Age-Defying Benefits of Collagen

If you’re a woman hovering around 40, taking a daily collagen supplement may help slow the aging process.

As I’m inching towards my mid-forties, I can’t help but notice every time I bend down to reach something on the floor, I make the “old person grunting noise.” It can range anywhere from a wheezing rumble to a heaving moan, depending on the weather or time of day. Sure, yoga and stretching can alleviate those tight ligaments. But why? WHY is it getting so hard to pick up those Legos from the floor?

The answer is, as we get older, the collagen in our body breaks down and we simply cannot produce more. Collagen is a protein responsible for keeping our joints healthy and our skin elastic. Essentially, it puts the lotion on our skin from the inside.

Collagen is in our bones, muscles, and blood and comprises three-quarters of our skin and a third of our body’s protein. If math is not your strong suit, it basically means collagen is the most abundant protein in our body. As we age, the collagen in our bodies breaks down and it’s hard for us to produce more. So, what can we oldies do? Take collagen supplements of course! These supplements come in powders, capsules, and liquid forms.

How Does Ingesting Collagen Work?

Collagen is a family of proteins in our body that supports our ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and skin. There are 16 different types of collagen, but most of what we need come from types I, II, and III. Collagen is made in our bodies from three amino acids that form collagen fibrils, which group up to make collagen fibers. When we start losing collagen in our 20s, taking supplements replaces these essential amino acids we need for our skin and joints.

As we age, we lose elasticity in our skin. There are lots of things to blame for this — age (duh), gravity, sun exposure, stress, and lifestyle choices such as smoking or staying up late doing tequila shots (who, me?). However, collagen has been shown to improve elasticity, hydration, and even wound healing.

Another thing collagen helps is creaky joints. The occasional knee cracking is normal. It’s simply just carbon dioxide that builds up in the joints and makes a popping sound when your joints move too quickly. So, when you get up too fast and your knees pop, just blame it on gas. However, as we age, loss of collagen can cause chronic joint pain in people, particularly athletes. Some trials show that collagen supplements have improved joint and osteoarthritis pain when taken over the course of several weeks.

Different Types of Collagen Products

NuSkin makes it really easy with their individualized collagen packets. You simply take one 1 oz pouch a day, which is super convenient for busy people who don’t want to measure out doses. According to NuSkin, the collagen boosts elastin production in your skin, supports skin hydration and healthy moisturization, and helps protect against the damaging effects of blue light. It’s also clinically proven to help you look more youthful.

If you prefer to take your collagen in a powdered form, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is a highly rated brand which provides 20 grams of collagen per two scoop you can mix into your coffee, tea, smoothies, or water. Vital Proteins contain collagen types I and III, which support healthy skin, hair, and nails. It is missing collagen type II which is good for joint health.

While most collagen supplements come in a powdered form, collagen capsules are also available for people who simply want to swallow a pill and go about their daily lives. Live Conscious makes Beyond Collagen, which comes in a pill form and has 1,300 mg of collagen per serving. However, their recommended dosage is one pill 3x a day, so if you’re a one-and-done type, this may not be for you. Still, the pills are easy to take and travel-friendly, so this may be a good option for some.

One caveat to note is collagen products are not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). According to their website, “FDA is not authorized to review dietary supplements products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed.” Another thing consumers need to be aware of is that some collagen products are made with fish and other marine life, so people with allergies should read labels carefully.

Can I Eat My Collagen?

Collagen is made naturally in your body and can be produced by eating foods rich in the protein. You can get collagen from foods such as bone broth, chicken, egg whites, seafood, citrus, leafy greens, tomatoes, cashews, bell peppers, legumes, berries, and tomatoes. People who have a sweet tooth be warned — sugar and refined carbs cause inflammation, which damages the collagen in our body. That doesn’t mean you can never have chocolate-covered almonds or spaghetti Bolognese. Everything should be taken in moderation. I mean, we do have to live our lives, right?

Eating your collagen may be a good alternative to supplements, which may not be fully absorbed into the body. Foods rich in copper, zinc, and vitamin C help keep your body’s connective tissue strong by increasing collagen synthesis. Bone broth, as mentioned previously, is one of the most popular ways of consuming collagen. Boiling bones releases its gelatin, which breaks down into collagen in the body. If you’re so over The Bone Broth Craze of 2015 or if you’re a vegan, you can still get your collagen from fruits and vegetables. However, if you need a quick pill form, Rae Vegan Collagen Boost capsules is an option as well.

Magic In A Bottle? Maybe!

Although taking collagen supplements hasn’t been scientifically proven to work, many studies have shown improvement in people’s overall skin and joint health. With only a few reported mild side effects, such as an upset stomach, the benefits of taking collagen supplements are great. Some people have even reported a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles after taking collagen supplements for several weeks. It’s not an overnight fix like Botox and fillers but stats have shown people are largely pleased with the results. Be sure to speak with your doctor or healthcare professional before taking any supplements, as they may interact with any medicines you’re taking.

*The author will recieve a portion of sales from NuSkin at no cost to the customer.