Many of you have heard about collagen but probably never knew that the production of collagen require silica, that activates the enzymes for its synthesis. Collagen provides strength and flexibility to all the vital connective tissues in your body: your hair, skin, bones, joints, muscles and even your blood vessels. As you age, starting at the age of 20, your body produces about 1% less collagen each year (1) and from the age of 35/40 years old, it loses 1% of silica (2). This negatively affects your energy levels and youthful look. So, let’s find out more with Drinkizz and learn about these 2 energy and youth promoting elements, where they come from and their full benefits!
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1. What are the roles of silica?
Silica is a trace mineral & has 2 important roles:
A. Enzyme activator
B. Retain moisture
- Silica as enzyme activator:
Dietary protein like meat, eggs, fish is broken down into amino acids in the body. These amino acids are used to produce human proteins for the body such as collagen, hemoglobin and others.
When the dietary protein is broken down into amino acids, enzymes help them link together and create human protein. This process is called protein synthesis and it happens thanks to enzymes and enzyme’s activators.
Enzymes are molecules that significantly speed up the rate of the chemical reactions within cells. And enzymes need an activator to work.
Trace minerals are enzyme activators.
Silica is a trace mineral and in particular is needed for the activation of prolyl hydroxylase.
Prolyl hydroxylase is an enzyme involved in the production of collagen from the amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.
The amino acids and silica attach to the active site of the enzyme prolyl hydroxylase to produce collagen. This process takes 5 to 10 minutes for the body to complete. (3)
This is proven by the 2016 study by Sao Paulo University, Brazil confirming that silica helps form the building blocks of collagen (4).
- Silica as moisture retainer:
Silica in SI form is found in all the connections of all body parts such as: hair, skin, bones, joints… Silica is in a very strong bond with water (H2O), creating Si(OH)4 and allowing water to stay in these connective tissues.
This moisture retainer properties helps with a variety of health reactions:
- Bone health:
Silica helps retain water in bones, if the bone has too much calcium but not enough silica, it becomes brittle and can break easily. If bones are elastic we have the ability to survive impacts such as jumping off trees, this is very clear from the fact that we can do this type of activity when we are young but not when old, this is due to loss of silica after 30/40 years old.
- Youthful look and feel:
If connective tissues like skin and cartilage don’t have enough moisture, it cannot build collagen. Silica is able to provide moisture to the cells as they build collagen fibers and elastin protein that provides structure and elasticity to skin, muscles and veins.
2. What is the relation between silica and energy?
Silica is necessary for production of collagen which helps boost metabolism and energy levels. Because collagen contains the amino acid glycine, and glycine is important in forming muscle tissue, collagen helps improve muscle mass, which in turn helps boost metabolism. Having a high metabolism can give you energy and make you feel better.
Silica’s ability to retain water, gives us energy by energize muscles with blood pumping and by delivering nutrients to the cells and eliminate toxins through the blood, of which water is an essential component. When your body has more nutrients and less toxins, it works more efficiently.
Sources of silica are:
- natural, form from plants, such as leafy greens and whole grains and more abundantly in bamboo and horsetail plants
- supplements, usually extracted from bamboo, horsetail plants and red algae
Drinkizz’s nutrition expert recommends that you consume natural plant-based silica to get more nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals…
Silica is better absorbed in liquid form than in solid form. Silica is absorbed in the intestinal tract and utilized by the body and peaks at around 1 hour from absorption to 4 hours, the excess amounts are eliminated by the kidneys between 4 to 8 hours after. (5, 6)
Compelling data suggest that silica is essential for health although no RDI (Recommended Dietary Intake) has been established by the USDA or FDA; however, most Western populations, intake between 20-50 mg / day.
An average of 35 mg / day of it is a good recommendation for overall health.
Drinkizz’s nutrition expert recommends consuming an average of 35 mg/day for your overall health.
3. How can O.N.E drink supports your silica intake and energy levels?
O.N.E (Organic Natural Energy) drink contains silica from organic wild bamboo shoots which are harvested during the monsoon season and dried at 50°C on the same day to have the crisp, crunchy taste and sweet flavor.
- Due to the high quality of our organic bamboo, the amount of silica in O.N.E is high. Each 250ml O.N.E can contains 17.5 mg of silica, which is 50% of the recommended daily intake. This means that, for 4% of the calories of our daily calorie needs, you get up to 50% silica! This is truly impressive since you don’t need to consume too many calories to get such high nutrition!
- Tip for you: to support your energy levels, bones health and heart health, skin, nails and hair, all at once, consume O.N.E daily. The best times to consume O.N.E are midmorning and midafternoon, at the office in between meals, meetings or right before going to the gym or yoga class.
Sources:
1.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16205932/
2.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbNxv_2NxqM
3.https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/ribosomes-transcription-and-translation-14120660/
4.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27438201/
