
Collagen: Why It's an Essential Building Block for a Healthy Life

If you’re familiar with the game Jenga, then you know that the 54 block tower is at its strongest at the very beginning of the game—when no one has taken any of the blocks out of the tower.
With each turn, you hold your breath while you tediously maneuver a block out of the tower and then anxiously watch it wobble right, left, backward, forward—hoping that it doesn’t topple down on your turn.
This is almost like your body and collagen…
Your body with ample amounts of collagen is like a newly-built Jenga tower—strong, sturdy, and in optimal condition.
Your body without ample amounts of collagen is like a Jenga tower mid-game—lacking support, prone to disaster.
So, why is collagen such an important building block in your body? How do we know if we’re deficient in it? And how do you get your body strong and sturdy again? These are all questions we’ll answer below…
The Building Blocks of Protein

To break it down into layman’s terms, amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Think of protein like the Jenga tower and amino acids like the smaller blocks within the tower.
But instead of the 54-block tower, protein is made up of approximately 20 common amino acids.
And guess what has 19 of those amino acids...
Grass-fed collagen.
The Breakdown of Amino Acids
Protein is made up of two different amino acids—essential amino acids and nonessential amino acids.
Here’s the difference:
Essential Amino Acids
Essential amino acids make up for 9 of the 20 amino acids. They are essential for normal body functions, but cannot be made by the body. Therefore, essential amino acids must be obtained from food (like NativePath collagen supplements).
Nonessential Amino Acids
Nonessential amino acids make up for 11 of the 20 amino acids. These can be made by the body through the breakdown of body proteins or through the essential amino acids consumed from food.
So, since your body can only produce 11 out of the 20 amino acids needed, a collagen supplement like NativePath’s Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides is essential in your everyday life.
Importance of Collagen
By now you may be wondering, “Why is the importance of collagen, anyway?”
The reason it’s so noteworthy is because collagen is the most abundant source of protein in the body, and is continuously being used and cycled out—several times more than the average person consumes, in fact.
In addition to that, collagen production naturally declines with age and can begin to diminish as early as your 20s.
With that being said, your collagen levels are begging to be replenished.
And once they are, you’ll reap the benefits, with collagen perks ranging from increased immunity to joint health to radiant, hydrated skin.
The Bottom Line: Build Your Collagen Jenga Tower
Who knew that collagen makes up one-third of the protein in the human body?
If you want to help your body out—both on the inside and the outside, turn to collagen.
NativePath’s Grass-Fed Collagen is free of all the things—except collagen. Free from gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, and GMOs, this is a dietary supplement that gives you all the things you need, nothing you don’t.
If you’re questioning how much collagen per day you’re needing, know that there’s not a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Whether you need to “collagen load” or simply maintain is usually determined by your age and how much collagen per day you’ve been consuming.
NativePath cofounder, Dr. Chad Walding, recommends a “load” of 20-40 grams of collagen daily for approximately 6 to 8 weeks, and then 10-20 grams moving forward to ensure that your collagen levels stay elevated.
Choose from our collagen bundles, collagen coffee creamers, or our single jar options—all boasting the building block benefits.
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