon once a day. A gauged measuring cup is provided in order to ensure a correct dosage.
Looking for a place to purchase liposomal glutathione in Canada? It is a powerful antioxidant that is great for overall health.
We have the best prices with fast shipping. You can buy liposomal glutathione supplements online in our store, or if you prefer, on Amazon in Canada. Either way, enjoy the convenience of having it shipped right to your door.
We are proud to offer quality products and give you the best service possible to help you achieve your health goals. If you have any questions about our products, please don't hesitate to contact us at bioabsorbnutraceuticals.com.
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