Move over ashwagandha, coconut oil, and black charcoal; there’s a new hot commodity in town: collagen. Yup, you read that right — the substance found abundantly in bones and skin is quickly making waves not only in beauty and skincare but also in health and fitness.
Why is collagen — more specifically, collagen powder — all the rage these days, you ask? We’ll tell you. Read on as we explore the many benefits of collagen powder.
What Is Collagen?
Chances are you think about collagen in your skin since it’s usually at the forefront of any conversation when chatting about skin aging. Of course, we can’t blame you for thinking this way because this essential protein does play a major role in the perceived youthfulness of skin — but there’s more to it.
You see, collagen is a protein, and while it’s true that it is one of the main building blocks of your skin, it can be found in your bones, tendons, muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments. It provides structural support to tissue and plays many important roles in cellular processes and bodily systems, including:
- Immune response
- Tissue repair
- Skin elasticity and overall skin health
- Cellular migration
- Cellular communication
- Bone mineral density
Needless to say, collagen levels are pretty important in the human body! In fact, without it, your body would fall apart — hence why many experts refer to it as the body’s “super glue.”
There are up to 28 different types of collagen, but there are only five that are mainstream and found in many collagen supplements:
- Type I — Accounting for 90% of the body’s collagen, this type is the most abundant and may help in wound healing and skin quality.
- Type II — Found in joints and intervertebral discs (aka the cushions that serve as your spine’s shock absorbers), this type of collagen promotes joint health and helps support digestive and immune function.
- Type III — The main component of reticular fibers (found in your skin and blood vessels); this type helps intestinal health and supports the structure of muscles.
- Type V — A form of fibrillar collagen, this type supports neonatal development as well as eye health and regulates the development of collagen fibers.
- Type X — Found in joint cartilage, this type of collagen plays a crucial role in joint health and is responsible for bone formation.
What Is Collagen Powder?
As you get older, your amount of collagen declines, and it gets harder for your body to produce more. Less collagen can lead to achy-breaky joints, bone loss, dull skin, and fickle bones. To combat this, many people turn to oral collagen powder.
Collagen powder — a hydrolyzed version of collagen taken from animal tissues — is a broken-down version of collagen that is much easier for the body to absorb. It’s often advertised in one of two forms: Collagen hydrolysate or collagen peptides. But, don’t get confused; these terms are synonymous and often used interchangeably for the same product.
Various collagen powders are available on the market today — some that are tasteless and others that have flavor. You can stir or blend the powder into a number of different things, including:
- Smoothies
- Coffee
- Tea
- Juices
- Soup
- Oats
Though vegan collagen powder has appeared in recent years, most collagen powder supplements are extracted from animal sources, such as bones, hides, fish scales, or even eggshell membranes.
What Are the Health Benefits of Collagen Powder?
Now that you’re up to speed on what collagen powder is, let’s take a look at a few benefits, shall we? Although there are many, some of the top benefits you should know about include:
Benefit #1: Supports Youthful-Looking Skin
It’s no secret that skin can get duller and more wrinkled as we age. But collagen powder can help minimize the appearance of signs of aging. Studies show that the amino acids found in collagen help keep the skin looking smooth, even textured, and healthy. Collagen powder also hydrates the skin, helping to support a dewy, youthful-looking complexion.
Pro Tip: For an extra boost of glow, we recommend pairing your collagen powder with Good to Glow. Our skin-loving formula is made with vitamin C and vitamin E, which help protect against free radicals while providing amazing skin benefits.
Benefit #2: Supports Bone Strength
In addition to dull skin, fine lines and wrinkles, you may notice a decrease in bone density as you age, too — especially after menopause. The good news is that daily collagen supplementation may help make your bones denser, ultimately slowing down the aging process that makes them weak and brittle.
Benefit #3: Supports a Healthy Body Composition
Many people are constantly on the hunt for ingredients and supplements that can help in their journey to weight loss. While there’s no such thing as a “magic pill” that can instantly transform your body into one way, shape, or form, research shows that collagen powder — in combination with resistance training and a healthy diet — could reduce fat while preserving lean muscle mass.
Pro Tip: Give your metabolism a boost with Metabolove — a daily supplement that helps with food cravings and boosts energy.*
Benefit #4: May Help Ease Joint Discomfort
Dealing with stiff, creaky joints or pain when you move? That’s likely a loss of collagen rearing its ugly head. You see, when your body’s natural collagen production takes a dip as you age, your ligaments and tendons start moving with less ease, which can quickly lead to stiffness, swollen joints, and more.
Thanks to collagen’s gel-like, smooth structure that holds the bones together, a daily scoop of collagen powder can help you to glide and move without pain.
Benefit #5: Contributes to Muscle Growth
Collagen makes up as much as 10 percent of your muscle tissue, so it makes sense that a good collagen powder may be helpful to those with sarcopenia (a loss of muscle mass). But collagen isn’t good for only those hoping to replace lost muscle — it’s great for those hoping to achieve some serious muscle mass, too.
Collagen is full of amino acids — like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline — that can surely contribute to muscle growth. This is especially true when combined with the right fitness routines. Just don’t forget to drink plenty of water to keep your body adequately hydrated as you pump iron and welcome the sweet gains.
Benefit #6: Aids Gut Health
If you’re one of the many Americans who suffer from leaky gut syndrome — a common condition where gross toxins are able to pass through your digestive tract — collagen powder can be super helpful. Collagen helps break down proteins and soothes the gut lining, repairing damaged cell walls and infusing them with healing amino acids. But that’s not all…
In addition to combatting leaky gut, the benefits of collagen include helping the absorption of water within the intestines, which keeps things moving as they should.
Pro Tip: If your gut could use a little TLC, we recommend taking your collagen with a good probiotic — like Gut Feelings Probiotics. This incredible shelf-stable prebiotic and probiotic formula has clinically studied ingredients, including three billion CFUs of probiotic strains.* Simply take one capsule daily to support complete gut health and immunity.
Benefit #7: Promotes Healthy Hair
By now, you likely understand that collagen is a protein full of amino acids, but did you know that hair follicle cells use amino acids to produce keratin which promotes hair growth strength and elasticity? With this in mind, it’s not surprising to learn that collagen powder can help promote healthy locks.
Pro Tip: Want longer, thicker, and shinier hair? Of course, you do! Pair Call Me Collagen with Healthy Hair Probiotics — this incredible hair-lovin’ duo can do wonders for your luscious locks, helping to make them fuller, healthier, and stronger.
Benefit #8: Strengthens Nails
Some folks have nails that tend to break and peel more easily than others — and don’t grow as fast. According to one recent study, researchers found that a group of women had fewer chipped nails after only one month of daily collagen supplementation. But that’s not all; their nails grew faster, too.
Benefit #9: Supports Heart Health
The incredible amino acid proline — which is found rich in collagen — helps the artery walls release fat buildup in the bloodstream, minimizing the fat in the arteries and minimizing fat accumulation. This essential amino acid is also needed for tissue repair within the arteries and joints and helps maintain healthy blood pressure.
Additionally, arginine (also found in collagen) assists with nitric oxide production, which allows for much better vasodilation — meaning the widening of arteries and relaxation of muscles and blood vessels that allows for better blood circulation.
While you might not think to take collagen to support your ticker — you should. Omega-3 fatty acids can also help to keep your heart in tip-top shape.
Benefit #10: Minimizes Scars
Do you have stretch marks, dark spots, scars from acne, or other skin issues? Thanks to collagen’s rich amino acid profile, collagen peptides can support healthy tissue formation, which helps your skin naturally repair itself.
Benefit #11: Improves Sleep
A surprising benefit to taking collagen peptides is the positive impact they can have on your slumber. This is because collagen is loaded with the amino acid glycine — an inhibitory neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system and helps us to unwind, de-stress and fall asleep.
What’s more, glycine assists in the creation of serotonin, a hormone that has a huge effect on not just your sleep but your mood, too. Your body needs serotonin to make melatonin (your sleep hormone), which helps your body know when it’s time to sleep and wake up. If serotonin becomes depleted, the rhythmic neural activity in your brain (aka circadian rhythms) can get disrupted and wreak havoc on your sleep-wake cycles.
In simpler terms, due to the glycine found in collagen, collagen powder just might be able to improve your ability to sleep deeply and soundly.
Pro Tip: If you need some help summoning the Sandman, we suggest a good collagen powder as well as Sleeping Beauty — a natural supplement made with melatonin, magnesium, and valerian root to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.* Simply take one or two capsules about an hour before bedtime, put on your Love Wellness Sleep Mask and catch some Zzzs.
A Final Word
If you’re looking for a great collagen powder to add to your daily supplement line-up, we recommend sticking with one that’s flavorless. Why? Because natural additives and flavors are made from chemicals originally found in foods but are then enhanced in a lab. In other words — they’re not actually “natural.”
For the best collagen, opt for an unflavored grass-fed collagen peptide powder, like Call Me Collagen. This top-of-the-line collagen powder is clinically proven to improve hair thickness, enhance skin surface structure, reduce cellulite, and support nail growth.* Plus, it’s sugar-free, zero-carb, paleo-friendly, and gluten-free. What’s not to love?
Here at Love Wellness, we believe in self-care that’s body positive and guided by doctors. Whether you need some help to calm your digestive system, enhance your complexion, support your vagina, or combat belly bloat, you can always count on us to have just what you need to feel amazing — inside and out.
From the best collagen powder on the market to probiotics and multivitamins, we’re your one-stop shop for the best women’s wellness and personal care products. Check us out today and see how we can help you to eat, sleep, feel and live better. Trust us; you’ll be glad you did!
Sources:
Collagen: What it is, Types, Function & Benefits | Cleveland Clinic