Collagen: The “Glue” Holding You Together (And Why You’re Probably Not Thinking Big Enough About It) When most people hear collagen, they think “wrinkles” and maybe “creaky knees.” But collagen is far more than a beauty supplement or a joint helper. It’s literally the scaffolding that holds your entire body together – from your gut lining to your blood vessels to your bones and fascia. Let’s zoom out and look at collagen the way your biology “sees” it. What exactly is collagen? - Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, making up about 30% of your total protein. - It’s the main structural protein in skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, blood vessels, and the intestinal lining. - Think of it as a tough, rope-like triple helix that gives tissues strength and shape, while elastin gives them stretch. There are at least 28–29 types of collagen, but most of your body is built from a core few: - Type I – skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, teeth - Type II – cartilage and joints - Type III – blood vessels, hollow organs, skin (with type I) - Type V & X – support bone, joint surfaces, and specialized tissues When collagen is abundant and well-organized, tissues are strong, springy, and resilient. When it’s damaged or depleted, you feel it – not just on your face, but everywhere. Why collagen declines (and why midlife women feel it hardest) Starting in our mid-20s, collagen production naturally drifts downward. Sun damage, smoking, high sugar intake, chronic inflammation, and poor sleep all accelerate the breakdown of collagen fibers. For women, the big cliff is menopause. Estrogen normally stimulates fibroblasts (your collagen-making cells). As estrogen drops: - Up to ~30% of skin collagen can be lost in the first five years after menopause, followed by ~2% per year after that. - Skin gets thinner, drier, and less elastic. Joints, fascia, and pelvic tissues also feel the loss. On top of that, fibroblasts can shift from making more elastic type III collagen toward stiffer type I collagen, the kind found in ligaments and scar tissue. That’s one reason midlife can feel like a season of “tight, brittle, and creaky” instead of “bouncy and flexible.”

💪 The Truth About BMI vs. Muscle Mass Recent studies show what many of us in functional wellness already know: BMI (Body Mass Index) is one of the weakest predictors of true health — while muscle mass is one of the strongest. ⚖️ Why BMI Falls Short BMI only factors in height and weight, which means it can’t tell the difference between: - Muscle - Fat - Bone density That’s why someone with a high BMI might actually be in excellent health — and someone with a “normal” BMI might still have insulin resistance, high blood pressure, or inflammation. 💥 Why Muscle Matters More Muscle is not just for looks — it’s metabolically protective. Here’s how: - 🧠 Blood Sugar Control: Muscle stores and uses glucose efficiently, reducing risk for Type 2 diabetes. - ❤️ Cardiovascular Support: Strong muscle improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, and supports heart health. - 🔥 Inflammation & Longevity: Higher muscle-to-fat ratios reduce inflammation and lower risk of chronic disease. - 🧬 Metabolic Health: More muscle = higher resting metabolism = better energy, recovery, and vitality. 🌿 The Bedrock Takeaway Building and maintaining lean muscle is one of the most powerful anti-aging and disease-prevention tools available. It’s not about the number on the scale — it’s about your strength, stability, and metabolic resilience. 💭 At Bedrock, we teach clients that muscle is medicine — and building it is foundational to living longer, stronger, and better. Want to see your true progress beyond the scale? The Hume Body Pod tracks muscle, fat, hydration, and recovery — giving you a real-time picture of your body composition and metabolic health so you can build strength with precision. https://www.humehealth.com/LEANNA37270 📖 Source: UF Health Study, 2025 💪 BUILDING MUSCLE: YOUR LONGEVITY BLUEPRINT If muscle is the new health metric, then how do we actually build it — sustainably, naturally, and for life?

Methylene blue is everywhere right now… podcasts, reels, “biohacker” stacks, you name it. Here’s the problem: 🔹 It’s not a harmless blue vitamin 🔹 It can interact dangerously with common meds (especially antidepressants/SSRIs) 🔹 Quality is all over the place – some products are literally industrial dye I don’t want our community guessing doses from the internet or ordering mystery-blue liquid from random sites.I do want you educated, protected, and supported inside a full Rooted Faith × Bedrock plan. This is not Pro or Anti Methylene Blue. I actually think this is a very useful tool, but it can be very dangerous when misused. That’s why I created a new resource: 👉 “Is Methylene Blue Right for You? A Practitioner’s Guide to Using It Safely” Inside, you’ll learn:• What methylene blue actually is (and isn’t)• Why people are talking about it for brain, energy & recovery• The very real risk factors & medication interactions you must know• Why we only use vetted sources like Compass Labs• How we decide, together, if it even belongs in your protocol This is not a DIY dosing guide. It’s a safety-first education piece + next steps if you want our help. I also created a quiz for you to see if MB is right for you.