Are My Feet Aging? How Collagen Can Help.

May 21, 2020

DeepMarine Collagen image of healthy feet

Foot pain may not be the first symptom you think of when you think about changes to our bodies as we age. Gray hair, wrinkles, and declining vision may come to mind first. But if you are experiencing foot pain, chances are it is the first thing you think of with every step you take. Foot pain can affect your ability to complete everyday activities and can make every step painful. It can also cause issues with balance and mobility and can lead to falls and injury.

Foot issues are often caused by normal wear and tear, but also by age-related changes like cell regeneration and collagen production, which slow down over time.

This process can cause muscles and tendons to weaken and lose elasticity, joints to become stiffer, and skin to become frailer.

Collagen – the most abundant protein in our bodies and an essential building block of our connective tissues – can help improve the functioning of joints, tendons, and muscles. It can also decrease joint pain and strengthen aging skin.

Collagen supplements are especially effective for three common causes of foot pain as we age.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear form of arthritis, grows more common as we age. Especially for women. It is a degenerative joint disease that is responsible for stiffness, decreased flexibility, pain, and swollen joints in millions of people worldwide. Most, but not all of them, are over age 65.

Home to 33 joints and accompanying tendons and ligaments, it is no wonder our feet feel the effects of our declining collagen production.

The aging process causes a breakdown of the cartilage that cushions our joints. Collagen helps maintain cartilage.

Multiple studies have shown collagen hydrolysate to provide pain relief and improve mobility when taken for osteoarthritis. It boosts your body’s own collagen production and helps to strengthen and support connective tissues.

DeepMarine Collagen, along with a healthy lifestyle, can help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Dry, cracked skin

Unless you take special care of the skin on your feet, you could suffer dry, cracked skin and callouses.

The slowdown in your natural oil, elastin, and collagen production is to blame. Without enough elastin and collagen to maintain strength and flexibility, skin on your feet that already takes a pounding every day thins and can develop painful cracks. Skin cracks can allow bacteria in, putting you at risk for infection. Collagen helps maintain the integrity of your skin, keeping it strong.

Furthermore, the arginine in collagen aids wound healing by improving circulation so your body can quickly deliver the nutrients and cells needed for healing those cracks and skin tears.

Poor circulation

Decreased circulation as we age can lead to uncomfortable swelling in the ankles and feet and weakened, painful tendons. Achilles tendonitis, for example, can cause pain in the back of the ankle and the heel.

Poor circulation is often caused by chronic health conditions, like diabetes, that are more common as we age. Along with being uncomfortable, poor circulation equals poor healing. Cracks, scrapes, and sores on the feet will be slow to heal if they don’t have access to the healing cells delivered via bloodstream. Collagen is important for maintaining strong, flexible blood vessels. The arginine in collagen helps relax blood vessels, improving circulation.

Our feet carry the weight of our world, literally, and the wear and tear we subject them to can produce some very painful results. Taking care of your feet now may save you some pain later.

What’s the best way to prepare your feet for the years ahead?

  1. Eat a healthy diet
  2. Maintain a healthy weight
  3. Exercise regularly
  4. Practice daily foot care: wash daily with gentle soap and warm (not hot) water. Pat your feet dry gently, and then apply a moisturizer everywhere except between the toes. Check for skin cracks and treat them immediately with antibacterial ointment.
  5. Boost your body’s natural collagen production. Collagen hydrolysate, like DeepMarine 100% Canadian Collagen, can strengthen skin, improve mobility, and provide pain relief from osteoarthritis. A scoop or two per day could help keep your feet in tip-top shape.



Also in Health Talk

what is anemia
Anemia Explained: Causes, Symptoms, and Solutions

October 11, 2024

Read More
Heartburn Remedies and Managing GERD
Heartburn Remedies: A Guide to Managing GERD

October 04, 2024

Read More
how bladder training can help
How Bladder Training Can Help Control Frequent Urges

September 21, 2024

Read More