You’ve probably seen a lot of advertising for collagen supplements recently. So what is collagen? And more importantly, does it have any health benefits you may be missing out on? Good news, we did the research and tried a bunch of products to make the answer as simple for you as possible. Read on for more of what we found!
FAST FACTS ABOUT COLLAGEN:
- WHAT IS COLLAGEN? It’s a protein which helps hold many of the body’s tissues, like skin, tendons, and bones, together. When your body has more collagen, you can better support and protect your joints.
- SO YOUR BODY NATURALLY PRODUCES COLLAGEN? Yes! But as you age, the amount of collagen your body produces naturally starts to decline (there are also some things like UV rays that expedite this process- stay out of the sun!). The effects of collagen deficiency can be seen by way of wrinkles or saggy skin.
- SO DO COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS HELP? Maybe… the reality is there is little science to confirm if and how collagen supplements help the body. BUT, the science that does exist looks promising! The evidence shows that collagen, either from animal proteins in food or in the form of supplements, are processed and absorbed by the body in the same way and do assist in rebuilding tissues. And although the FDA does not regulate collagen (the FDA doesn’t regulate ANY dietary supplements, but that’s a conversation for a different day…), there’s plenty of more subjective evidence showing that those who increase their collagen intake, by food or supplements, have positive health effects such as more increased skin elasticity.
- WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS? Luckily, there really hasn’t been any severe negative side effects recorded! However, it is worth noting that taking a collagen supplement will need to be a lifelong commitment. There have been studies that show that once you increase your body’s collagen intake/production, your body begins to produce less naturally, so the effects of collagen deficiency will accelerate.
SO WHAT ARE OUR THOUGHTS?
Both of us have been adding collagen to our coffees regularly each morning for the past several months, and we’ve both noticed a difference! It has helped both of us with our skin/acne and our nails look and feel much stronger!
But after trying several different collagen supplements, we can confirm that not all collagens are created equal! Our favorites include Vital Protein Collagen Peptides, Orgain Collagen Peptides, and Sports Research Collagen Peptides because they’re flavorless and dissolve/mix easily.
Hopefully you’ve found this information to be helpful. If you take a collagen supplement, let us know what your thoughts are in the comments!
- Written by Brianna