8 Collagen Peptides Benefits You Might Not Know About
Between work, family needs, and unwanted stress, our bodies have to compete with increasing demands almost daily. And, unfortunately, it becomes harder for our bodies to operate at the same rate as we age. Luckily, there are many collagen peptides benefits that can help with that.
Our bodies need the right nutrients to work properly and recover quickly, and collagen peptides are one of the best nutritional supplements you can take to benefit your body. You may be wondering, what are collagen peptides, and what potential collagen peptides benefits could I enjoy?
There are many collagen peptides benefits that you may not know about, which is what we’re here to discuss! But before we answer the question: What do collagen peptides do?, let’s make sure you understand what they are.
What are collagen peptides?
To understand what collagen peptides are, we must first discuss collagen protein.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and it makes up 25-35% of your total body protein. Collagen protein is vital to your skin health, joint structure, and muscle performance among other things.
But what are collagen peptides?
Collagen peptides are just the individual puzzle pieces of collagen. To create them, collagen is broken down in a process called hydrolyzation, which yields smaller pieces of collagen molecules. These collagen peptides can also be called “hydrolyzed collagen.”
So, if you’re wondering about the difference between collagen peptides vs hydrolyzed collagen, they are actually the same exact thing.
This hydrolyzation process brings us to one of the main collagen peptides benefits. Because the collagen molecules have been broken down, the supplement is more easily digestible and absorbable.
When you ingest collagen in its whole form, the molecules are too large to fit through your stomach lining. This means that much of the food or supplement you take is simply getting passed through your digestive system.
With collagen peptides, you can actually absorb your supplement!
So now you know what collagen peptides are, but what do collagen peptides do for your body? Let’s take a look at how a daily hydrolyzed collagen supplement could benefit you.
8 surprising collagen peptides benefits
Here are some of the amazing collagen peptides benefits you may experience once you start taking a hydrolyzed collagen supplement.
1. Collagen peptides may improve joint health
The amino acids in collagen promote the growth of tissues like cartilage and provide structural support to connective tissues.
As we age, after intense physical exercise, or after an injury, the cartilage in our joints may weaken. Collagen peptides benefits include protecting against joint damage and deterioration, and some evidence suggests that collagen may also stave off joint inflammation.
If you are already experiencing joint pain, your joints may be struggling with inflammation. Introducing collagen for joints to your diet may address these issues by assisting in collagen synthesis and the distribution of collagen to the joints that need it most.
2. Collagen peptides may increase bone density
You may already know that bones are mostly calcium, but did you know that about 90% of your organic bone matter is collagen? This is why collagen plays an important role in increasing and preserving bone density.
Research has found that collagen peptides may have a positive effect on those suffering from, or at risk for, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. This is because collagen has a positive effect on bone mineral density and bone formation.
3. Collagen peptides could help build and maintain muscle
Collagen makes up between 1-10% of the dry weight of muscle mass. This may not seem like a lot, but collagen plays a great role in the strength and elasticity of your muscles.
One noteworthy study shows promising results in muscle health and strength from taking collagen protein. During the study, one group took collagen protein along with strength-training exercises and the other didn’t.
The group that took collagen supplements saw some great collagen peptides benefits. They experienced a more pronounced increase in muscle strength and a decrease in fat compared to the people who did not take collagen supplements.
Just as this study suggests, it is essential to note that taking collagen in tandem with physical activity will be far more effective than one or the other on its own.
4. Collagen protein may promote weight loss
Millions of Americans have an issue with maintaining or managing a healthy weight. With the time commitments of work, children, community, and more, it can be difficult to fit weight loss or weight management into our schedules.
You may be wondering: Does protein help you lose weight?
Collagen peptides benefits also include the potential to aid you in reaching your weight loss goals. In fact, liquid collagen for weight loss is one of the most popular ways people supplement with collagen peptides.
Evidence suggests that adding a high-quality protein to your diet helps you feel fuller longer and can balance hunger hormones so you don’t feel hungry as often.
As with any weight loss or weight management plan, it doesn’t come with a “magic pill” and won’t happen overnight. That said, collagen could help you on a weight loss journey if it is paired with a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
It's important to note that you could gain weight if you are consuming too much protein and substantially increasing your calorie intake. Conversely, if you are taking protein supplements and doing regular strength exercises, you will likely gain more muscle and lose fat, which could result in healthy weight gain.
After consulting your doctor, it may help to start your weight loss and weight management journey with a medical nutritional therapist and/or personal trainer. That way, you can be sure your diet and exercise plan fits your needs - and that you are getting the most collagen peptides benefits.
5. Collagen peptides may improve skin health
Collagen is well known in the health and wellness industry for promoting healthy skin, hair, and nails. Because of that, adding collagen to your diet as part of your anti-aging routine could be beneficial.
Why?
Collagen content is concentrated in the dermis, the important middle layer of our skin that controls hair growth and blood flow. If you’re wondering, “Does collagen help with hair loss?” The answer may be hidden in your dermis.
This is good news, because starting in our mid-20s, we begin to lose around 1% of our collagen each year. One of the first signs of skin deterioration is sagging and wrinkles.
A review of the dermatological benefits of collagen peptides found that oral collagen supplements may support wound healing and skin aging. It found that collagen helps to increase skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal collagen density.
If you don’t have enough collagen stores in your body, collagen wound healing becomes difficult. So if you’ve suffered an injury or had a recent surgery, a collagen supplement may be the very best thing for your skin!
6. Collagen may have a positive effect on mood
The benefits of collagen peptides go far beyond smoothing wrinkles. In fact, if you want to boost your mood, collagen may be one of the best mood boosting supplements available.
How so?
First, glycine, one of the amino acids in collagen, has been shown to increase serotonin levels in your body. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood. When you are low on this chemical, you may feel unhappy or even depressed.
In addition to increasing serotonin, collagen may help you get better sleep. Again, glycine is to thank for this, as it’s linked to relaxation and deeper sleep.
Anxiety takes a toll on millions of people, in fact, it’s estimated that 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder. One of the fabulous collagen peptides benefits is the ability to reduce anxiety levels throughout the day, again thanks to glycine!
7. Collagen may help pregnant women
Many of the collagen peptides benefits for women carry over to pregnancy. For example, one of the benefits of collagen during pregnancy is its potential ability to help prevent pregnancy-related bone loss. Bone loss usually occurs because the baby has an increased need for calcium during the pregnancy and breastfeeding stages.
But collagen may also help prevent and heal stretch marks, improve women’s hormone health, and make a marked difference in the experience of morning sickness. In short - it’s a fabulous supplement for pregnant women to take.
8. Collagen may help gut health
There are many reasons why your gut health may suffer, such as stress, diet, health conditions, and environment. Luckily, collagen for gut health may build, repair, and maintain elasticity in the lining of your gut.
Collagen contains two of the primary amino acids we need to repair tissues. This means taking collagen may help with fighting a leaky gut. In addition, glutamine, an amino acid found in collagen, is linked to reducing and inhibiting inflammation in tight junctions of the intestinal lining.
With all these potential collagen peptides benefits, it’s no wonder that so many people supplement with hydrolyzed collagen. But what is the best way to get more collagen into your diet?
How to enjoy all of the collagen peptides benefits
There are various ways that collagen can be added to your diet, but not all of them will give you the same collagen peptides benefits.
You can get collagen from animal products that you eat day-to-day, like bone broth, gelatin, and whole meat dishes that contain the connective tissues. One critical mention is that collagen can only come from animal sources, and therefore there is no vegan collagen available.
There are some vegan “collagen” supplements on the market, and these are made up of antioxidants and other collagen-building boosters, but will not contain any actual collagen.
Of course, trying to get enough collagen or collagen boosters from your diet alone is usually not adequate. If you want to enjoy all the benefits of collagen peptides, it’s best to use a collagen supplement.
When choosing a collagen supplement to add to your diet, you should also make sure you are considering the molecule size. The size of the collagen molecules is significant, because if the molecules are too big, your body will not absorb them or receive all the collagen peptides benefits.
To find collagen that will be easy for your body to process and use, look for hydrolyzed or nano-hydrolyzed collagen that is easy for your body to absorb and digest.
You should also ensure that the company you get your supplement from is a reputable one. Because collagen supplements are not FDA approved, companies can put sugars and additives in their products.
Look for a high-quality and trustworthy collagen supplement, like the medical-grade collagen from ProT Gold. This collagen IS regulated by the FDA, and its creation is overseen by medical professionals. ProT Gold is trusted for use in thousands of US medical facilities, and it’s a great choice for a daily supplement!
Best yet, ProT Gold collagen comes in both liquid and powder forms, so you can choose what works best for your lifestyle. With a top-quality supplement like ProT Gold, you can enjoy all the collagen peptides benefits, from improved skin and gut health, to weight loss and faster healing.
FAQs about collagen
Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about collagen supplementation.
What do collagen peptides do?
There are many collagen peptides benefits for your body. That’s because collagen is the main structural protein that provides strength and elasticity to your connective tissues.
When you provide your body with easy-to-absorb collagen peptides, you give it the nutrients it needs to build muscle strength, speed wound healing, reduce joint inflammation, improve skin health, and more!
Is it good to take collagen peptides every day?
Yes! In fact, it’s the best way to make the most of your collagen peptides benefits. Taking collagen protein every day is safe and can be very beneficial for your health.
How much collagen should I take?
Depending on your goal, you can take anywhere from 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen daily. You should consult the instructions on your collagen supplement for dosage suggestions.
Is collagen safe?
Yes, collagen is absolutely safe. It’s a natural part of your body, after all! That being said, supplements are not FDA-regulated, so you should check the label carefully before trying a new supplement to make sure there aren’t any harmful additives.
Are there any side effects to taking collagen?
There really aren’t many side effects from taking collagen since it’s something your body already produces naturally.
As mentioned just above, it is possible to have a reaction to your supplement if there are questionable additives or you have an allergy to another ingredient in the supplement.
And, if you don’t follow the dosage instructions, you may end up with bloating or indigestion from taking too much protein.
As long as you make sure nothing on the ingredients list is something you are allergic to, you would say the collagen peptides benefits far outweigh any potential collagen side effects.
How long does it take to see results from collagen peptides?
How long does it take for collagen supplements to work? You can usually see peak collagen peptides benefits within 90 days. Of course, this will depend on a number of factors, such as the quality of your supplement, your age, your goals, and if you have underlying conditions.
Some people can see great results from collagen supplements within just a few weeks.
