Collagen gives our skin a youthful appearance and is present in bones, cartilage, hair, skin, and our digestive system, among other things. When it comes to taking collagen supplements, you might wonder: what are the best ways to take collagen for skin?
So, why do people take collagen supplements? Just to look younger? Probably not. These supplements also deliver health benefits.
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Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements
#1 Adds what your body loses as a result of aging
Collagen is the protein that glues your body together, making up about a third of your body’s proteins. As we start our thirties and forties, our body becomes slow in producing natural collagen. This is why people take its supplements – to replace the amount of collagen or protein your body is failing to make or losing.
#2 Boosts elasticity in the skin
Among the many benefits of collagen for health, skin health is most popular and researched. Many research studies and experiments have shown that patients who took collagen supplements have improved skin elasticity and better ability to hold moisture and smooth wrinkles.
Collagen supplements are considered as a step in holding on to slowly losing youthful appearance.
#3 Reduces Joint Aches and Pains
Although researchers haven’t provided clear evidence on how collagen can reduce joint pain or aches, some evidence says collagen can improve joint pain and support connective tissues. According to a study in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism in 2017, athletes who had knee pain experienced reduced joint pain after committing 5g of collagen peptides regularly for 12 weeks.
#4 Have healthy bones
Bone mineral density decrease is associated with your age. The older you become, it reduces. Collagen peptides seemed to increase bone density in candidates who were participating in a trial. According to researchers, collagen stimulates bone formation as it slows down bone loss.
#5 Hair Growth
Hair loss or issues are one of the most common problems we go through as we age. While men can suffer from hair loss, women experience dullness, thinning and hair loss. Hair Care treatments like shampoo, serums, or oil can be effective to an extent, but collagen supplements are known for their effectiveness if you are looking for a full-proof option. Collagen is also known to promote strong nails.
Best Ways To Take Collagen Supplements
Collagen supplements come in many forms, and depending on your purpose, there can be many ways to take collagen.
Capsule
One of the old-school ways to take collagen is through capsules or tablets. It’s a popular form because the amount is already pre-defined and rightly dosed, so you don’t have to guess how much collagen to take.
Capsules are flavorless. The only thing you need is a glass of water to take it, so you don’t have to bother with mixing or scooping.
However, some people do not choose this form since they feel the amount of one capsule is less, while two capsules might be too much for them.
While pills are utterly convenient, they may also be less easily absorbed than liquid or powder collagen. For this reason, capsules are not always the best way to ingest collagen.
Drinking collagen
You may wonder how to drink collagen? Whether they’re ready-to-drink or ready to mix with the liquid of your choice, taking collagen supplements in liquid form is one of the less popular but simplest ways to consume them. However, since the concentration is not always quantifiable, it is not always easier to dose.
Collagen peptides are what make up liquid collagen, which makes it easier to absorb and use by the body.
If you don’t enjoy scooping and mixing powder, this is a hassle-free solution since you can carry the bottle with you wherever you go.
Liquid collagen is known to have good flavor, which can make taking collagen a lot pleasant. Some brands also come up with collagen shots, making the dosage tastier and healthful.
As a downside, if a pre-made drink or mix doesn’t taste good to you, you’ll have to try a few more until you find the best one.
Powdered collagen
Most collagen supplements are available in powder form because this is considered the best way to absorb collagen.
Hydrolyzed collagen (collagen broken down into amino acids that can dissolve easier) makes up powdered collagen, which is easier for the body to digest than other protein supplements.
Whether it is your morning coffee or food, you can easily include collagen peptide powders in your diet. Further, it dissolves in hot and cold foods, so you can add it to smoothies, tea, soups, sauces, oatmeal, and confectionery. You will soon forget that it is a supplement if you mix it into your daily routine, making it an everyday part of your lifestyle.
There is only one con to collagen powder: it can have a noticeable taste and an off aftertaste, depending on what you mix it with.
Whole food
Most collagen supplements are derived from either ‘marine’ (fish scales) or ‘bovine’ (cows or buffalo) as the original animal source. As not everyone would like to consume animal skin or bones, bone broth provides an easy and nutritious way to consume collagen.
You get more nutrients and amino acids by getting collagen from food sources since they are less processed. They are less concentrated, though. While you’ll need to drink bone broth every day, collagen supplements give you more flexibility.
If you’re looking to improve the health of your skin or joints, bone broth is not the ideal option since it contains less collagen.
Skincare
Collagen is the most-hyped element in skincare. Because collagen doesn’t penetrate the skin as well as other ingredients, skincare products typically contain low concentrations of it.
Topical collagen application can result in a temporary, more youthful appearance, but taking collagen supplements yields better results. It’s why so many products are marketed as “collagen-boosting” instead of containing collagen.
Pick creams that contain ingredients that help with collagen production, such as green tea, vitamin C, functional keratin, astaxanthin, and pycnogenol.
To make collagen skincare work for you, follow a diet rich in collagen. Consume foods rich in Vitamin C and Beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the effects of cell damage, along with ingredients that stimulate your skin’s own collagen synthesis.
Injection
Collagen injection is made from bovine collagen, which is nearly identical to what humans produce. If you follow celebrity news or beauty enthusiasts, most fillers, such as lip fillers and under-eye fillers, contain collagen.
Collagen injections can help you reduce fine lines and wrinkles or even reduce acne scars. The injections will generate the same results as natural collagen, resulting in plump, youthful skin.
With any cosmetic procedure, there is a possibility of side effects, including skin redness, discomfort, itching, swelling, bleeding, bruising, and in the worst case, infection at the injection site.
If you decide to get collagen injections, look for a well-trained professional who has experience with the procedure. As well, you should realize that you may need multiple injections to achieve the desired results.
How to Choose a Collagen Supplement According to your Needs
For any type of collagen, look for one sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised animals or wild-caught fish. It should be free of any fillers or additives.
- For skin and joint-related problems, collagen peptide powders and liquids can be more effective due to their higher concentrations.
- For a collagen boost without adding extra nutrients to your diet, consider bone broth. However, note that you must consume a large amount to notice any results.
How Much Collagen Should You Take a Day?
The ideal amount of collagen supplement your body should take in a day depends on the type or form of collagen supplement. Although there are no restricted guidelines on the amount, you can still absorb the ideal amount.
- Gelatin: You can take 1-2 scoops of powdered gelatin or 1-2 pieces in the case of a pill or gummy supplements.
- Undenatured collagen: 10-40 milligrams of undenatured collagen is considered ideal for joint pains
- Hydrolyzed collagen: 2.5-15 grams of hydrolyzed collagen regularly can boost skin, bone, and hair health.
If you are taking peptides you can mix 1-2 scoops into 4-8oz of any drink of your choice. Add your preferred sugar-free flavoring to give it a pleasant taste. We recommend Naked Collagen Peptides Protein Powder that contains only one ingredient: peptides derived from European pasture-raised Bovine hide. There is no odor, no taste, and it is easy to mix into your favorite beverages.
When to take collagen?
While many believe that taking collagen on an empty stomach can max out the benefits, the truth is that it doesn’t matter. The bottom line is, there’s no ideal time to take collagen — take it whenever you want.
Can you do anything else to make collagen more effective?
If you want your collagen supplement to work more effectively:
Start adding vitamin C-rich foods to your diet, use aloe vera gel, or hyaluronic acid serums.
Consider reducing your sugar intake. Sugar attaches itself to fats and proteins in the skin, resulting in enzymes that weaken the collagen and elastin fibers.
While it is popular to mix collagen into teas and coffees, it might be better not to overindulge in caffeine per day. According to a small study, caffeine inhibits collagen synthesis within fibroblasts.
The bottom line
Now you know the best ways to take collagen for your skin and boost its effectiveness. For starters, it’s best to use peptide powders, and for only cosmetic purposes, try collagen injections.
An everyday dose of collagen supplement will yield quick and reliable results, making it the best route to take for glowing skin, flexible joints, and strong hair.
At first, you won’t see dramatic results immediately, especially if your skin is still in good condition. Having said that, if you can tell that your collagen production has declined, after a few weeks, you’ll notice that your skin is plumper and bouncy.
With long-term collagen supplementation, your skin is not going to stay young forever but the process will be slowed.
