Can certain nutricosmetics products help with chronic health conditions?
In discussing the quality of nutricosmetics supplements, including the purity of having no heavy metals, hormones, or steroids in collagen powder, we spoke to BioOptimal president Louis Antoniou. Mara Santilli also hosted Louis’ daughter Margo Patatinis, a holistic health counselor who was one of the catalysts behind her father getting involved in the wellness industry.
Margo began her portion of the podcast by retelling how she survived a severe bout with Lyme disease and autoimmune major arthritis that left her bedridden after the birth of her third child. Once she began to walk again, she urged her father to leave his corporate, travel-heavy career in order to lead a healthier lifestyle.
One of the ways Margo treated these immune health conditions while recovering was by diving into superfoods. She started by taking moringa, which has been studied to have an impact on reducing symptoms of autoimmune conditions. After seeing the benefits moringa had on Margo’s recovery and the maintenance of her health, Louis then got involved with a supplement business specializing in antioxidant-rich superfoods.
Later, Louis decided to purchase the family-owned BioOptimal Supplements to expand beyond superfood supplements. BioOptimal Supplements is well-known for their popular, high-selling collagen products, manufactured with a strict quality control process. Not only is there a strict inspection in every production run to avoid heavy metal contamination, but the collagen is sourced from grass-fed cows so as not to introduce bovine hormones or steroids into the formula and make it the healthiest possible formula for humans to consume.
Can collagen products have benefits for chronic health conditions?
Along with hair, muscle, and skin health benefits, there are hypotheses that collagen can also help reduce inflammation that contributes to many autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, for example. More research also suggests that collagen contributes to healthy joint mobility, which is also key for people living with any kind of inflammatory arthritic condition.
Additionally, the main amino acid in collagen, glycine, is important for glucose metabolism, particularly in people with hypothyroidism. Anyone with the thyroid autoimmune condition may be deficient in that amino acid glycine, therefore slowing their metabolism. Glycine, via collagen, can be beneficial for keeping glucose metabolism on track, along with protecting against spikes in blood sugar and insulin resistance.
Supplementation of collagen may even be effective in treating symptoms of GERD, or acid reflux, by nourishing the esophageal lining.
Collagen is perhaps best known for its skin health benefits–and one study suggests that it can even be helpful to mitigate symptoms of chronic skin conditions such as eczema, or atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis is caused by allergic inflammation of the skin, and taking collagen could decrease the activity of immune markers in the skin cells, banishing some of the itching, redness, and rashiness of eczema.
It is well-studied that antioxidant supplements have a wealth of full-body benefits for people with chronic health conditions and those who want to prevent those health conditions from occurring in the first place, but taking nutricosmetics such as collagen can have just as many systemic health benefits, too.
