Who would have thought that a substance found in bones and skin could be an essential nutritional supplement called Collagen?
“Collagen is a type of protein that plays an important role in building and supporting many tissues, from bone and cartilage to skin, hair, eyes and digestive system,” say researchers and nutritionists.
As doctors explain, when you take collagen supplements or eat collagen-rich foods, you’re getting collagen from animal sources. Collagen peptides come in powder as well as capsule form. Collagen can also be consumed in the form of bone broth. You might be wondering, what is the impact of consuming collagen? What does collagen do for your skin? Are there any benefits associated at all with consuming collagen supplements? Well, there are many benefits of taking collagen supplements. As with any dietary supplement, you might face potential side effects too, so it is always recommended to take the doctor’s recommendations before incorporating anything new into your diet.
Collagen is generally safe, but you should always check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet. Side effects can also occur based on your previous illness or any kind of disease history. According to some labs, collagen supplements can cause rashes in some people and in rare cases liver problems too.
Therefore, before investing in either collagen supplements or any other kind of dietary supplement, it’s important to be aware of the many potential benefits as well complications associated with it.
Benefits of taking collgen supplements in your daily diet
- Dietary supplements help replace what is naturally lost with aging
Collagen is the “glue” that holds your body together, says researchers.One of the research shows that it makes up about one-third of the protein in the body. The problem is that in your 30s and 40s, your body begins to produce lesser collagen.
- Collagen is an easily digestible protein source
Your body is working hard to digest proteins such as chicken and mutton, and some people may find themselves suffering from digestive symptoms such as belching or stomach pain after eating. However, collagen supplements are in hydrolyzed form. Meaning, collagen supplements can be a more convenient way to get protein than from your diet. The hydrolyzed form of collagen supplements gets dissolved in water easily, making them an easy source of proteins which can be consumed with water and smoothies.
- Collagen smoothes wrinkles and increases skin elasticity
Skin health is the most studied benefit of consuming collagen. In a research, scientists analyzed 11 random, placebo-controlled trials involving over 800 patients taking upto 10 g of collagen daily. The result were, supplement improved the elasticity of the skin, the moisture retention capacity of the skin, and the density of the collagen fibers in the skin also improved.
- Collagen helps relieve joint pain
Joint pain can make exercise difficult and keep you off the road to your goals.Taking collagen supplements can help you get back in shape. There is an evidence that it is excellent for relieving pain too. One athlete was found to have less joint pain during exercise than the placebo group. Oral collagen can help repair cartilage and may also have anti-inflammatory effects.
- Oral Supplements Can Promote Gut Health
In inflammatory digestive diseases such as irritable bowel disease (IBD), there is a “gut-healing” theory for collagen. Some studies have found that collagen levels are reduced in patients with these conditions.
In May 2017 study, published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, found that people with IBD had an imbalance between the formation and breakdown of collagen fibers associated with inflammation. Previous studies have also shown that an IBD patient has reduced serum levels of type 4 collagen in them. Collagen is part of the connective tissue that makes up the colon and digestive tract. Therefore, increasing your collagen level creates an environment that supports your body in healing. This is a new idea, but there may be benefits to trying collagen supplements to boost collagen intake.
- Collagen helps with joint disease
According to an article published in Molecules in November 2019, there are many types of collagen. Type 1 (found in beef) is beneficial for the skin, while type 2 (found in chicken) helps with arthritic joint pain. Joints are made up of cartilage, most of which is made up of collagen. A study published in the Eurasian Journal of Medicine in June 2016 found that patients with knee osteoarthritis who took acetaminophen plus collagen type 2 had more joint pain while walking than those who took the drug alone. It has been found to reduce pain and improve quality of life. However, research is mixed and no definitive conclusions have yet been reached. It is best to purchase supplements containing various animal collagen sources to get the maximum benefits.
- Collagen won’t help you lose weight
Adequate protein intake is important for a healthy diet. Nutrients are needed to help your body build muscle — lean tissue that’s more metabolically active than fat (which means it leads to a faster metabolism, according to the Mayo Clinic). So, you may want to consider collgen in your consideration, however that’s not the only way to change your diet and lifestyle. If you add collagen supplement powder to your food, which is high in sugar or contains refined carbohydrates, and excess of calories, will not help you lose weight. Instead there are chances that you may increase your weight. It is always advised to eat balanced meal.
Now, you might have got your answer to question, what does collagen do for your skin along with soem additional benefits too.
