Collagen is one of the most important proteins in your body that primarily keep your skin healthy and prevents premature aging. Collagen is the major component of connective tissues that creates several body parts, like tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles. Apart from that collagen has several important body functions, which include providing the skin with structure and strengthening the bones.
Over the past few years, along with collagen lotions, collagen supplements have become widely popular. Collagen supplements are hydrolyzed, which means that the collagen will break down and will become easily absorbable. Consuming collagen may have several health benefits, like relieving joint paint or enhancing the skin texture and health, while some of them are myths too.
Here in this article, we will discuss some of the science-backed benefits of collagen consumption.
Collagen can improve skin health
From strengthening the skin to skin elasticity and hydration, collagen plays a major role in taking care of your skin health. As you age, your body loses the efficiency of collagen production, which leads to dry and wrinkly skin.
Multiple studies have shown that collagen peptides can help slow down aging by providing the much-needed collagen to the body. So, if you want to make the best collagen drink, you will have to consume 2.5-5gms of collagen supplement for 8-10 weeks that will increase the skin elasticity significantly. A recent study has shown that if you can drink a beverage mixed with a collagen supplement, the hydration will be increased within 10-12 weeks.
The consumption of collagen will have an impact to stimulate the production of elastin and fibrillin, which will have a wrinkle-removing effect on your body.
Collagen consumption relieves joint pain
Collagen helps to maintain the well being of your cartilage, which a rubbery tissue that protects your joints. As mentioned-above the collagen production will decrease as you will get older, so it will also affect your joints, causing osteoarthritis.
Some studies have backed the point by stating that taking a collagen supplement can improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis and overall joint pain.
Collagen consumption prevents bone loss
Our bones mostly consist of collagen, which gives them the structure while keeping them strong. Like collagen production, bone mass also deteriorates as you age. If bone loss becomes a continuous process, then you will be prone to bone fractures.
Researches show that bone mineral density or BMD can increase up to 7% if you start taking collagen supplements regularly. BMD is a measure of the density of minerals one has in their body, such as calcium. If the BMD is lower in your body, you will suffer from more bone losses and it can lead to serious osteoarthritis.
Collagen supplement can boost muscle mass and promotes heart health
Collagen is necessary to keep your bone muscles strong and functioning accurately. Studies have shown that people suffering from sarcopenia, which means muscle loss with age, can improve muscle mass by consuming collagen drink regularly.
Some of the researches have shown good prospects that collagen supplements can help an individual to keep their heart healthy and functioning. Though the studies are still going on, collagen consumption can prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Some other health benefits of collagen supplements are,
- Strong hair and nails
- Healthy gut
- Brain boosting
- Weight loss
Collagen supplements: Side effects
Though consuming collagen supplement is considered to be safe, there are minor side effects associated with it. As the collagen supplements are made out of food, it may cause allergies and heartburn.
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