Collagen: What Is It, And How Does It Benefit Your Health?
Reading Time: 5 minutes
From poor gut health to wrinkled skin to aching joints — there’s no end to the list of problems for which collagen is often touted as a panacea.
It’s no surprise, then, that a Global Market Insights report forecasts the global collagen industry to balloon to more than $6 billion by 2026 as more consumers become inclined towards healthy living.
Even now, there’s an abundance of collagen products in the market — shots, capsules, powders, even coffee creamers! — all said to combat the effects of aging. But what exactly is this supposed wonder protein anyway?
What is collagen?
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As the most abundant protein in your body, collagen acts as your skin’s scaffolding, keeping it taut, elastic, and structured. It also makes up a significant part of your tendons, ligaments, and muscles, ensuring your body’s connective tissues can withstand strain and stretching.
However, after you reach the age of 25, your body begins to break down collagen faster than it can create it. According to Elle magazine, this results in an average decrease of collagen production by 1.5% per year.
It’s only natural, then, to take in more collagen to fill that shortage, right?
Well, not exactly. Before you go around praising collagen as the holy grail of healthcare, there are a couple of caveats you need to note. For one, ingesting collagen isn’t the same as increasing collagen production, as your digestive juices will destroy some of that protein in your gut.
Furthermore, research surrounding collagen’s effects have been inconclusive, as many intervening factors in the available scientific literature need to be taken into account.
But don’t let these caveats put you off! Collagen does appear to have benefits, backed by both anecdotal and laboratory evidence. Read on to find out what these are.
What are the health benefits of collagen?
First and foremost, collagen is good for your skin. Better skin health, reduced wrinkles, and a rosier complexion are among the benefits many collagen users frequently rave about. Pretty Me’s review of Frozen Collagen supplements explains that collagen helps cleanse the body by eliminating free radicals and improving cellular processes.
Though the research to back this up is still in its infancy, a PubMed review of previous studies on collagen concludes that the use of oral collagen supplements, both in the short and long term, shows promising effects on wound healing and combatting skin aging.
It protects your joints. A Well+Good feature on collagen powder notes that athletes who drank a collagen hydrolysate supplement experienced less joint pain than their peers who took a placebo. This is good news for both young and elderly individuals looking to take collagen supplements to address joint pain.
Additionally, a Good Housekeeping article explains that studies on collagen for joint health date back to around the early '90s, making it more complete than other areas of collagen research. Most of the studies have pointed to collagen ingestion as a way to mitigate arthritis symptoms, though how exactly this happens remains to be explored.
It boosts your immune system. Our post on Supporting Your Immune System outlines a few ways to build a robust defence against pathogens and illnesses. Aside from eating a balanced diet and practicing stress management, one more way you can do that is by taking collagen supplements.
This is because collagen contains glutamine, a critical amino acid that promotes cell healing and immune cell production. It does this by providing fuel for white blood cells and specific intestinal cells, mobilizing the body’s natural defence mechanism against sickness.
Due to the unique amino acid profile of collagen, I also recommend some of my clients add a collagen protein powder to their morning routine. It can help repair gut mucosa and support a brain-healthy diet while adding a little extra protein that most people don’t seem to get enough of.
As you can see, there are plenty of potential benefits to taking collagen supplements. And though most studies would dispute this, there’s a growing body of evidence and research to suggest otherwise.
Conclusion
Collagen definitely has its place in helping support gut health, proper skin and joint health, immune system function, and shows promise in combatting skin aging.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and value your feedback. Let me know how you use collagen, and tell me what you think by dropping me a line or commenting below.
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[Medical Disclaimer]
All information contained in this document is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent health problems. For all serious health issues, please contact a medical or nutrition practitioner. The information provided is based on the best knowledge of the author at the time of writing, and we do not assume liability for the information, be it direct or indirect, consequential, special exemplary, or other damages. In all circumstances, it is always wise to consult your physician before changing your diet, taking supplements, or starting any exercise or health program.