Of all the newest supplements to come on the market, collagen is the one that people are curious about the most. Promising to take great care of your hair, skin, and nails, among other things, this supplement is being presented as nothing short of a miracle-worker, but does it live up to all the hype? Does collagen really do everything it claims to do? Read on for the information you need to know before rushing out and buying it.
What Exactly Is Collagen Peptides?
In simple terms, collagen is the glue in our bodies that is responsible for keeping everything together, including tendons, ligaments, and various muscles. It is also something that is present in all animals. As we age, we produce less collagen and, therefore, we get saggy skin and more joint pain, among other afflictions.
Collagen peptides are a form of collagen and are similar to gelatin. However, unlike gelatin, these peptides are easy for your body to absorb because they are a more processed form of collagen. Collagen peptides promise to improve your gut, help you sleep better, enjoy less joint pain, and even help you lose weight.
Collagen peptides offer many advantages, including the fact that they are a great source of protein. If you buy the powder – which comes in many yummy flavors – one scoop gives you a full 10 grams of protein, which is pretty good by any standards.
Because collagen is considered “body glue,” it is great for hydrating the skin and reducing lines and wrinkles in your skin, particularly the facial area. In addition to the powder, you can get collagen into your system by consuming foods such as pork skins and even bone broth. However, most people find supplements to be much easier to take.
People on the
keto diet could typically take it to look great while changing their eating lifestyle.
Collagen Protein Powder Vs. Whey Protein Powder
Many people wonder if whey protein could be a better option. There are, indeed, certain reasons why you would want to chose one over the other. To begin with, whey powder is produced from milk, while collagen powder is produced from the skin, bones, and cartilage of animals or fish. Collagen powder also contains important amino acids that helps you get stronger bones, a stronger belly muscles, and more hydrated skin, to name a few.
There are also a few other benefits of choosing protein peptides powder over whey powder, including:
- It is a much cleaner protein
- It is tasteless
- It can rebuild and repair your muscles
- It is more satiating and, therefore, helps you lose weight
- It is dairy-free
- It helps your skin (by the way, whey powder can cause skin problems in some people)
For skin, joints, nails, and hair, there is no denying that collagen powder provides immeasurable benefits for the people who consume it in one form or another. This isn’t to say that whey powder is bad for you – it isn’t, but if you’re looking for something that tastes good and provides numerous health benefits, choosing peptides powder will never let you down.
The Synergistic Relationship with Bone Broth
While you're in the market for buying collagen powder you can consider getting bone broth in natural and powder form. Collagen is found naturally in bone broth, and since it comes in many different flavors, you can always find one that best suits your needs.
Bone broth can be consumed like soups and sauces are, and it comes in many different flavors, including beef, chicken, mushroom, and curry, among others. It is made from the bones and connective tissue of different animals, which results in a super-nutritious food that is good for everything from helping you lose weight to getting rid of your gut problems.
Some of the many ways bone broth can help you include:
- Bone health
- Joint health
- Anti-inflammatory
- Brain and sleep function
- Weight loss
In fact, you don’t even have to buy bone broth if you don’t want to, because you can make it yourself with just a few ingredients. All you have to do is mix the following ingredients in a large pot:
- 2-3 lbs. of chicken bones
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 tsp. of salt and/or pepper
- 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
Cover the ingredients with 1 gallon of water and bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 4 to 24 hours. The longer you let it simmer, the tastier and more nutritious it becomes. Once you’re done simmering the concoction, simply remove all of the solids and you’re done.
You can use the broth just like you do other types, that is, you can drink it or use it as a base for various soups and sauces. Many people aim to drink one cup of this broth daily so that the benefits are fast and continuous.
Bone Broth Powder
Bone broth is great for you, but if you simply don’t like the taste of any type of broth, you can purchase bone broth powder instead. It does everything that regular bone broth does for you, but is easier to take and comes in a variety of flavors. These include chocolate, vanilla, mocha, and many others.
If you’d rather take your bone broth in powder form, go ahead, because it offers great benefits and it is yummy to boot!
What To Expect When You Take Collagen Powder
Indeed, there are many benefits to taking
collagen powder, because this powder can:
- Help with all types of tummy problems, including heartburn, bloating, and so on
- Heal your gut, even if you have leaky gut syndrome
- Improve your heart health by strengthening your blood vessels
- Eliminate joint pain and help with fibromyalgia
- Help repair connective tissue so the body is more energized
- Repair a lot of the damage done to your liver
- Help you feel full so that you don’t eat as much
- Help you build muscle mass
- Help you sleep better because it contains glycine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Keep your hormones better balanced
- Increase the elasticity of your skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles
- Make your hair stronger and shinier
- Harden your fingernails and toenails
When your dad accidentally takes collagen peptides
Collagen has also been shown to reduce or even eliminate the cellulite that many people have when they get older. Let’s face it, taking collagen supplements or powder makes sense. Less collagen as you age results in a host of health and physical problems, but now there is a great way to replace that collagen, and it’s simple, fast, and tasty!
What Does 'Hydrolyzed' mean?
Most collagen products, including supplements and powders, use hydrolyzed collagen, and there is little wonder why. To put it simply, hydrolyzed collagen is collagen that is broken down into smaller pieces and, therefore,
easier to absorb by the body. Because it is smaller and easier to absorb, it is the preferred type of collagen used in products that are made to help a variety of ailments and skin issues.
Hydrolyzed collagen itself is translucent and flavorless, and it is commonly called gelatin and used in various foods, including dips, ice creams, yogurts, and candy. It also has the same amino acids that standard collagen has, including:
- Proline
- Glycine
- Arginine
- Alanine
- Glutamic acid
- Miscellaneous essential and nonessential amino acids
The hydrolyzed form not only absorbs faster, but is easily digested and offers the same great benefits that regular collagen does.
Our List of Collagen Rich Foods You Can Get In Your Grocery Store
Of course, even if you’re interested in supplements or powders, you may still wish to add some collagen to your diet the old-fashioned way – by consuming it. Fortunately, this is easy to do because there are numerous foods that contain this valuable protein. They include:
- Bone broth, which has already been discussed
- Wild salmon, which is also a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids
- Chlorella, a type of single-celled algae that is usually sold in powder or green tablet form
- Leafy green vegetables, especially kale, broccoli, bok choy, and green beans
- Citrus, including citrus fruits of all types
- Eggs, which also contain liver-friendly Sulphur
- Berries, especially blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
- Tomatoes, which also include various antioxidants
- Pumpkin seeds, which can be consumed in numerous forms
- Avocados, which also contain vitamin E to help prevent the breakdown of collagen
- Garlic, including its cousins leeks, chives, and shallots
- Chia seeds, which can easily be added to salads, soups, and smoothies
As you can tell, many of these foods also contain many other vitamins and minerals, making it even better for you to consume them on a regular basis.
The 3 Types
There are more than 28 different types of collagen peptides which have been identified, However, there are three main types that tend to be the most prevalent and well-known. These include Types I, II, and III, which are described below.
- Type I: the most common type of collagen in the body and the type that is most associated with great skin, hair, and nails; skin, tendons, organs, and bones are composed mostly of this type of collagen, and it has numerous benefits for overall well-being and excellent health
- Type II: a more specialized type of collagen; the main component is cartilage and, therefore, it is great for cartilage health
- Type III: found in reticular fibers – including bone marrow – and a type usually found alongside of Type I collagen in your body
Type I collagen is the strongest type of collagen in the body. If you wish to improve your skin, this is the type you should look for. Type I is great for anti-aging benefits, fast healing of wounds, and many other skin benefits.
Type II is the main component of cartilage, which is simply connective tissue that protects long bones at the end of the joints. It is one of the things that makes up the ear, bronchial tube, rib cage, and the nose, among others. If you want to make your joints stronger or improve your arthritis symptoms, this is the type of collagen you should take.
Type III is found in many of the same locations throughout the body as Type I collagen, and it is often used in supplements that firm up your skin and improve your heart health. In addition, Type V collagen helps create the cells that make up the placenta in a pregnant woman, and Type X is found mainly in the cartilage.
As you can see, there are many forms of collagen peptides to choose from, but the first three types make up most of the cartilage in your body and, therefore, these are the types you should look for when you’re researching products with collagen in them.
Finding the Supplement Difference
Protein powders and supplements make a difference because of all of the benefits they provide, but if you wish to make the most of your collagen-rich diet, there are a few more things you can do as well. After all, improving your health for any reason means being well-rounded and paying attention to more than just what you eat.
For instance, if you grill and eat more salmon, steak, or chicken, you can in effect speed up the process and the great results. This is because foods like these all contain high amounts of the amino acids your body needs to make collagen. They help provide even more collagen for the body, which can work alongside your supplements so your results are even better.
In addition, certain things can interfere with the body’s ability to produce collagen, including drinking too much alcohol, smoking, and getting sunburns. So, if you want to hurry up the collagen-building process, stop smoking, drink less alcohol, and make sure you use sunscreen every time you go outside in the sun.
Collagen is a great supplement for many reasons because it can produce amazing results, regardless of your age or gender. Researching the various brands is a smart idea and can be done quickly online, where you can even read reviews to educate yourself about all of these benefits and more.
