Who doesn’t want healthy bones, joints, and improved digestion--with the added benefits of healthy skin, hair and nails? Collagen supplements have really started to become popular over the past few years, and many people have been able to achieve their wellness goals as a result of taking them. But should you include this supplement into your daily routine? And if you do, what are the best collagen supplements on the market that you can take? Well good thing you’ve come to the right place with these questions, because we’re going to discuss:
- What is collagen and why should you take a supplement?
- What are the best collagen supplements you can take?
What Are Collagen Supplements and Should You Use Them?
This popular supplement is taken for a variety of different reasons
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in your body and it is responsible for keeping your hair, nails, and skin looking youthful and vibrant. More importantly it is also one of the major building blocks of muscles, ligaments, bones, as well as corneas and teeth. There are many kinds of collagen available in the body, and each perform specific tasks, however the most common are:
- Type I. The most common variety of collagen (over 90% of the collagen in your body is this variety) that assists with skin, bones, and connective tissues.
- Type II. This collagen type is associated with keeping joints feeling their best as we age.
- Type III. Helps with the structures of muscles, organs, and blood vessels, and increases our blood clotting ability.
- Type IV. This type of collagen aids with the kidneys and filtration as well as with wound healing and the development of embryos.
- Type V. Found in skin and in placentas, this collagen type is crucial to neonatal development.
It’s nice to know that there are all kinds of collagen varieties that are helping our body function at its best. However, the catch is that collagen production decreases as we age. Not only do our bodies produce less collagen, but the collagen that it does produce is of a lesser quality. So what are we to do? Well, why not investigate whether or not taking a collagen supplement might be a good idea!
Although one of the first noticeable signs of aging is our skin--it becomes less firm--we also tend to find ourselves with some extra aches and pains in our joints. Our muscles may lose mass and become weaker, and we may notice our hair and nails just don’t feel as strong as they used to. Adding a collagen supplement to your daily routine might be a good idea if you’d like to experience some of its benefits:
- Healthier looking skin
- Less joint pain
- Boost muscle mass and decrease bone loss
- Better looking hair and nails
If any of those sound like some of your wellness goals, then a collagen supplement might be right for you.
Key takeaways:
- Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body and assists with bodily processes such as skin health, organ structures, and healthy bones and muscles.
- Collagen production decreases with age.
- By taking a collagen supplement, you might be able to fight the signs of aging such as wrinkled skin and bone loss.
How Can You Increase Your Collagen Intake?
Add collagen to your routine with a supplement or with food
Since we lose collagen as we age, it makes sense to make taking it a part of your day--whether as a supplement or through food.
- Supplements. There are all kinds of collagen supplements out there, so make sure to do your research! Decide whether you’d prefer to take capsules or powder, and make sure you know where the collagen comes from. Some are animal-derived, while others are marine-derived. It pays to take the time and research a couple of brands to ensure you’re getting not only the types of collagen you want, but that it’s coming from documented and reputable sources.
- Food. Another option is to add items to your diet that contain a good amount of collagen. You can increase items such as chicken, fish, eggs, bone broth, leafy greens, beans, avocados, and cashews. While this list is not exhaustive, it can give you a good place to start should you choose to add more collagen through your diet.
Top Collagen Supplements
On the market for collagen supplements? Try these
Dr. Emil Multi-Collagen Plus
Get the benefits of five types of collagen in the convenience of a capsule. The collagen in this supplement comes from beef, marine, chicken, and eggshell sources, and is designed to work fast. These collagen capsules are also enhanced with a black pepper extract in order to aid with absorption, ensuring you’re getting all the collagen you need for better looking skin and nails, as well as strong joints and better gut health.
Wild Foods Wild Collagen Peptides
If you’d prefer to get your collagen through a powder mixed in with your favorite smoothie or soup, then Wild Foods collagen powder is the way to go. Simply scoop out the recommended dosage and add it to tea, coffee, a smoothie, soup, stews, or any one of your favorite recipes! Not interested in a taste? No worries, this powder is tasteless so you can get your collagen while you enjoy your favorite foods and drinks.
Orgain Collagen Peptides
Looking for an organic collagen powder that leaves out all the other stuff? Well, then Orgain powder might be right for you. It consists of grass-fed bovine collagen peptides with no sugar, gluten, soy, or dairy added. You can mix it in your favorite shake or add to your morning coffee without worrying about an aftertaste!
If you decide to add collagen to your lifestyle it’s important to make a routine of it--that means remembering to take it each day! Whether you choose capsules or powder, you’ll be on your way to enjoying healthier skin, hair, and nails, as well as stronger joints and muscles. Who can say no to that?
