Collagen is a protein found in our skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, muscles, cartilage, blood vessels, eyes, teeth, hair, nails, and connective tissues. Collagen helps us stay young and strong.
The body produces its own collagen naturally over time, but some people don’t produce enough, or they break down too much.
This leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, and other signs of aging.
There are several ways to get collagen into your system. Some of them include taking collagen supplements, using cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections, and even having surgery.
What Exactly Is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in your body. It provides support and strength to your skin, hair, nails, teeth, blood vessels, cartilage, bone, and internal organs.
Your body produces a lot of pounds of it every day. You don’t even realize how much you’re producing because it’s distributed throughout your entire body.
There are 28 different varieties of collagen, but four are the most common. They are called type I, II, III, and IV, respectively.
Type I is the most common form, accounting for 90% of all collagen produced. It makes up everything from your skin to your tendons and ligaments.
Type II is primarily found in your joints and helps keep them flexible. Type III accounts for just 5% of total collagen production. It’s mostly found in your eye lens and cornea.
And type IV is present in very small amounts, usually less than 0.5%, and is found in your heart valves and umbilical cord.
How Long Does It Take For Collagen Supplements To Work?
Collagen supplements are popular because they’re easy to consume and inexpensive. But how long do you have to wait for collagen to work?
While some people notice positive changes in less than eight weeks, others report taking up to a year to feel significant benefits.
Most studies use a minimum of eight weeks to assess collagen’s effect on skin health and joint comfort, but other studies use much longer periods, like 12 months, for bone strengthening.
So, you should be patient about seeing results and allow at least eight weeks of consuming collagen daily before evaluating whether collagen is working for your specific needs.
You’ll know that it’s working when you start noticing improvements in your skin health, joint comfort, and/or bone strength.
Your Age Can Factor It
As we grow older, our bodies start to lose some of their natural production of collagen. Collagen is responsible for keeping our skin firm and elastic.
In fact, it helps keep us looking younger and longer. But how much does age play a part in the effectiveness of collagen products?
When you’re young, your skin produces enough collagen to help keep it firm and elastic. So if you take a collagen supplement at a very early stage, there probably isn’t anything noticeable happening.
However, once you reach middle age, your body begins to slow down in terms of producing collagen.
And since the average person reaches middle age around 30, most people are already experiencing symptoms like sagging skin and joint pain.
If you begin taking a collagen product at a later stage, you’ll likely notice benefits sooner. You might even notice improvements within the first few months.
But don’t wait too long because your body won’t continue to make as much collagen over time. By 40, you could notice signs of aging, such as wrinkles and deep creases.
It Depends On The Dosage
Collagen peptides are commonly used to help repair damaged skin and promote healthy joints. They work by stimulating growth factors that encourage cells to produce collagen.
In addition, they contain amino acids such as glycine and proline that aid in rebuilding connective tissue.
Because collagen is one of the main components of our bodies, it makes sense that a steady supply would be beneficial.
However, there is some evidence suggesting that too much collagen supplementation could actually lead to negative side effects.
What Are The Benefits Of Collagen Supplements?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins found in nature. It helps keep skin firm and supple, and it supports healthy joints and bones.
In fact, collagen is present in every single cell in our body. But you probably don’t know how much you’re consuming.
Improved Skin Health
Collagen is a major component in our bodies. It helps strengthen our bones and connective tissue, such as ligaments and tendons.
In addition, it provides support for joints and muscles, including those around the eyes. It also supports heart function and blood vessel walls.
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin. But some research suggests that supplementing with collagen may help reduce wrinkles and restore (see also: How To Restore Collagen In The Face)skin elasticity and a hydrated appearance.
Studies show that taking 3–10 g/day of collagen for about 2 months improved skin elasticity and hydrated appearance.
Other studies showed that people taking 10 g/day for 4 weeks had increased levels of collagen in their skin.
Are There Any Downsides Of Taking Collagen Supplements?
Collagen supplements are generally well-tolerated, with few reported side effects. However, some supplements are manufactured from common food allergens like fish, shellfish, or eggs.
These ingredients raise concerns about possible allergic reactions. In addition, some people experience gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, bloating, and heartburn.
– Although there are no known adverse events associated with the use of collagen supplements, it is important to note that many studies don’t include enough participants to draw definitive conclusions.
– Despite these limitations, there is little evidence to suggest that collagen supplements pose significant health risks.
Most of the evidence suggests that collagen supplements do not cause serious adverse events.
– Some studies have raised questions about whether collagen supplements affect bone density, but none have been able to confirm this association.
– Overall, there is limited evidence suggesting that collagen supplements could harm individuals’ health.
Final Thoughts
If you want to improve your overall health, then consider adding more collagen to your diet.
You can get plenty of collagen from foods like chicken, turkey, beef, pork, salmon, beans, lentils, tofu, soy milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, and other plant sources.
All aspects of health are incredibly important in keeping us at the top of our game when it matters most. But many people choose to ignore the health that they cannot see - including the gut, cognitive, respiratory, and more.
Hi, my name is Adam Maxwell and I have been a medical professional for over 20 years. My wife is also in the same field, having been a trained clinical psychologist for 15 years.
Between us, we have seen a fair amount of health-related issues!
