How to have a great day at work: Understand the collagen principle

Collagen has been having a real moment the last few years, with powders, gels and pills popping up everywhere and celebrities swearing by it for glowing youthful appearances. But I’m interested beyond the fact that it could make us look better and want to know if it’s something that will make us feel better too.

So, what actually is it? Collagen is the most common type of protein and makes up 25 to 35 per cent of our whole body’s protein content. It’s composed mainly of the amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline; these amino acids form three strands which make up the triple-helix structure characteristic of collagen.

It’s found in the skin, connective tissue, bones, cartilage, tendons and cornea, it provides structural support to tissues and plays important roles in cellular processes, including tissue repair, immune response, cellular communication and tissue maintenance. It’s seriously important.