Collagen 101

Before answering the question “Is collagen worth the hype?”, let’s explore a few of the basics:

What is Collagen?

First and foremost, collagen is a protein that makes up about a third of the total protein in your body. It’s the primary building block for your connective tissues including bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, skin, blood vessels, and organs. In other words, collagen is the “glue” that helps keep you together.

What Does Collagen Do?

Collagen supports the health of your bones, tendons, cartilage, and muscles, as well as skin, hair, and nails. Aging adults lose about 1% of collagen each year.

Current findings support that collagen supplements:

• Can help reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis as well as exercise-related joint pain
• Have been found to protect against osteoporosis while supporting and maintaining healthy bones
• Can help with overall skin elasticity, as well as reduce signs of aging such as wrinkles and dry skin

Is It Safe?

Adding a collagen supplement to your regime does not appear to be associated with any risks or negative side effects. However, as with all supplements, consult your health care provider to confirm it is safe for you. We all have our individual needs. When looking at supplements, look for simple ingredients and for companies with trusted third party labels, NSF or USP. If you’re stuck on where to start, book a free call with me now and we can figure out what your next steps are together.

Where to Find Collagen?

Your body naturally makes collagen by combining amino acids from protein-rich foods with vitamin C, zinc, and copper. Collagen is naturally found in animal products such as chicken and beef bones and feet, as well as bone broth.

Worth the Hype?

The research appears to support that supplementing with collagen, especially for people over 40 years old, can be beneficial.

Personally, ensuring I take a high quality collagen powder daily is a non-negotiable for me!

My favorite product

When purchasing collagen supplements you want to make sure whatever you are taking is readily bioavailable. It should have a molecular weight listed, if it doesn’t, find out. My favorite hydrolyzed collagen product hands down is found here: https://thedoctorwithin.com/product/hydrolyzed-collagen/