When Men & Women Start Losing Collagen Women begin losing collagen around age 25. From there: - Collagen declines 1% per year - After menopause, the drop accelerates dramatically, up to 30% lost in the first 5 years, then 2% per year after Why it matters: This is why women often notice changes in skin elasticity, joint resilience, and recovery in their late 20s and early 30s, long before “aging” is supposed to start. Men also start losing collagen around age 25, but the rate is slower. - Decline is typically 1% per year - Men don’t experience the sharp hormonal cliff that accelerates collagen loss the way women do Why it matters: Men tend to maintain skin thickness and connective tissue integrity longer, but still experience steady decline, especially with stress, sun exposure, smoking, and poor nutrition. Why the Decline Happens Collagen production depends on: - Hormones (estrogen is a major driver) - Vitamin C availability - Mitochondrial energy - Amino acid supply - Oxidative stress load As these shift with age, lifestyle, and environment, collagen synthesis slows. Collagen loss starts way earlier than people think. It’s not a “40s problem.” It’s a mid‑20s physiology shift that compounds over decades. The Real Benefits of Collagen (Minus the marketing myths) 1. Structural Support for Skin, Joints, and Connective Tissue Collagen is the primary protein that gives your tissues strength and flexibility. It helps maintain: - Skin firmness and elasticity - Joint cushioning - Tendon and ligament integrity - Healthy hair and nails Why it matters: As natural collagen production declines with age, tissues become less resilient. Supplementation can support the raw materials your body uses for repair. 2. Improved Skin Hydration and Fine Lines Hydrolyzed collagen peptides have been shown to: - Increase skin moisture - Improve elasticity - Reduce the appearance of fine lines Mechanism: Collagen peptides act as “signals” that stimulate fibroblasts to produce more collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid.

As you know, I have gone back to work. Because I hold a Federal license and a State license, I am on call 24/7. So things may be behind and crazy now. I apologize for that. But I don't look good in orange or stripes 🤣 so I must answer the calls no matter when it is or what time it is.

My son that died, his daughter's other grandmother died unexpectedly. I'm now her only living grandparent. Grandparents dropping like flies. Oy vey! My granddaughter. I don't have a picture of her other grandmother.

Food influences inflammation through five major physiological systems. When you know these systems, you stop blaming yourselves and start understanding your chemistry. Glossary is below 1. Blood Sugar - Inflammation Axis When a meal causes a rapid glucose rise, the body releases insulin to pull it down. If the spike is steep, the crash is steep, and both ends of that rollercoaster create inflammatory signals. - High glucose = advanced glycation end products (AGEs) = oxidative stress - High insulin = NF‑κB activation = pro‑inflammatory cytokines - The crash = cortisol release = more inflammatory signaling This is why people feel puffy, foggy, irritable, or exhausted after certain meals. Food patterns that drive this: sugar bombs, low‑protein meals, refined carbs eaten alone. Food patterns that cool it: protein first, fiber first, balanced plates. 2. Gut Barrier–Immune Axis Your gut lining is one cell thick. When irritants disrupt it, the immune system gets louder. - Emulsifiers, alcohol, additives = tight junction disruption - This increases intestinal permeability - Which exposes the immune system to food particles and bacterial fragments - Leading to TNF‑α, IL‑6, and IL‑1β release This is the “I ate something, and now I’m inflamed for 48 hours” phenomenon. Food patterns that drive this: alcohol, ultra‑processed foods, emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners. Food patterns that cool it: polyphenols, omega‑3s, fermented foods, glutamine‑rich foods. 3. Fatty Acid - Cell Membrane Axis Every cell membrane is built from the fats you eat. The ratio of omega‑6 to omega‑3 determines how “loud” inflammatory signaling becomes. - High omega‑6 oils = arachidonic acid pathway = pro‑inflammatory eicosanoids - Omega‑3s = resolvins and protectins = anti‑inflammatory signaling This is chemistry, not morality. Food patterns that drive this: seed oils, fried foods, processed snacks. Food patterns that cool it: salmon, sardines, chia, flax, walnuts, olive oil.

President Trump nominated Casey for the position of U.S. Surgeon General. This is her confirmation hearing in front of Congress. Casey left traditional medicine for Functional medicine.