What is collagen?
It is a rigid, insoluble, fibrous protein that creates one-third of the protein in the human body. Molecules get crammed together to form extended, thin fibrils in most collagen. They serve as support structures and connect cells. They give resilience and elasticity to the skin.
What are the benefits of collagen?
- Dietary supplements help replace what gets naturally lost with aging
It is the “glue” that keeps your body together. Studies show that it makes up about one-third of your body’s protein. Your body creates less collagen after your 30s and 40s. Its peptides incorporated into your diet can help support your overall health by replacing what your body starts to lack as it ages.
- Collagen is an easy-to-digest protein source
Your body functions hard to digest proteins such as chicken and beef, and some individuals suffer from digestive signs such as belching and abdominal pain after eating. However, collagen supplements get hydrolyzed. In other words, collagen gets broken down, making it more manageable for the body to digest. Collagen supplements may be a more convenient way to add protein to your diet. Collagen peptide is relatively easy to use in everyday foods because it dissolves in water during hydrolysis.
- Collagen helps relieve joint pain
Joint discomfort can make exercise difficult, taking you off track to your goals. Taking collagen supplements will support you to get back on track. There is evidence that collagen may get better at sustaining connective tissue and relieving post-exercise joint pain. For example, a study issued in January 2017 discovered that athletes with knee discomfort who took 5 g of collagen peptide daily for 12 weeks had minor joint pain during a workout than the placebo group. Oral collagen helps repair cartilage and also has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Oral supplements can promote gut health
There is a gut-healing theory for collagen in inflammatory digestive disorders like IBD or irritable bowel disease. Some studies have shown that patients with these conditions have reduced collagen levels. Consuming collagen can help correct the deficiency. A study issued in May 2017 uncovered that people with IBD have an imbalance between the construction and destruction of collagen fibers, which is associated with inflammation. Past studies have shown that people with IBD have reduced serum collagen type IV levels. Collagen is part of the connective tissue that makes up the colon and gastrointestinal tract, so increasing your collagen levels can create a favorable atmosphere for your body to recover. If you wonder, Do collagen supplements actually work? It could be one of the benefits of using a supplement or diet to boost collagen intake.
- Peptides can keep bones healthy
Bone density declines with age, particularly after menopause (in women). In a randomized study of 102 postmenopausal women, participants taking collagen peptides for one year had elevated bone mineral density compared to controls. Researchers hypothesized that collagen stimulates bone formation, slowing bone loss.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and gets located in bones, muscles, skin, and tendons.
