5 Quick And Helpful Facts About Collagen
by Marissa Pomerance
We wrote an opus on collagen for those of you that need all the information. But if you want the quick and dirty facts (like, “does it work?”), keep reading.
1. Collagen is V important.
Collagen is a protein crucial to the overall healthy functioning of our cells. Generally, proteins perform a bunch of functions within each cell, like bringing in nutrients, carrying out waste, and building muscle and connective tissues.
Collagen, specifically, creates fibers for muscle, cartilage, tendons, connective tissue, and digestive lining.
2. It comes in many convenient forms.
Collagen can be found naturally in certain foods we eat, and also comes in supplements, pills, powders, and chews.
3. Ingesting collagen might work.
So far, there just haven’t been enough studies done on the effects of ingestible collagen to say, definitively, whether ingestible collagen makes a real difference.
Though adding a collagen powder to your daily smoothie seems like it should immediately give you glowing, youthful skin, the problem is that collagen, when it enters the bloodstream, doesn’t always go where you’d like it to.
Instead, it’ll go where it’s most needed—skin, hair, bones, etc. But often, it’s barely absorbed into the bloodstream at all. Only a tiny amount of ingested collagen makes it into the bloodstream to be used by cells. So, keep in mind the importance of dosage and absorption when ingesting collagen.
Having said that, there are plenty of women who swear by the effects of ingestible collagen, believing it improved the appearance of their hair, skin, and nails. So if you want to give it a try, we really wouldn’t blame you.
4. Even if ingestible collagen isn’t scientifically proven (yet) to change my life, there probably aren’t too many drawbacks, either.
The FDA doesn’t regulate collagen pills, powders, and chews, which means their purity and efficacy haven’t been fully guaranteed by these governmental agencies. However, there are other organizations that provide third-party testing, quality control, and labeling.
Thankfully, most clinicians agree that there isn’t much of a downside to trying ingestible collagen, as long as it comes from a reputable source. Some experts recommend high quality bovine collagen peptides, as long as they come from organic, grass-fed cows. Similarly, marine collagen should be non-GMO and wild caught.
If you’re still worried about finding safe collagen supplements, Consumer Labs has a detailed report on different collagen powders and supplements, which they reviewed, compared, and tested.
5. There are natural ways to get more collagen.
Ingesting collagen through food and diet is a healthy alternative to non-regulated collagen supplements.
Here are a few effective ways to promote collagen production:
Bone Broth: Homemade bone broths made from beef, turkey, or chicken bones are great, natural sources of collagen and protein.
Avoid sun exposure and smoking: If youthful, radiant skin is what you seek, then you know the drill. Stay out of the sun and stop smoking—these things are wrecking you.
Get plenty of protein: People who respond best to collagen supplements were also the people who had the least amount of protein in their diets, meaning a diet rich in protein, eggs, and dairy will give you plenty of collagen to begin with.
So look, as much as we want to believe that ingestible collagen is absolutely the fountain of youth— and pop every collagen pill, gummy, and tablet we come across— we’re just not there yet.
But. We still might add a spoonful of high-quality collagen powder to the occasional smoothie, just in case. Couldn’t hurt, right?
Marissa Pomerance is the Managing Editor of The Candidly. She’s a Los Angeles native and lover of all things food, style, beauty, and wellness. You can find more of her articles here.
