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Is Collagen Really All It’s Cracked Up To Be? A Look At The Impressive Benefits of Collagen

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collagen

Collagen has taken the health world by storm – touting benefits such as glowing skin, weight loss, and flexible joints. It’s even garnered a reputation as the “fountain of youth.” But does collagen really live up to its reputation?  

While these claims might sound too good to be true, as it turns out, collagen really does have incredible health benefits that might just surprise you. Let’s dive into exactly what collagen is, where it comes from and most importantly – how you can start reaping the benefits of collagen.

          

What is Collagen?

Collagen is a complex protein made up of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that pack together to form chains known as fibrils. These collagen fibrils are found in nearly every tissue in the human body from your skin to your digestive tract. 

Collagen gives these tissues structure, strength, and elasticity – which is why it’s often described as the “glue” that holds your body together. In fact, some types of collagen fibers are so strong and “glue-like”, when compared gram for gram, they are actually stronger than steel.1

 

Where Does Collagen Come From? 

Your body naturally produces collagen. Your connective tissues are the main source of collagen production, but other cells secrete small amounts as well. As you age, your natural collagen production begins to decline. This is why we tend to get wrinkles and become a little less flexible the older we get.2 

Exactly how much of your collagen levels decline over time are impacted by several factors such as:

  • Age: The older you get, the more your levels will inevitably drop off.
  • Diet: Eating a diet high in sugar increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which are damaging to proteins like collagen. Nutritional deficiencies can also deplete collagen levels if you don’t consume enough of the building blocks necessary for collagen production.
  • Smoking: The toxins from cigarette smoke are highly damaging to collagen molecules. Smoking also constricts blood vessels, making it more difficult for your body to deliver vital nutrients, like collagen, to certain tissues.
  • Autoimmunity: Certain autoimmune disorders (such as arthritis or lupus) may cause your body to mistakenly target and attack the connective tissues that produce collagen.

Fortunately, you don’t have to rely entirely on your natural production to get enough collagen.

 

Where Else Can I Get Collagen From?

Animals, just like us, also produce collagen, making it easier to find it in certain foods and supplements. Since collagen is primarily produced in connective tissues, the most collagen-rich sources of food typically come from the skin or bones of animals. Collagen supplements are usually sourced from the following animals:

  • Bovine (cows)
  • Marine (fish)
  • Porcine (pigs)
  • Chicken
  • Eggs

Giving yourself a daily boost of collagen is one of the easiest and most effective ways to start enjoying it’s impressive health benefits. 

 

What Can Collagen Do for Me?

Considering that collagen is essentially the “glue” that holds your body together, it’s no surprise that adequate levels are crucial for overall health. The benefits of collagen are countless, but here are some of the most notable benefits associated with boosting your collagen levels:

Collagen Improves Heart Health

Collagen is an essential building block to give your blood vessels the elasticity and integrity they need to effectively transport blood from your heart to the rest of your body. If your arteries and veins start losing their suppleness and strength they can become stiff, narrow, and weak. This can spell trouble for your heart and significantly increase your risk of a stroke or heart attack. Adequate levels of collagen prevent stiffness and drastically reduces your risk of related heart problems.3

Collagen Is Crucial For Joint Health

Your joints are held together and supported by the rubbery connective tissue known as cartilage. Collagen is a crucial component to cartilage health, growth, and functioning. Adequate collagen is key in preventing joint problems like:4

  • Joint pain
  • Joint stiffness
  • Injuries
  • Degenerative joint disorders

Studies have even found that collagen supplementation can ease joint pain and enhance your ability to engage in physical activities.5,6

Collagen Supports Your Bones

Your bones are made mostly of collagen – which is what makes them so strong.7 Collagen is vital when it comes to maintaining and increasing bone density and preventing bone loss. Studies have found that increased collagen levels improve the amount of healthy minerals in bones and wards off bone breakdown.8.9

Collagen Improves Your Skin’s Appearance

Collagen can help reduce wrinkles and fine lines as well as cellulite and stretch marks. That’s because collagen’s health-boosting benefits for your skin are threefold. Collagen helps:10,11

  • Increase your skin’s elasticity.
  • Improve your skin’s ability to retain moisture retention.
  • Stimulate your natural production of fibrin and elastin – additional proteins that are essential to skin health. 12

As an added bonus, collagen also helps your hair and nails grow stronger and longer. 

Collagen Supports Weight Loss & Boosts Muscle Mass

Collagen is particularly useful when it comes to weight loss because it can help you shed extra pounds in a couple of ways:

  • As a protein, it can help you feel more satisfied after meals, and feel fuller longer.
  • Your muscles contain a small amount of collagen and keeping that will help your muscles stay strong and grow.13 And more muscle means you burn more calories by just existing.

Collagen Can Aid In Healing Leaky Gut Syndrome

When the lining in your digestive tract is compromised and weakened it can create tiny “gaps” that allow particles to seep through your intestinal lining. This is called leaky gut syndrome and has been linked to a number of chronic diseases such as:

  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Allergies
  • Metabolic conditions
  • Obesity

But collagen can help to fill in those tiny gaps of the intestinal lining – essentially “sealing the leaks.”

 

Ready To Start Enjoying The Benefits Of Collagen?

Adequate collagen is crucial for overall health – helping you look and feel your best. Which is why I highly recommend a daily collagen supplement to most of my patients. One of my favorite ways to enjoy collagen is to simply add it into my morning coffee with a delicious collagen creamer by Vital Proteins. Or, you can sneak it into your favorite recipe or beverage by adding a scoop of my unflavored Collagen Boost Formula. 

Regardless of how you choose to get your daily dose of collagen, this is one supplement that everyone can benefit from. Head on over to my online shop to grab your own collagen supplement and start reaping the benefits today.  

Now it’s time to hear from you! Are you surprised by the health-boosting benefits of collagen? What’s your favorite way to get your daily dose of collagen? Share your questions and thoughts in the comments below.

 

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21582/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429168/
  4. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbgg/v19n1/1809-9823-rbgg-19-01-00153.pdf
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416885
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22486722
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16341622
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11071580
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25314004
  10. http://www.jmnn.org/article.asp?issn=2278-1870;year=2015;volume=4;issue=1;spage=47;epage=53;aulast=Borumand
  11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23949208
  12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259628887_Oral_Intake_of_Specific_Bioactive_Collagen_Peptides_Reduces_Skin_Wrinkles_and_Increases_Dermal_Matrix_Synthesis
  13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3177172/

The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease state or medical condition and has not been evaluated by the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">FDA</a>. This is not intended to replace any recommendations by or relationship with your physician. The references included in each article allude to the level of scientific rigor I have applied to my writing. When changes become apparent we will update the information if appropriate.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product mentioned in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.   The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations or relationship with your physician.  Please review references sited at end of article for scientific support of any claims made.

Categories: Gut Health, Heart Health, Skin CareBy Jill Carnahan, MDFebruary 19, 20205 Comments
Tags: aging skinbone healthcollagenCollagen Improves Heart Healthhealthy skinhealthy skin carejoint healthskin care
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Author: Jill Carnahan, MD

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Dr. Jill is Your Functional Medicine Expert! She uses functional medicine to help you find answers to the cause of your illness and addresses the biochemical imbalances that may be making you feel ill. She'll help you search for underlying triggers contributing to your illness through cutting edge lab testing and tailor the intervention to your specific needs as an individual. She may use diet, supplements, lifestyle changes or medication to treat your illness but will seek the most gentle way to help your body restore balance along with the least invasive treatment possible. Dr. Jill is a functional medicine expert consultant and treats environmental and mold-related illness as well

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5 Comments

  1. Carla Hill says:
    February 20, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    I’ve used primal vanilla collagen for a year and a half and have noticed absolutely nothing. People have spoken of all these wonderful things that happened but I’ve never experienced any of them. More troubling, I was never certain where the bovine collagen was exactly sourced and how clean it was.

     Reply
    • Jill Carnahan, MD says:
      February 22, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      Hi Carla
      It might be the brand you are using… for best results use patented blend like Collagen Boost.

       Reply
  2. Marian says:
    February 21, 2020 at 5:03 am

    Collagen is a complex protein made up of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that pack together to form chains known as fibrils. These collagen fibrils are found in nearly every tissue in the human body from your skin to your digestive tract.

     Reply
  3. Kristina says:
    February 21, 2020 at 5:55 am

    Great article- thanks for sharing- I’m curious about the differences between marine , bovine etc. Is one cleaner than another? Is it good to go back and forth between different types.. Like one day a bovine then next day a marine?

     Reply
  4. Dale says:
    February 21, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    I have lots of GAD1 genes, which make me unable to tolerate glutamine/glutamic acid in any form. And collagen is full of it! I am trying to compensate for this by taking glycine and proline, but I know this is not as efficacious as collagen itself. Do you have any recommendations for people in my boat?

     Reply

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