The Benefits of Collagen and How to Take it
Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past few years – you’ve likely heard of collagen. Whether it’s mentioned as a magical anti-aging supplement or a way to help soothe arthritic joints, this protein has been an ongoing topic in the wellness community.
You know the word, but you’re still unsure of what it is and how collagen can help you, right? Let me guess, you’re wondering…
- What is collagen
- How can it benefit your health
- When and how to take collagen
- Where collagen is found naturally
In this post, we’ll answer all of these questions – so you can decide once and for all if collagen is right for you.
What is collagen?
Before we deep dive into the benefits, let’s start off with something basic. What is collagen? Collagen is a protein found in the connective tissue in your body. It makes up a massive third of the protein found in the entire body. It’s main role is to protect and provide structure to your skin, bones, muscles, and organs.
How does collagen benefit your health?
Many people boast about the beauty benefits of collagen – particularly things like a decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s clear that there is an effect on skin, with studies showing an improvement in elasticity and hydration after collagen consumption.
But, does collagen benefit you beyond physical appearance? Some have seen a reduction in joint pain caused by arthritis and sports related injuries. For those suffering from digestive or intestinal ailments – collagen has been said to aid in the healing of the gut and intestinal lining.
How do you take collagen?
Whether you prefer to take supplements in pill, powder, or liquid form – there’s an option for you.
One of the most common ways to ingest collagen is the powder formulation, like Neocell Collagen Powder, Collagen powders can be mixed directly into food, liquid, or even taken with a sip of water. If you don’t have the time, or would rather not mix the supplement on your own, many brands offer ready-to-drink premade beverages, like Neocell Pomegranate Liquid Collagen.
Now that you know the many ways that you can consume collagen, you likely want to know the best way to take it. It’s often recommended that collagen supplements are taken with Vitamin C to increase the absorption of the protein. While some say not to take collagen on an empty stomach or when you first wake – you can safely take collagen any time of day, with or without food.
Can you get collagen naturally from food?
Believe it or not, some foods are naturally rich in collagen. When eating a variety of these foods it wouldn’t be necessary to supplement collagen, unless otherwise advised by your physician. A few examples of these foods are bone broth, eggs, lean meats, and fish. While these options are primarily derived from animals – spirulina is a great option for our plant based friends.
Did you know that your body produces collagen on its own? Unfortunately, your production of collagen begins to decrease at only 21 years old! However, certain foods have the ability to increase your body’s natural collagen production. Eating things like citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, seeds and nuts, and even bell peppers can help you maintain your natural levels of collagen.
Don’t forget:
It turns out collagen is more than a buzzword floating around. Here are a few takeaways to share with a friend.
- Collagen is a protein that helps to build your body’s skin, muscles, bones, and more.
- It’s not just a beauty ingredient, collagen can actually improve your health by relieving joint pain or healing your digestive system.
- Collagen can be supplemented, found naturally in food, and produced in your body.
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