Ask the Pharmacist: Clearing up confusion about the types of collagen
Suzy Cohen
Columnist
We as humans make our own collagen naturally by utilizing amino acids. Those amino acids (aka peptides) are the smaller particles that come from protein we eat.
We then string together all kinds of proteins that we need for our bodies. One of these proteins is collagen and we make it from glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and alanine.
Topical collagen peptides, like those sold in face creams, wound healing ointments and facial serums have a lot of clinical research to support their use in the dermal layer.
Ask the Pharmacist: What to do when your calcium is high
Suzy Cohen
Columnist
Your body is amazingly skilled at maintaining homeostasis. It’s kind of amazing how your body maintains tight control over calcium levels, especially the amount that is circulating in your blood at any given moment. For example, all these methods are done involuntarily by your body to keep your serum calcium at a normal range, usually somewhere between 9 and 10, but it differs depending on your age.
Your intestines absorb calcium from foods that you eat.
Your bones give up and take in calcium so there is a dynamic movement of calcium in and out of your skeleton.
H. G. Wells wrote a sci-fi book called The Island of Dr. Moreau. In 1997, Marlan Brando starred in the movie of that name playing a mad scientist who melded man and animal into strange beasts. Since it was an island, the rest of the world was safe. Not today. Suzy Cohen has reported on these experiments that are ongoing in labs around the world. The scientists that support the concept of man playing God with our DNA defend the research because it may cure genetic diseases that afflict humans. Other scientists raise the issue of cross species manipulation as … Continue reading →