Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, providing the foundation of our musculoskeletal system. This is crucial for mobility. The amino acid proline, found in Gelatin, can contribute to the maintenance of healthy joints, tendons and ligaments. It is a critical component of cartilage and works in conjunction with Vitamin C in keeping skin and joints healthy. It seems that no matter who you talk to, they say that they have inflammation of some sort, somewhere in their body. Knees, ankles, elbows, everywhere…………. The BIG questions – What is inflammation? Why is it there? What can we do about it?

Inflammation is defined as “a localised physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.” The good news is the inflammation action is most beneficial to our body when our body is trying to repair a wound or fight an illness, like when you have had a fever or a sore throat. This is the body’s way of protecting us, repairing us, looking after us. So what about when we have joint pain or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or inflammation of the bowel? Here’s a fun fact – Did you know any medical term with the word “itis” at the end means inflammation? Colitis – Inflammation of the colon. In short, inflammation is the body’s response to outside threats like stress, infection, or toxic chemicals.

When the immune system senses one of these dangers, it responds by activating proteins meant to protect cells and tissues. Let’s think about that statement. “Outside threats like stress or toxic chemicals” Wouldn’t this be an everyday occurrence? Well, it can be for some people, and that is why we see a huge increase in auto-immune diseases and arthritic conditions. This is also why it is extremely important to look after what God gave us. Our body is a vessel to carry us around in – just like a car. If you don’t look after your car, it will deteriorate. Leave it out in the sun – the paint will fade. Fill it with the wrong fuel and see what happens! Our bodies are no different. Leave us out in the sun and what happens to our protective organ – the skin. It gets damaged. Sunburn or worse, skin cancer, melanoma etc. Fill our body with the wrong fuel – high fat and sugar-laden diets – well, you won’t function at your optimum, will you? We need to put the correct fuel in. What is the correct fuel I hear you ask? Food that gives us energy. Protein, fibre, carbohydrates. Food that feeds our cells and nurtures them to grow. Not food that creates inflammation like refined sugars and greasy fatty McDonalds (sorry Macca’s).