your journey, your collagen, your choice
ColNate™ with hydrolyzed collagen in the
pregnant woman’s diet helps to promote:
IN-DEPTH LOOK AT WHAT ESSENTIAL BENEFITS EXPECTING MOMS MAY ENJOY FROM COLNATE™
TOPICS WE COVER
Adequate Protein Intake
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy is crucial for the health and development of your baby.
Our products are designed to provide women with the additional protein, vitamins, and minerals that they need during this special time.
Ligament and Joint Health
During pregnancy, the fetus extracts great amounts of calcium from the mother’s body in order to construct fetal body tissue (skeleton and teeth).
During this period, if not enough calcium is available; the mother can lose bone integrity and bone density.
Mood Health
Say goodbye to pregnancy mood swings and hello to a happier you!
Collagen protein, with its high concentration of the amino acid glycine, can help boost your mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
PRENATAL VITAMINS AND MINERALS
During pregnancy and lactation, the woman needs additional protein as well as vitamins and minerals because of the increased nutritional demands placed on the pregnant woman.
Learn all about the beneficial effects these vitamins & minerals have in store for you and your baby.
ColNate™
Convenient, Comprehensive, Scientifically Developed Prenatal Care Solution
Providing proper nutrition for a healthy mother, fetus, and baby.
Protein demand in a pregnant and lactating lady
Protein is important for many aspects of fetal and placental growth and development as well as maternal well-being. The average non-pregnant woman needs approximately 46g of protein daily and this increases to 71-76g per day during pregnancy. Studies, however, have shown that women on average do not increase their consumption of protein to proper levels as pregnancy progresses.
Many women find it difficult to consume the recommended amount of protein during pregnancy. Women looking for additional protein during pregnancy may find protein powders an easy and convenient alternative to other forms of unprocessed protein. Hydrolyzed Collagen protein is easily digested and absorbed because of the molecular weight of the amino acids and peptides produced during hydrolysis.
Unlike many proteins, hydrolyzed collagen does not contain the amino acid Tryptophan which has been shown to have a negative impact on fetal development. Collagen hydrolysate has been shown to be an excellent protein supplement during pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.
The importance of Bone Health
During pregnancy, the fetus extracts great amounts of calcium from the mother’s body in order to construct fetal body tissue (skeleton and teeth). During this period, if not enough calcium is available; the mother can lose bone integrity and bone density. Decreased bone density may eventually lead to osteoporosis which is a serious bone disease characterized by low bone mass (density) and structural deterioration of bone tissue. It increases bone fragility and the risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis is also associated with severe pain, immobility, and disability.
Multiple studies have found that you can prevent and relieve osteoporosis by supplementing your diet with collagen because of its ability to stimulate bone-creating cells (osteoblasts). However, the mother will also have to meet her calcium and vitamin D needs for this process to be highly effective.
What about Wound Healing
In anticipation of abdominal or vaginal delivery, proper nutrition pre and post-delivery are important in order to have a positive effect on tissue healing. Adequate protein, including collagen, is a requirement for proper wound healing in vaginal lacerations, episiotomies, and cesarean section incisions. Studies of post-operative nutritional support have demonstrated fewer complications and reduced length of hospital stay.
Wound healing includes collagen synthesis, collagen, angiogenesis, fibroblast proliferation, and maintenance of tissue oncotic pressure; all in which collagen protein plays significant roles. Only hydrolyzed collagen protein peptides have been demonstrated to be chemotactic to dermal fibroblasts which are an essential component in the healing process of damaged tissue. It was shown that collagen protein supplementation improved protein levels, wound healing rates, and quality of life.
Stretch marks affect 50-90% of pregnant women
Stretch marks are long, narrow streaks or stripes that occur when the skin is stretched too quickly. Pregnancy, puberty, and rapid weight gain can all cause stretch marks. Stretch marks affect 50-90% of pregnant women.
Collagen is the skin’s natural support. It forms 80% of the protein in the dermal layer of the skin. Like strong but elastic netting, collagen interlaced with elastin keeps the skin strong, firm, and elastic. Studies have shown that taking hydrolyzed collagen on a regular basis results in improved dermal strength and skin, making the skin more resilient to rapid weight gain and stretch marks.
Hydrolyzed collagen intake before and during pregnancy provides greater strength and elasticity to the skin which reduces the formation of stretch marks. It is further suggested that the improvement of healthy collagen production may improve the appearance of existing stretch marks.
Skin Glow
During pregnancy, women are often said to have a glow about them. This refers to skin health.
With pregnancy, blood volume increases to provide extra blood flow to the uterus and to the developing fetus. Increased blood flow brings more blood to the vessels in the skin and increases secretions in the oil glands. These things, combined with slight fluid retention, stretching skin, and hot flashes, create that “pregnancy glow”.
However, when the sebaceous glands produce more oil due to higher testosterone levels, it increases the risk of inflammation and pregnancy acne. Acne can be treated with topical products, but when skin is damaged by an acne breakout, collagen can help with the healing of the wound. Collagen plays a key role in reducing scarring as it’s used by the immune system to close the wound and form ‘new’ skin in the area.
Furthermore, one of the key amino acids found in hydrolyzed collagen supplements, glycine, also acts as an anti-inflammatory to calm down acne breakouts.
Effects on Hair Grow Cycle during pregnancy
Healthy hair grows at a rate of about a half inch per month, growing for a period of three to five years before going into a resting phase for two to three months. After the resting phase, the hair falls out and the entire cycle repeats. During pregnancy, some women’s hair may remain in the growth cycle for longer than usual, due to an increase in estrogen hormone, making hair appear thicker with less shedding. Unfortunately, some women experience the opposite during pregnancy. Increased estrogen levels cause hair to move prematurely from the growing into the resting phase.
During this time, reduced growth and increased hair shedding are experienced. Most women lose a significant amount of hair in the postnatal period or after they stop breastfeeding. Fortunately, these hair changes usually aren’t permanent. Independent of the cycle of hair growth and hair shedding, collagen promotes healthy hair growth, alleviating hair loss and shedding. Hair is mainly made of keratin protein. Several of the amino acids needed to produce keratin and strengthen the skin that contains hair roots are found in hydrolyzed collagen.
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Providing proper nutrition for a healthy mother, fetus and baby
619g – 4 WEEK SUPPLY
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Digestive Health
Digestive (gut) health is of great importance to pregnant women. Constipation is another common pregnancy woe. It happens because pregnancy hormones slow the passing of food through the gastrointestinal tract.
During the later stages of pregnancy, the uterus may push against the large intestine, making it hard to have a bowel movement. Constipation can also contribute to hemorrhoids because straining to have a bowel movement may enlarge the veins of the rectum.
The best way to deal with constipation and hemorrhoids are to prevent them. Eating a fiber-rich diet, drinking plenty of liquids daily, and exercising regularly can help keep bowel movements regular.
Adding collagen to the diet may help relieve constipation. Collagen binds with water in the intestinal tract protecting the colon from absorbing too much water which in turn leads to faster transit time and easier elimination.
Moodiness
During pregnancy, with hormonal changes, mood swings and symptoms similar to PMS are often experienced.
The amino acid Glycine contributes 20% of all the amino acids in Collagen protein. It is important to many body and brain functions. Inadequate protein intake can worsen stress, anxiety, depression, and mental illnesses.
Depression is associated with lower levels of blood glycine and high levels of blood taurine. Collagen replenishes glycine and contains no taurine therefore has a positive effect on depression and closely associated stress and anxiety. This may play a role in preventing or alleviating post-partum depression.
Diet plays a key role in
Nail Strength and Health
Similar to hair, pregnancy hormones may cause nails to grow at a much faster rate than normal and become stronger. Unfortunately, many pregnant women’s nails will begin to break, split and exhibit surface roughness, raggedness, and peeling (brittle nail syndrome). Diet plays a key role in nail strength and health.
Collagen can help to improve the growth, strength, and health of fingernails whilst reducing brittle nail syndrome. Nails are mainly made of keratin protein. Many of the amino acids needed to produce keratin are found in hydrolyzed collagen.
STUDIES REVEALS
A study in which hydrolyzed collagen was taken over a period of 24 weeks, found that the oral supplementation with hydrolyzed collagen improved nail growth by 12% and decreased the frequency of broken nails by 42%.
This study also found that 64% of the participants experienced an improvement in the symptoms of brittle nails. In another study, it was found that 80% of participants experienced an improvement in the symptoms of brittle nails after taking hydrolyzed
Ligaments and Joint Pain
Relaxin is a hormone produced by the ovary and the placenta with important effects on the female reproductive system, during pregnancy and lactation. In preparation for childbirth, it relaxes the ligaments in the pelvis and softens and widens the cervix.
However, Relaxin also loosens other ligaments in the body, making joints less stable and more at risk for injury. It becomes easy to overstretch, strain, and injure ligaments.
Severe back pain, pelvic pain with pelvic instability, and joint pain in the lower limbs are common during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. The majority of these cases are due to the increased load of the fetus and placenta, and the alteration in ligament laxity that occurs as a consequence of hormonal changes. Hip, knee, and foot pain during pregnancy and the postpartum period is common.
The treatment goal is rapid pain reduction as well as strengthening of the ligaments. Ligaments in the body are composed primarily of collagen. On a dry weight basis, collagen represents 75% of the ligaments in the body. By adding collagen to the diet, collagen building blocks can help strengthen and repair ligaments, thus protecting and alleviating pain in a natural way.
Sleep and Daytime Performance
During pregnancy, common symptoms include poorer memory and concentration – a term affectionately known to some researchers as “Baby Brain.” The amino acid Glycine contributes 20% of all the amino acids in Collagen protein. It is important to many body and brain functions.
Taking glycine-rich Collagen before sleep improves sleep quality and sleep efficacy by shortening the time to fall asleep while increasing restorative, slow-wave deep (REM) sleep. Studies show that when taking Glycine-rich Collagen before sleep, subjects had lessened daytime sleepiness and fatigue as well as improved performance of memory and other cognitive functions the following day.
Glycine-rich Collagen appears to improve daytime sleepiness and fatigue induced by sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is most often experienced with caring for a newborn and a new baby.
Prenatal Vitamins, Minerals &
Omega3 fatty acids
with DHA
WHY SUPPLEMENTING WITH COLNATE™
COULD PROVE TO BE ESSENTIAL DURING PREGNANCY
FOLIC ACID (Folate)
Supplementing the diet with folic acid during pregnancy is of vital importance. It is recommended as a routine supplement by the WHO (World Health Organization).
Folate (vitamin B9), a water-soluble vitamin B-complex vitamin, is an essential nutrient that is required for DNA synthesis and cell replication. It is a substrate for a range of enzymatic reactions involved in amino acid synthesis and vitamin metabolism.
Deficiency in pregnancy has been linked with maternal megaloblastic anemia and fetal neural tube defects. Demands for folate increase during pregnancy because it is also required for the growth and development of the fetus. Folate deficiency has been associated with abnormalities in both mothers (anemia, peripheral neuropathy) and fetuses (congenital abnormalities).
Taking folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord, called the neural tube. A baby with spina bifida, the most common neural birth tube defect, is born with a spine that is not completely developed. The exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and some mental retardation.
Folic acid should ideally be administered 3 months prior to conception and throughout the first trimester, but is also beneficial during the second and third trimesters as well as during breastfeeding. Taking folic acid is beneficial to women who want to fall pregnant, are pregnant, and are breastfeeding.
IODINE
Iodine is essential for healthy brain development in the fetus and young child and is crucial for thyroid hormone production. Iodine deficiency may result in maternal goiter, fetal goiter and neonatal hypothyroidism. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is serious for both the mother and the baby. It can lead to high blood pressure during pregnancy for the mother and mental retardation for the baby.
Iodine plays an important role in the development of the central nervous system. Iodine deficiency may lead to deafness. In extreme cases, iodine deficiency can lead to cretinism, a disorder that involves severely stunted physical and mental growth. Not enough iodine can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth.
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS & DHA (decosahexaenoic acid)
Omega–3 fatty acids are a family of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) that are essential nutrients for health and development but need to be obtained from the diet (such as fatty fish or nuts) or supplementation. It is however uncertain if the diet alone can provide sufficient Omega 3’s and supplementation is advised.
The typical western diet is greatly lacking in Omega-3s. The Omega-3 dietary deficiency is compounded by the fact that pregnant women become depleted in Omega-3 because the fetus uses Omega-3 for its nervous system deployment. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGOG) recommends that pregnant women consume an average of 200 milligrams of DHA per day, in addition to prenatal vitamins. It is also said that the intake of Omega-6s (oil found in sunflower, corn, and cottonseeds) should be minimized because they are converted to substrates that compete with Omega-3s.
Research indicates that the two most beneficial Omega-3s are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). Although DHA and EPA naturally occur together and work together in the body, studies have shown that each fatty acid has unique benefits. EPA supports the heart, immune system, and inflammatory response. DHA supports the brain, eyes, and central nervous system, which is why it is uniquely important for pregnant and lactating women.
Various studies have shown that Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) taken during pregnancy improve health outcomes for babies and their mothers. It was found that pregnant women taking LCPUFA had a reduced rate of preterm birth and that their babies had a reduced rate of low birth weights. It was also found that there was a reduced rate of perinatal death and neonatal care admission.
Studies were done to determine if DHA increases the neurodevelopmental outcome of children and reduces high levels of depressive symptoms in mothers. Unfortunately, the results of these studies were negative.
PROTEIN (hydrolyzed collagen)
Collagen protein is the primary component of connective tissue.
Connective tissue consists mainly of long cellular fibers embedded in the non-cellular matter (named Extra Cellular Matrix -ECM). These fibers contain a protein called collagen.
Collagen is pre-digested and broken down from strong fibers into amino acids and peptides. These basic collagen building blocks are ready for consumption and absorption in the human body. Certain metabolic processes need to occur before the body can build its own collagen protein.
The bloodstream then transports these basic collagen-building blocks to specialized collagen-building cells where these collagen-building cells then synthesize collagen in the body where it is needed.
We need a collagen supplement to help the body to build enough collagen and help the body to maintain the balance for a better and for longer.
IRON
Supplementing the diet with iron during pregnancy is of vital importance and is recommended to use as a routine diet supplement during pregnancy by the WHO.
Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin in the blood. Iron helps blood carry oxygen in both the mother and baby.
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common pregnancy complications. And yet, about 50% of pregnant women don’t get enough of this important mineral.
Getting enough iron can prevent a condition in the mother called iron deficiency anemia where too few red blood cells make her feel extremely tired. Severe anemia during pregnancy increases the risk of premature delivery, subsequent low birth weight babies and postpartum depression.
ZINC
Proper prenatal care is crucial for the healthy development of your baby, and one important nutrient that should not be overlooked is zinc. Adequate zinc intake in the early stages of pregnancy can support fetal growth and development, including the development of a healthy brain.
Additionally, zinc is known to help maintain maternal vision function, which is particularly important during pregnancy.
VITAMIN B-6
Vitamin B-6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin. Vitamin B6 has many functions in the body, and it plays a role in over 100 enzyme reactions.
It is important in protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism and the manufacture of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells that carries oxygen.
In brain development, Vitamin B-6 benefits the central nervous system. It is involved in producing the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, and in forming myelin.
Vitamin B-6 also plays an important role in the baby’s immune system keeping the lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen healthy.
Getting enough vitamin B6 helps to reduce maternal dental decay, improves some types of maternal anemia, reduces the incidence of some congenital abnormalities in babies, and improves birth weight.
Some research suggests that taking vitamin B6 may help reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
VITAMIN B12 (Cobalamin)
It is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin and is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division making it key for embryogenesis.
It helps form red blood cells and maintains the nervous system. Well-balanced diets provide sufficient vitamin B12 for women who are pregnant or lactating.
VITAMIN C
Also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin with numerous functions including reducing free radicals and assisting procollagen formation to produce collagen and the absorption of iron. Chronic deficiency impairs collagen synthesis and leads to scurvy.
Studies have shown that the administration of vitamin C during pregnancy may have had a favorable impact on collagen structure in the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments, suggesting that vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy may help to prevent pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.
CALCIUM
Calcium is a major component of bone. Large quantities of calcium are required during pregnancy for the construction of fetal tissue, especially in the third trimester. Pregnant women younger than 25 years also still require calcium for their own bone mass growth. Hormonal adaptations and increased intestinal absorption protect the maternal bone while meeting fetal calcium needs provided that the mother’s calcium intake is sufficient. If there is not enough calcium available during pregnancy, the mother will lose calcium and bone density which may result in maternal osteoporosis. Also, insufficient calcium levels may affect fetal bone mineralization.
Similarly, large quantities of calcium are also required during lactation. Calcium supplementation in pregnancy has the potential to reduce adverse gestational outcomes, in particular by reducing the risk of developing hypertensive disorders (pre-eclampsia) during pregnancy, which is associated with a significant number of maternal deaths and considerable risk of preterm birth which is the leading cause of early neonatal and infant mortality. Calcium may also play a significant role in controlling postpartum hemorrhaging.
Therefore a Calcium supplement during pregnancy and lactation may be of great value to the mother and baby.