Starkie's Newsletter Collagen (Gelatin) and Foods for longevity

In Newsletters
Posted June 06, 2018

Starkie's Newsletter Collagen (Gelatin) and Foods for longevity

Starkie’s Newsletter

Collagen (Gelatin) and vitamin C : increase tissue repair of strains, sprains and ruptures.

Exercise and adequate nutrition help in the formation of tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone which is dependent on collagen rich extracellular matrix. Poor nutrition genetics and disease can make connective tissue prone to failure. Recent research using a supplemental gelatin and vitamin C showed improved collagen synthesis in connective tissue. A double blind study using 0 (placebo) ,5 and 15 grams of gelatin with 48mg of vitamin c showed benefits for repair and recover of individuals using 15 grams of gelatin. Individuals taking 15 grams 1 hour prior to exercise showed double the amount of amino-terminal pro-peptides of collagen (Glycine, proline, lysine, hydroxy-proline), suggesting an improved collagen synthesis and beneficial role in injury prevention and repair.

Foods for longevity

What is the big deal with telomere’s? They have been in the news for some years now. Telomere’s are the tails so to speak of our chromosomes or DNA. When cells divide and replicated the length of the telomere’s shortened. When the length becomes critically short cell division stops, signaling the death of a cell. Most all cells are regulated by telomere length, exceptions are cancer and germ cells- immortality so to speak is given found in these cells. An enzyme called telomerase can be activated causing repair for telomeres, this is why cancer cells are so aggressive because they can repair. One question that has seen lots of input is diet and telomeres. A systemic review done by The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that some dietary patterns are prevalent in prevention of telomere shortening. It seems that fruits and vegetables reign with the Mediterranean diet being a formidable diet for telomere longevity. The dietary patterns that shorten or reduce live of the telomeres, process meats, sugar sweetened beverages and cereals (as in sweetened breakfast cereals). Other studies have shown that vitamin C, A, folic acid, have beneficial effects on lengthening telomeres, while too much gama-tocopherol (one of the vitamin e family) has negative implications and alpha vitamin e has possible beneficial factors ( best to use a full complex vs an isolated vitamin e) for telomeres. Coffee shows a positive effect on telomeres and green tea has a possible regulatory effect on cancer cell telomerease (enzyme needed to activate new telomere growth- a new direction for cancer research) activity, possibly helping prevent cancerous cell growth. It is noted that research on green tea needs to be continued to determine how effective GT is with human studies and cancer.

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