Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, making up a third of all protein composition. So, pretty important in how your body works.
Essentially, it is the glue that holds you together! Even the word comes from the Greek “Kólla” meaning glue.
Our bodies are made up of building blocks, and while a lot of us know the bigger components it's not every day we think about protecting them.
In total there are 16 different types of collagen actively working in your body; with type I accounting for 90%. Collagen is composed of densely packed fibres, made of three types of amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.
Collagen is a vital aspect yet by age 40, up to 1% of the body's collagen is lost per year. Collagen is produced by your body, therefore it is up to your body to regulate how much is made and when. Collagen is produced and then broken down, when the levels of collagen falter your body can produce more to balance it again. However, as you age your body creates less collagen of a lower quality.
So what does collagen affect? Actually, a lot of things. It is a major building block for bones, skin, muscles, and can also be found in blood vessels, ligaments and teeth.
There have been many studies on collagen and its effect, especially collagen supplements. In 2019 a study was carried out that determined that recreationally active men increased muscle mass and strength by incorporating a collagen supplement into their diet. While another study, also in 2019, showed that women who incorporated collagen showed improvements in skin elasticity, this American study also demonstrated that collagen could improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles on aging skin.
There are a lot of factors that can affect the production and quality of collagen within your body. Your diet, alcohol intake, and even sun exposure can affect the rate of collagen loss as you age; making you appear to be aging faster.
Collagen production affects your entire body from how you look, to your joints, and flexibility. You can help your body produce collagen by incorporating vitamin C and copper into your diet. As collagen has a core make up of proline, glycine and hydroxyproline, it can also be beneficial to incorporate mushrooms (proline) and proteins (glycine) into your diet.
What you consume is vital to the everyday workings of your body, whether you see a visible change or not, looking after your health from the start of each day is important. We know that and as we continue on our journey to provide you with healthy organic gourmet mushroom coffee we look into all these factors and how we can help with our coffee blends. 
Medicinal mushrooms have a lot of benefits but there are two that can be beneficial to balancing your body systems and aiding in the production of collagen.
Snow Fungus is a medicinal mushroom known as a beauty superfood! These mushrooms contain proline, lysine and glycine - two of which are fundamental components to your body’s natural collagen production. Maitake medicinal mushrooms are rich in Vitamin C and copper, two things that when consumed in your diet help to produce more collagen naturally.
These two mushrooms that are new to Rå hygge might be just what you’re looking for to help with your own collagen production! Just in a cup of healthy coffee, so that you not only start your morning right, but support your body too!