The Link Between Gut Health and Overall Wellbeing:

Unlocking the Power of Collagen

In recent years, the connection between gut health and overall wellbeing has become a hot topic in the field of health and wellness. A growing body of scientific research reveals that the health of our gut plays a crucial role in our physical health, mental well-being, and immune system function.

As men, it is essential to understand why gut health matters and how collagen supplements, particularly marine collagen, can support and optimize our digestive system. In this article, we will delve into the importance of gut health and explore how collagen supplements, specifically HIMMENSE SHIFT hydrolysed marine collagen drinks packed with vitamins, can contribute to a healthier gut.

What is Gut Health?

From the oesophagus to the bowel, gut health covers the health of the entire digestive system — the parts of our body responsible for breaking down our food into individual nutrients we use to run our bodies. Achieving optimal gut health involves maintaining a diverse and thriving community of beneficial bacteria, a strong gut barrier, and proper digestive function. 

Diet, genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors can compromise our gut health. These include exposure to toxins, inadequate sleep, uncontrolled stress, insufficient exercise, overuse of antibiotics, smoking, and alcohol consumption, which weakens the intestinal wall lining leading to a compromised immune system.

Signs of an unhealthy gut include changes in bowel habits, sleep disturbances, increased fatigue, skin irritation, food intolerances, and unintentional weight changes.

The Importance of Gut Health for Physical and Mental Wellbeing:

The gut is responsible not only for digestion, but also for assisting functions such as hormone regulation and the immune system.

The Gut-Immune System Connection:

Research suggests that approximately 70% of our immune system resides in our gut. A healthy gut promotes a robust immune response, defending against pathogens and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The gut wall acts as a barrier to viruses, fungi, and harmful bacteria. Unfortunately, this barrier sometimes becomes permeable, known as "leaky gut", allowing these nasties to enter the bloodstream and make you sick. 

The Gut-Brain Axis and Mental Health:

A 2014 review, published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, also suggests that gut health has a knock-on impact on mental health. This communication between the gut and brain is known as the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain connection links our central nervous system (CNS), including our brain, with the enteric nervous system (ENS) in our gut, often dubbed the “second brain”. The ENS plays an important role not only in our digestive health but also in our mental health.  Gut bacteria has the power to stimulate the nervous system, sending messages to your brain through the vagus nerve. Plus, microorganisms in the gut release neurotransmitters like serotonin, which can affect your mood.   

Supporting Gut Health with Marine Collagen Supplements: 

The Role of Collagen:

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in our bodies that we literally use everywhere! We find it in ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones, skin and drum roll please… the lining of our gut! In fact collagen plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our connective tissues, including the gut lining. A key feature of a healthy gut is a happy and healthy gut lining. The gut lining acts as a barrier, preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream. However, stress, poor diet, and ageing can compromise the integrity of the gut lining, leading to a condition called "leaky gut." When the gut is “leaky”, bacteria and toxins enter the bloodstream, and can cause widespread inflammation and possibly trigger a reaction from the immune system. This is often the reason behind IBS and other gut issues. 

Marine Collagen: A Gut-Boosting Solution:

Collagen is digestive super food and an excellent supplement to take to help support the gut. Whilst collagen is usually associated with getting a youthful complexion, it also has numerous health benefits throughout our bodies particularly in places like our muscles, joints, hair and even digestion. Scientific studies have shown that collagen can help repair the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Marine collagen protein, derived from fish sources, boasts several advantages over other collagen types. It contains amino acids that are essential for restoring and maintaining gut integrity, specifically, glycine and proline which have the strongest healing effects for the gut wall and stomach lining. By strengthening your gut lining with daily marine collagen peptides, you can support your digestive health from the inside out. 

What do the Studies show?

Scientific studies have shown that collagen supplements can help repair the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. For example:

A study published in 2022, found that a daily collagen peptide supplement for 8 weeks led to an increase in bowel movements and participants saw less bloating and an improvement in mild digestive symptoms.

Research shows that amino acids are essential to the health of our gut lining. Marine collagen is a source of amino acids, some of which are essential for restoring and maintaining gut integrity, specifically, glycine, glutamine and proline which support a healthy bacterial balance in our gut microbiome and facilitates a healthy gut barrier.

Collagen supplements, such as HIMMENSE SHIFT hydrolysed marine collagen drinks packed with vitamins, offer a convenient and effective way to support gut health. 

Additional Nutrients for Gut Health: 

In addition to marine collagen, incorporating certain vitamins and minerals into your diet can further enhance gut health. These include:

Probiotics: Beneficial bacteria that support a healthy gut microbiome. Found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.

Prebiotics: Fibre-rich foods that act as fuel for probiotics. Examples include garlic, onions, bananas, and asparagus.

Vitamin D: Known for playing a vital role in strengthening the immune system. Sources include sunlight exposure and fortified foods like milk and cereals. HIMMENSE SHIFT contains 200% NRV of Vitamin D.

Vitamin A: Essential for the integrity and healing of the gut lining. Found in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens.

Zinc: Plays a vital role in maintaining gut barrier function. Foods rich in zinc include shellfish, lean meats, legumes, and seeds.

In conclusion, prioritizing gut health is essential for men seeking to optimize their overall wellbeing. The gut's influence extends beyond digestion, impacting immune function, mental health, and overall quality of life. Incorporating marine collagen supplements, such as HIMMENSE SHIFT, can provide a significant support to your overall gut health. Formulated especially for men, each 20ml ready to drink sachet contains 6000mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen protein plus vitamin C, for maximum absorption, as well as vitamins B5, B6, B12, D3, Selenium plus the stress busting adaptogen and natural testosterone booster Ashwagandha for multiple health benefits.

Advice is for information only and should not replace medical care. Consult a doctor or healthcare professional if you have any questions or are taking any other medications before you try any remedies.

Published 11 July 2023