So you've probably seen a bunch of advertising and marketing for collagen products out there, I certainly know I did before I jumped on the collagen wagon - but what is it exactly and how do we benefit from taking it in supplement form?

So as per I did my research on this so-called magical beauty powder before I splurged and made the purchase, as some brands were extremely pricey and I wasn't sure if it would all be worth it. So I put my nutrition textbooks to good use and began my research on this hot topic and turns out it really is a magical beauty powder that everyone could benefit from taking!

Essentially, collagen is the main structural protein found in skin and other connective tissues, and is widely used in purified form for cosmetic surgical treatments - I mean let's be honest, lip fillers was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about people taking collagen, but that's not all it is. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and it's available in your muscles, skin, skin, blood, bones, cartilage, and ligaments.

Collagen is a building block (also known as amino acid) that:

• promotes skin elasticity and can reverse the signs of skin ageing
• holds together your bones and muscles
• protects your organs
• provides structure to joints and tendons and can ease joint pain
• helps to build muscle and burn fat
• reduces the appearance of cellulite and plumps out damaged skin
• improves digestive health

The good news is that your body produces collagen, however the production does slow down with age - typically as we reach our 20s. Lifestyle habits can also bring collagen production to a stand still, which includes smoking, sun exposure, an unhealthy diet and even certain health conditions. When we see a decline in collagen production in the body, we start to see wrinkles, saggy skin and joint pain.

However, there is more to collagen than this. Collagen is imperative to a healthy gut, as it's found in the gut's connective tissue and helps to support, strengthen and repair the lining of the digestive tract. A healthy gut results in a healthy body, mind and spirit. This is where the source of all disease and inflammation typically starts because of our modern lifestyles, stressors and diet, so aiding your body in maintaining a healthy gut is the perfect place to start.

So how do you get your daily dose of collagen? Well there are plenty forms of foods such as bone broth, gelatin and our favourite supplementing with hydrolysed collagen peptides - try our favourite Nutra Organics Collagen Beauty Powder - this is super easy to add into your smoothies, hot drinks, baking or simply add to water.

When taking collagen, your body doesn’t tell the collagen where to go, instead it distributes the collagen to the areas of the body that need it. So taking collagen supplements works much like exercise — it’s difficult to target a specific need, but increasing your intake still has its benefits.

When I first started taking collagen, I personally saw results after taking it for 3 weeks and now will continue to use it ongoing. I noticed that my 'ice pick' acne scars filled out and my skin on my face became plumper, my nails became much more stronger and now I have white tips whereas I've never had them before. I've also found my hair much more stronger and luscious and I've had less recovery time after workout sessions. So it's been a big A+ from me, but everyone's results are different.

If you've been on the fence about taking collagen and can't justify spending a lot of money on other brands, then give the Nutra Organics Collagen a go (you can buy it in two different sizes) - what do you have to lose?