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.
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
HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN PEPTIDESKsh. 6,800 Ksh.5,500
HYDROLYZED SUPER COLLAGENKsh. 4,700 Ksh.3,600
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
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