Do Collagen Supplements Work? What The Science Says

by Simon | Sep 26, 2022 | Collagen Supplements

Article At A Glance:

You’ve probably seen people taking collagen supplements, or adding it to their coffee or favorite drinks or food. But how do collagen supplements work, exactly?
Your body naturally makes its own collagen; it’s the most abundant protein in the body, supporting everything from glowing skin to healthy bones, muscles and joints. But this production gradually slows starting the mid-20s….
Which is why you need to take collagen supplements. Find out how these supplements work, and how to use Orgain Collagen Peptides or Hydrolyzed Super Collagen for a healthier you!

Collagen is the “glue that holds our bodies together”. That’s not just an expression – collagen is the structural protein that makes the building blocks for connective tissue, muscles, healthy skin, joints, bones, gums, teeth, etc (1).

Everyone seems to be talking about collagen and collagen peptides and supplements – healthy, glowing skin, strong muscles, gums, bones, joints, etc. But do these really work? What do they do in our bodies? What does the science say?

Good news – we have these answers, backed by science. And how you can apply collagen peptides into your life for a healthier you.

What Does Collagen Do?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, and is an important building block for our whole-body health. It plays an important role in building and supporting many tissues, from bones and cartilage to skin, hair, eyes, and the digestive system.

“Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look,” says dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz a top California dermatologist.

Our bodies produce collagen naturally. The body naturally breaks down collagen in damaged tissue to make new healthy tissue, using the enzyme collagenase. Starting the mid-20s, we slowly start losing more collagen than we make, so that’s why we start to see fine lines and wrinkles.

“Women can lose up to 30% of our collagen production in the first 5 years of menopause.” Says Dr. Aivaz.

Think of collagen as an ingredient in the recipe that delays aging, not just of the skin and beauty, but for the whole body. It’s a foundation for multiple functions in the body.

Here’s a quick look at just a few benefits of collagen supplements:

COLLAGEN PROMOTES BEAUTIFUL, RADIANT SKIN & GUMS

Research shows that taking collagen supplements boosts levels of collagen in your skin, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity and hydration (2, 3).

It also helps the body make its own collagen (4, 5).

Taking hydrolyzed collagen supplements has also been shown to reverse stretch marks and cellulite (6).

Likewise, lack of collagen has been linked to loss of teeth. Collagen helps bind our teeth together and keep them firmly placed in the gums.

COLLAGEN SUPPORTS STRONG JOINTS & BONES

As our bodies produce less and less collagen as we age, our bones become more and more brittle.

In addition to improving overall joint and bone health studies show that taking collagen supplements inhibit the breakdown of bones (7, 8) and boosts the density of your cartilage, making joints more flexible (15). They also improve osteoarthritis and reduce joint pain (9, 10).

This is a big deal for anti-aging, as well as athletes and people who work out, and who value the high quality of life that strength and flexibility bring.

So, what do collagen supplements do? Collagen supports everything from youthful skin, strong muscles and joints, beautiful smile and more. Keep reading for details and insights from experts before you buy.

COLLAGEN SUPPORTS STRONG HEALTHY MUSCLES

Collagen makes up about 10% of our muscles – which means you need collagen to boost muscle mass.

Actually, studies show that taking collagen supplements boosts muscle mass and recovery after exercise (11, 12, 13).

HOW DO COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS WORK?

The body is equipped with different cells for specific functions. Fibroblasts are tasked with producing collagen in the body.

In order to produce collagen, fibroblasts need among others – Vitamin C, as well as amino acids, especially glycine, proline and hydroxyproline.

When you take collagen supplements, you give your cells the amino acids they need to keep doing what they do best – make more collagen.

You’ll usually find collagen supplements in powder form or capsules. These supplements are usually “hydrolyzed” – which means they’ve been broken down into amino acids that’s easier for the body to use and digest (14).

DO COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS SURVIVE DIGESTION?

One critique of taking collagen is that stomach acids break down collagen supplements before they start doing the good stuff.

When you eat or drink a protein like collagen, it’s broken down in the stomach and small intestines into smaller fragments. These fragments are typically up to 3 amino acids long before the body can absorb them.

Most collagen supplements are hydrolyzed, or broken down, making them easier to absorb.

Research backs this up – studies have shown that after taking hydrolyzed collagen peptides, collagen levels in the blood increases (15, 16).

Bottom line: – Do collagen supplements work? Hydrolyzed collagen supplements make important building blocks for your body to make more collagen. Most importantly, they’ve been shown to work, whether you’re looking for skin care, stronger muscles and joints, or any of the other benefits of collagen.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS

There are many brands of collagen, and naturally some are better than others.

Does it have any fillers? Read the labelling to make sure there are no un-necessary fillers. For example, are you taking too much sugar? If you’re buying hydrolyzed collagen peptides powder, one scoop should have at least 10g of collagen peptides.
What’s the source of the collagen? Does it come from pasture-raised animals? Poultry? Fish?
What type of collagen does it have? There are many types of collagen, the most common being types I, II, III, V and X. Type I & III are the most common and usually from animals like bovines.

With so many types of collagen, it can be tough to make the right choice.

Good news – Orgain hydrolyzed collagen peptides contains types I & III, from pasture-raised bovine animals. Type I & III support your skin, muscles and ligaments (17). You can add it to your favorite drink and enjoy the results.

Collagen is one of those supplements that deserves the title of “healthy aging”. So, go ahead and put some in your favorite smoothie.

You’ll love the results!

To Sum It Up:
The best collagen is the one that meets your needs, contains no fillers and is purified to remove harmful components like mercury.

TOP RATED COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS

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HYDROLYZED SUPER COLLAGEN
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FREQUENT QUESTIONS ABOUT COLLAGEN PEPTIDES

Why do I need to take collagen supplements?

Starting our mid-20s, our bodies’ ability to make collagen gradually declines. Because of this decline, it’s important to add it as a supplement.

Can’t I just eat food?

Hydrolyzed collagen, or the type that’s broken down and easy to absorb, is not found in the food that we eat. You have to eat lots of specific foods that are rich in collagen.

This means you’ll need to take collagen supplements to maintain their benefits.

When can I see first results?

It depends on your goals. For instance, if you’re taking it for skin, hair and skin, you should see results in 2-4 weeks.

If you’re taking it for joints and muscles, it may take 3-6 weeks to see results.

How long should I take collagen?

Again, this depends on your goals and your type of body. For most people 3-6 months should be sufficient to see your desired results.

BOTTOM LINE

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It acts as the glue that holds us together, providing beauty, strength and a better quality of life.

Taking collagen supplements is safe, and provides a lot of health benefits.

Go ahead and give collagen supplements a shot!

Your body will thank you.

SUMMARY

As you can see there’s a lot you can do to control insulin resistance, and promote your goal for losing weight.

Which methods are you using? What results are you experiencing? Any questions? We’d be happy to discuss the below.

Collagen Supplements – 12 Amazing Benefits Of Taking Collagen Peptides

by Simon | Nov 30, 2020 | Women's Health Supplements, Collagen Supplements, Men's Health Supplements, Skin Care Supplements & Cosmetic Guides

Who wouldn’t want to look and feel better – without expensive surgery, injections or cosmetics?

Here’s the name to remember – Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides.

The benefits of collagen peptides are so powerful that you can start seeing incredible benefits after just a few weeks of taking collagen peptides – regardless of your current age (1).

As health and wellness continues to evolve, more and more people are finding themselves seeking remedies for beauty, mental and emotional well-being, weight loss, and so on.

This “get healthy” train is trending, and of you’ve been part of it, you’ve definitely heard of Collagen Peptides.

In this article we’ll break down collagen peptides, and how it can benefit you in your journey to a healthier you.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies.

It’s the major component of connective tissue that makes up several body parts like tendons, ligaments, skin, muscle and bone (2).

Think of collagen as the “cement” that holds a building together. If cement fails, the building will become weak and fall apart.

Types Of Collagen

There are over 15 types of collagen (3), but there are about 5 of them are thought to be the main ones.

These types of collagen are categorized based on the types of organs they are found in.

Type I: – Found in skin, tendons, bones, dentin, blood vessels, fibrocartilage and organs
Type II: – Found in cartilage
Type III: – Found in skin, ligaments, blood vessels & internal organs
Type IV: – Basement membrane in various tissues. It’s found primarily in connective tissue
Type V: – Found in muscles, hair, cell surfaces, placenta, blood vessel wall, synovium, tendon, lung, bone & cartilage

Introducing Hydrolyzed, Collagen Peptides

The raw material that makes up collagen peptides is collagen proteins. These have been hydrolyzed, or broken down into amino acids.

Hydrolyzed peptides have been shown to be more readily absorbed in the body (4, 5).

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Benefits Of Taking Collagen Peptides

There are several benefits of taking collagen peptides:

1: Collagen Is Good For Smooth, Soft, Youthful, Healthy Skin

Collagen Promotes Smooth, Soft, Youthful, Healthy Skin

Collagen (I & III) are major components of the skin providing strength and structure (6).

Each year, our collagen decreases by about 1%, leading to skin aging (7).

Taking collagen supplements has been shown to boost collagen levels in your skin, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin elasticity and hydration (8, 9, 10, 11).

Collagen peptides also stimulate your body to produce collagen on its own, as well as other proteins that help structure your skin, including elastin and fibrillin, reducing wrinkles (12, 13).

2: Collagen Peptides Can Boost Muscle Mass

Studies show collagen supplements help boost muscle mass after muscle mass loss due to age (14).

In fact, up to 10% of our muscle is made of collagen, making it an integral component in boosting muscle mass.

Collagen supplements have also been shown to help build muscle after resistance training, as well as help in post-exercise recovery (15, 16, 17).

3: Collagen Peptides Relieve Joint Pain & Promote Joint Health

Collagen supplements promote healthy joints

Collage type II is predominately found in cartilage — the protective cushioning between joints (18).

As you get older, your risk for developing osteoarthritis increases – where the cartilage between joints wears away (19).

Taking collagen supplements has been shown to improve osteoarthritis and reduce joint pain overall (20, 21).

Researchers theorize that collagen supplements accumulate in cartilage and stimulate your tissues to make collagen. This lowers inflammation, better support of your joints, and reduced pain (22).

4: Collagen Supplements Keep Bones Strong

Our bones are primarily made of collagen, especially type I (23), which gives them structure and helps keep them strong (24).

As our body makes less and less collagen as we age, so do our bones deteriorate as we age. This may lead to conditions like osteoporosis, low bone density and bone fractures (25, 26).

Taking collagen supplements has been shown to inhibit the breakdown of bones (27, 28, 29, 30).

5: Collagen Promotes Heart Health

Since collagen provides structure to arteries, they may become weaker and fragile as we produce less and less collagen (31).

This can lead to atherosclerosis, a disease that causes arteries to narrow. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Collagen has been shown to reduce artery stiffness (32), and increase HDL “good” cholesterol (33). HDL is an important factor in the risk of heart conditions, including atherosclerosis.

6: Collagen Prevents & Reverses Cellulite And Stretch Marks

Collagen cures stretch marks and cellulite

Cellulite is often caused by lack of collagen in the dermal layer of our body, as well as excessive fat.

Taking hydrolyzed collagen supplements has been shown to reverse stretch marks and cellulite (34).

7: Collagen Supplements Improve Hair & Nails

Collagen is the building block of hair and nails.

Taking collagen supplements has been shown to increase the strength of your nails by preventing brittleness. Additionally, it may stimulate your hair and nails to grow longer (35).

Power Hint:
Combine collagen with biotin for best results with hair and nails.

8: Collagen Peptides Can Improve Gut Health

Collagen is an essential component in the connective tissue of the gut. It works to maintain and strengthen the protective lining of the digestive tract.

A weakening in the intestinal walls can lead to digestive health issues like leaky gut syndrome.

Collagen supplements have been shown to heal and seal the gut in people with leaky gut syndrome (36, 37).

9: Collagen Peptides Can Help In Weight Management

Collagen can boost metabolism by increasing lean muscle mass. When combined with exercise, taking collagen helps increase skeletal muscle resulting in an increased metabolism over time.

At the same time, collagen also boosts appetite suppression (38).

One of the benefits of taking collagen peptides is the effect of feeling full – a reason why some people add protein powders and supplements to their diets.

The good thing about hydrolyzed collagen peptides is that it’s a clean, pure protein which can also keep your appetite in check.

10: Collagen May Help Alleviate Anxiety

Anxiety is a crippling condition that affects 18% of the American population (39), and probably hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Collagen peptides has a high concentration of the amino acid glycerine, which has anti-anxiety properties.

Glycerine works to fight the fight or flight hormone called norepinephrine that is released when we experience anxiety.

This helps reduce anxiety.

11: Collagen Peptides May Help With Better Sleep

A good night’s sleep is important in keeping us healthy, and preventing a variety of ailments like weight gain (40) and heart disease (41).

The amino acid glycerine found in collagen peptides helps improve the quality of sleep (42), and feeling less fatigued throughout the day as a result.

12: Collagen Supplements May Help Support Teeth & Gums

Collagen Supplements Supports Teeth & Gums

Another benefit of collagen is that it helps strengthen our teeth and gums.

While the dental industry is huge, sometimes all it takes is proper nutrition with more collagen.

Collagen can help to bind our teeth together and keep them firmly placed in the gums. Lack of collagen has been linked to linked to a loss of teeth.

In fact, collagen is made up of the fibers that are in the connective tissues that make up teeth and bones.

Collagen Side Effects

There are not many known risks of taking collagen supplements.

Avoid collagens made with common food allergens like eggs, shellfish and fish.

Some people have reported a bad taste in their mouth feeling of fullness and heartburn (43).

Frequent Questions

Why use collagen for supplement rather than from food?

Hydrolyzed collagen, or the collagen that is easiest for your body to absorb, isn’t found in food that you can eat–which means you’ll need a different way to best supplement your collagen production.

Collagen is especially important for your skin while losing weight. If you lose a large amount of weight in a short amount of time, your skin may not have the ability to bounce back, and you’ll end up with a lot of extra skin hanging around.

Collagen helps your skin be more elastic and tighter, which helps people look great while losing weight. If you supplement your diet with collagen, your skin will be more able to bounce back after your awesome weight loss journey!

What affects collagen?

Collagen production declines with age and exposure to factors such as smoking and UV light.

When can i see first results?

That may depend on what you’re looking for – if you’re taking it for joint pain, then you might start to feel a difference in 3-6 weeks.

However, if you’re taking it for skin, hair, and nails, you’ll really start noticing results after about two or three months, although some people have reported skin improvements in just 2-4 weeks.

What role does C-vitamin play in collagen?

Vitamin C has the potential to increase collagen synthesis, and reduce oxidative stress parameters. As you age, your collagen levels begin to decrease. Eating foods rich in vitamin C and protein can increase the levels and collagen in the body as both are important for skin.

Is it okay to use collagen during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Yes, you can. Hydrolyzed collagen is a pure protein and is also suitable for consumption during pregnancy and lactation. This supplement is also suitable for the elderly and children.

If collagen is naturally occurring, why do we need to supplement with it?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. Collagen is found in hair, skin, nails, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, bones and within blood vessel walls—all known as “connective tissue” in the body.

Beginning in our 20s, however, our bodies start producing less collagen, making it important to add it as a supplement.

I’ve heard that you should only mix collagen powder with cooler liquids (i.e. not hot coffee).

This is false. Hot water is one of the best known—and healthiest—ways to extract collagen peptides from their source. For example, when fish scales are heated in distilled water at 70 degrees, the collagen yield is only 6%… but when fish scales are heated to 100 degrees, the yield is 30%. So, keep on mixing your collagen in your hot liquid of choice!

Bottom Line

Collagen is the key component in our bodies, and is responsible for so many important functions of the body such as a healthy skin, bones, teeth, muscle, heart and cardiovascular health, digestive health and many others.

Taking collagen supplements is associated with a number of health benefits and very few known risks.

Collagen supplements are generally quite safe and easy to take, and definitely worth trying for their potential benefits.

Key takeaway:
Aging inevitably reduces our collagen production, estimated at 1% every year.
As the most abundant protein in our body, taking collagen supplements offers huge health benefits that improve the quality of our lives.
These supplements are available in Kenya for pickup in Nairobi, or delivery countrywide.