Collagen is a growing trend in the health and wellness industry, but is it worth it?
In this article, I'll explain what collagen does, and answer the question, "Do collagen supplements work?" I'll also show you what to look for in a collagen supplement and the potential benefits you can expect.
What Does Collagen Do?
Collagen is a protein. In fact, it is one of the most abundant proteins found in the human body. Think of collagen as the glue that holds everything together.
Collagen is an essential part of your skin, hair, nails, and other connective tissues. Collagen helps give your skin structure. It also helps strengthen your bones.
There are actually over 20 different types of collagen ... but the most common found in supplements are:
Type I: The most abundant form found in the body and is used to provide structure and strength to bones, ligaments, tendons, and skin.
Type II: Gives cartilage its strength and elasticity to help support the joints.
Type III: Involved in the blood clotting cascade and essential for wound healing.
When people are young, collagen is the protein that helps their skin stay smooth and keeps their hair shiny. It’s the protein that helps us remain youthful and healthy-looking.
As we age, our collagen stores begin to deplete at a rate faster than we can replace them with. This is when the wrinkles start setting in and the nails and hair start needing some extra care and support.
Since collagen stores start depleting as we age, many people hope they can prevent or reverse that damage by taking collagen supplements of some sort.
The most common type of collagen treatment used to be direct injections, which were used to make lips plumper and skin smoother.
But because it's not always easy or affordable to get consistent injections, collagen injections have been overtaken in popularity by collagen creams and supplements. If you want to avoid needles and extra trips to a wellness spa, using an at-home option is a great choice.
People use creams with the goal of getting the collagen to absorb into their skin, while people who take collagen supplements want their bodies to digest the collagen and send it wherever it is needed within the body.
Now that we've covered what collagen is, what it does, and what options there are for getting more collagen into your body, let's answer the most important question: “Do collagen supplements work?”
Do Collagen Supplements Work?
The simple answer is, yes they can.
The fact is, collagen is a protein, and research shows that proteins help improve skin, hair, nail, and connective tissue health.
So, it’s less a matter of whether collagen supplements work and more a matter of how to make them work best for you.
To understand how to make your collagen supplements work at their best for you, you have to understand at least one thing.
Collagen is protein and proteins are just a series of amino acids.
Your body breaks down collagen into different amino acids.
Ultimately, those amino acids will be reused by the body however it needs them most, and if your nutrition is lacking in the proper nutrients, your body won’t send those proteins and amino acids to your hair, skin, and nails ... instead, your body will use it for fuel to get through your day.
More specifically, you need to make sure you are consuming an optimal level of total protein daily. If you do not consume enough protein throughout the day to support your body, (aside from taking a collagen supplement), it will be difficult to get the results you want for your skin, hair, nails, or joints.
This is why you have to remember that a supplement does just that, it supplements your current health efforts, it does not fix them.
Therefore, to help improve your efforts you need to be getting enough protein so that the specific amino acids packed into your collagen supplements can be used where and how they were intended.
So, make sure you’re getting enough protein, rest, and water on a consistent basis, so your body can start using those aminos for something other than basic maintenance.
That being said, if you’ve got a great fitness and diet regimen keeping you healthy, nourished, and fit, a good collagen supplement, like Collagen with Dermaval can be a great option for you.
What Makes A Great Collagen Supplement?
Obviously, when it comes to your health, and more specifically, the things you put into your body, quality is key. Here's what goes into a high-quality, effective collagen supplement...
Your Collagen Supplement Should Be Diverse
You can, and should, get your protein from a variety of different sources. Different foods come with different kinds of amino acids and you need as many of them as possible to be at your healthiest, happiest self on a consistent basis.
The ideal collagen supplement will be derived from at least 4 or 5 different sources to maximize the diversity of the amino acid profile, and the effectiveness of your supplement.
Your Collagen Supplement Should Be Hydrolyzed
Hydrolyzed supplements have been through a process using water to break down the protein chains into even more simple protein peptides. This makes it easier for your body to process and utilize. On top of that, it mixes much easier with water and generally prevents indigestion or bloating.
Your Collagen Supplement Should Be Phytonutrient-Rich
Phytonutrients do a lot of good things for your body.
Phytonutrients act as antioxidants, which means they can help manage free radicals inside the body ... lessening the damage to the cells in our bodies, and reducing inflammation.
They’re also thought to help give people a boost in immunity, meaning you’re less likely to get sick if you have a good source of them in your diet.
Additionally, phytonutrients help increase the elastin in your body. Elastin helps keep your skin’s elasticity and firmness, preventing both wrinkles and sagging.
The other benefits are great, but the increase in elastin is the primary reason why you’ll want to make sure your collagen supplement has added phytonutrients in it.
For this reason, we've added Dermaval™ to our newest collagen supplement to further enrich our collagen supplement with phytonutrients and make sure it's as effective for your needs as possible.
How to Use Collagen Powder
Adding collagen powder into your routine can be a breeze when you learn how to use collagen powder. In fact, using it is the easy part!
Start by choosing a high-quality collagen powder, and take note of the recommended dose. Take one serving of the collagen powder and add it to a beverage of your choice. For me, I love mixing collagen in the morning with coffee, tea, or even a smoothie.
If you really wanted to, you could even bake with collagen powder. Just be conscious of how much collagen you'll need to use in your recipes to get a full serving every time.
1st Phorm Collagen with Dermaval Can Help Give Your Skin What It Needs
If you're ready to add a high-quality collagen supplement to your health regimen or a protein powder to reach your daily protein intake; 1st Phorm has options to fit your lifestyle and needs.
So to answer the question of: "Do collagen supplements work?" ... They do. Collagen supplements will work as long as the rest of your diet and exercise is in line with what they need to work. Treat your skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue with the care they deserve.
If there's anything else we can do to help out in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out! We have a full team of NASM Certified Personal Trainers and Certified Nutrition Coaches who are happy to help for FREE. Just give us a call at 1-800-409-9732 or send us an email at CustomerService@1stphorm.com anytime!
