Collagen is touted for promoting glowing skin, beautiful hair and strong nails. The superficial side of wellness can be quite motivating. In the past, I’ve thought it a shallow way of looking at my health – just doing things to look a certain way. I later realized that the outside is a reflection of the inside. If I’m doing something that has a positive impact on my external body, there’s likely a positive correlation with improved internal function. And this collagen thing has stayed on my mind.
Not to mention it’s great for joints. As I get older I pay more attention to my knees, shoulders, and ankles. My left shoulder has a tendency to get a bit crabby from time to time, and it seems like my post inflammation days have left me quite cracky. It’s gross.
Collagen and Scoliosis
“Collagen, the most important supportive protein of connective tissue, has been shown to have defective properties in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis” (source)
A recurring theme in my scoliosis research is with regards to connective tissue. I have never spoken to a scoliosis specialist about deep tissues. However, my learnings motivate me to explore more. Especially the research that has documented collagen abnormalities in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).
“Scoliosis can be induced by inhibition of the naturally occurring cross-links of collagen, as described by Ponseti 8c Baird (1952), who induced scoliosis in rats with p-amino propionitrile. Scoliosis has also been seen in 55 per cent of a highly inbred strain of chickens with a collagen defect, characterized by an increased solubility in 4M urea (Riggins et al. 1977).” (source)
A study from 1976 hypothesized instability of collagen during a period of rapid growth could contribute to AIS particularly in girls. (source)
A study from 1991 also found a relationship between scoliosis and collagen. (source)
Moving Forward
This research makes me wonder if focusing on the most obvious sign of scoliosis (the spine) distracts from providing care to the other areas of the body that are impacted by the condition (connective tissue).
Can a treatment plan ever be balanced if it focuses purely on the structural component and neglects the deeper tissues that are impacted? At this point, I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence that my favorite style of yoga focuses on improving the health of the connective tissue as well as the bones. Perhaps gravitating to this practice was my body’s way of directing me to what it really needed. The style I’m referring to is Yin and I recommend it to EVERYONE.
I do want to get clarification on whether or not consuming collagen translates to building collagen in the body. In reading up on minerals necessary for collagen synthesis to take place I came across the following:
“Vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin B1, also called thiamine, each has an important role in the production of collagen.” (source)
How I’m currently adding collagen to my diet:
- Bone broth
- Collagen peptides supplement powder
- Beef gelatin snacks
How do you incorporate collagen into your diet?
2 Comments
Despite Pain
Really interesting. I developed scoliosis when I was about 10 years old. That was a long time ago now, but the doctor suggested eating…(wait for it)…Mars Bars. He said it would help me put on weight and disguise the shape. He also said it wouldn’t cause me a problem!! I had to retire from work at 28 due to disabling back pain. I always hope that there is better information and help out there now.
Carlyn
WOW. Mars Bars??? That is definitely a treatment plan I haven’t heard before! LOL
I’m sorry to hear the back pain got to that point. Thank you so much for sharing. It constantly amazes me how the condition can affect people in different ways at varying degrees. I’m hoping for better information too that helps us better segment treatment options to address the varying expressions of the condition we each have.