5 Benefits Of Supplementing Your Diet With Collagen

All of us desire to stay looking younger and feel better. Adding collagen supplements to your diet can replace the collagen that you slowly lose when you reach your 20s. Supplementing your diet with this vital protein is worth the health benefits it provides. You have a lot of reasons to start supplementing your diet with collagen.

Its benefits range from your skin to your hair. You will not only begin to look younger but will also feel much better as well. Here’s a rundown of the top five benefits of taking collagen supplements with your diet.

1Less Gray Hair

The greying of your hair is a natural process and is mostly genetically influenced; however, free radical damage can significantly accelerate this process. Melanin pigment provides natural color to our hair and is found in certain organelles known as melanosomes, produced by melanocytes. While only circumstantial evidence exists to date, it is shown that melanocytes can be damaged by reactive oxygen, thus also affecting melanin synthesis. Collagen can help reduce the damage caused by free radicals, which are oxygen atoms with unpaired electrons in the body.

Studies have shown collagen’s antioxidant capabilities; however, this could be or could not be relevant since test-tube studies are way different from the real environment. If upcoming studies validate the ability of collagen’s antioxidant properties, taking collagen supplements, therefore, can help minimize premature hair greying. Increasing the structure of hair follicles reduces the appearance of grey hairs.

2Stimulating Hair Growth

As you get older, it’s not only your collagen production that will diminish but as well as your hair. A deficiency in keratin, which is a fibrous structural protein that primarily makes up your hair, could partly be causing hair loss. And collagen, with its amino acid elements, can help produce keratin.

Similar to all dietary proteins, collagen can be used to create new compounds and proteins by breaking them down into amino acids. And like all animal proteins, collagen is made up of three nonessential amino acids glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. In connection with this, your body is capable of making the nonessential amino acids, which are composed of 11 amino acids, but you must obtain the other nine essential amino acids from your diet.

3Easing Joint Pain

Collagen constitutes a significant part of our cartilage. As we age, achy joints can be a common issue, and taking collagen supplements has been proven to boost joint health. In 2009, a study was made on a group of 52 people who used a type II collagen supplement for three months. The study’s results exhibited not only a 40% decline in arthritic symptoms but also a 33% reduction in their severity. A similar study was also conducted way back in 1993, where 60 patients who have severe rheumatoid arthritis were given type II collagen supplementation in random double-blind testing.

Four patients out of the entire group were reported to have achieved complete remission from the condition. A significant decrease in the number of swollen and tender joints was also observed for those who have collagen supplementation. Collagen supplementation provides an effective way of minimizing inflammation and relieving pain for people dealing with joint-related health issues.

4Reduction Of Cellulite

Cellulite is a fat deposit that appears like a lumpy area beneath the skin. Aging is the reason behind the appearance of cellulite in 80-90% of women. Luckily, collagen can significantly help treat cellulite. A study was carried out on 105 women between 24 to 50 years old who used a collagen regimen for half a year.

The study results showed evident improvements in the skin appearance of women with moderate cellulite issues. Data suggests that collagen can improve skin health, minimize cellulite appearance, and serve as a therapy. Thus, collagen supplementation can diminish cellulite problems, leaving you with silky, smooth, and younger-looking skin.

5For Skin Care

For sure, you have walked down the skincare section at a health food store. Notice that collagen will probably be a conspicuous feature in most supplements due to its capacity to boost skin health. Making sure that your collagen levels are in check will give you more youthful, glowing skin. Our skin tends to lose its elasticity as we age, causing wrinkles to appear. Another study was conducted, which focused on 114 women between 45 to 65 years old who received a bioactive collagen peptide or a placebo for two months.

The results showcased a significant statistical reduction in the volume of eye wrinkles in the collagen group. This has led to the conclusion that collagen can be a form of skincare product that can effectively help us look younger with just fewer wrinkles. Thus, taking collagen supplements results in youthful and glowing skin.

You have learned several points on how beneficial collagen is for maintaining your health in this article. While collagen is a naturally produced protein in the body, it can be increased through food intake or supplementation. There are many common foods you can eat that contain high levels of collagen, which can help you counterbalance low collagen problems. Supplementation is an effective way to make sure that you have sufficient collagen in your body if you’re not able to get enough through your diet. It is quite such good news to know that the natural collagen in your body that can diminish over time can be easily augmented through supplementation or diet.

Supplementing is worth your time and money for the health benefits you get. Enhanced skin moisturization, wrinkle reduction, as well as joint pain relief are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy. Collagen supplementation will not only make you look younger, but it will also make you feel much better!