Happy Tuesday! Dr. Kelly here. What are the benefits of taking collagen?
Collagen is good for your skin and hair. Most importantly it is good for your ligaments and joints!
As we age, not sayin’ you are aging, but as we age, we make less collagen.
You can notice it as our skin starts to lose its elasticity.
So why should I supplement with Collagen?
1. It Supports Skin Health:
People have been taking collagen for years for it’s anti-aging properties on the skin.
Studies have shown that collagen supplementation can help improve skin hydration, reduce wrinkles, and boost elasticity over time.
2. It Promotes Joint and Bone Health:
Collagen helps maintain the integrity of cartilage.
As you age collagen declines, joints may stiffen or become more painful.
Supplementing with Type II collagen has been shown to reduce joint pain and stiffness in individuals with osteoarthritis.
3. It Strengthens Hair and Nails:
Weak, brittle nails and thinning hair may benefit from collagen supplementation.
Collagen provides amino acids that support keratin production, the protein that makes up hair and nails.
4. It Enhances Muscle Mass and Recovery:
Collagen contains glycine and proline, amino acids that support muscle tissue and repair.
Combined with resistance training, collagen supplementation may help increase muscle mass and recovery, especially in aging adults.
5. It Gut and Heart Health Benefits:
Some evidence suggests collagen may help maintain the lining of the digestive tract and support cardiovascular health through its role in blood vessel structure.
Is there a difference between collagen and collagen peptides?
Maybe, if it is truly collagen, yes. However, most collagen supplements are hydrolyzed collagen, and hydrolyzed collagen is the same thing as collagen peptides.
So, read the label.
Watch this cool video to understand Collagen even deeper.
BEWARE of price. Just because one bottle is cheaper, doesn’t mean you are getting a quality product.
On FullScripts Vital Proteins are $26 vs Ortho Molecular $57.
You need 2 scoops (20 g) vs 1 scoop (8 g). This means the vital proteins is not as significant as savings as they initially look.
As you look at different collagen, keep in mind the size of the protein. If you must take a lot of collagen, then typically, it is not a good source.
There is a specialized process of cutting amino acids to allow the best form for maximum absorption for your body.
Think of a pearl necklace. You need pearls in a group of 3 to be used for collagen. If there is a random cutting of the necklace, any other size would be a waste.
Anything too big is not utilized for collagen and sent out of your body.
Ortho molecular and Designs for Health use a patent process to maximize the absorption of the amino acids in the collagen.
There are different forms of collagen. You may have heard of Type I, II or III.
Type I is for the skin and ligaments. It helps the healing of cuts.
Type II is for cartilage.
Type III supports the organs and skin. It supports your blood vessels.
Has anyone said to you that their knees are bone on bone? Collagen helps support to prevent bone on bone.
If you already have arthritis, it can help to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to maintain cartilage health. Thereby reducing some of your pain.
You can add it into your smoothie. Add it to your coffee.
Not only will you get the benefit of supporting your ligaments and joints, but you also get an extra protein boost.
You can see it listed as collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen. This means the collagen has been broken down to make it easier for your stomach to process.
This collagen focuses on beauty. They have Type I & III
A great natural source of collagen is bone broth.
Make sure the source of collagen is from a grass-fed source.
Collagen takes time to re-build. I recommend taking collagen for at least 3 months.
I ran out of collagen and didn’t take it for a few days. I noticed how my joints felt. I felt achier without the collagen.
As me on your next visit if you would like to order a physician quality collagen.
Yours in Health Naturally,
Dr. Kelly