Collagen Powder
Not just a fad, it’s actually really good for you.
Guys, collagen is awesome. There are tons of health benefits that come from adding it to your daily routine. I'll give you a quick rundown of collagen here and you can decide for yourself if it's right for you.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a structural protein made up of amino acids. The collagen that has come out on the market in powder form, known as collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen, is typically taken from animal bones or the scales of fish. Peptides, or amino acids, found in collagen are where the goodies are at. Hydrolyzed just means that the amino acid chains have been broken down into smaller pieces making it easy to dissolve in liquids cold or hot.
What does collagen do?
I'm glad you asked! The amino acids found in collagen (glycine, proline, arginine, and glutamine) are what your body uses to build muscle, bones, cartilage, hair, nails, and why we're all here for it, skin!
Skin
Research has mainly been on the affects on joints but that hasn't stopped our anti aging obsessed society from saying, "joints, shmoints, give me young looking skin." They really do say that... But don't worry, the great news is our bodies production of collagen hydrolsate rapidly decreases as you age, starting around 30. Yay! There have been some studies on the affects of the skin and they are actually pretty promising. One study performed on 26 women showed that by adding just 1 gram of collagen daily over 12 weeks led to 76% reduction of dryness, 13% decrease in lines and wrinkles, and also increased their hemoglobin meaning improved micro-circulation. There was also a double blind study that showed taking 2.5–5 grams of collagen hydrolysate among women 35–55 daily for eight weeks significantly improved skin elasticity and skin moisture with little to no side effects. So yeah, worth it.
Joints
Collagen helps your body build cartilage which is a rubbery, smooth tissue that helps your joints move easily every which way. Because we slowly stop producing collagen, our cartilage can become weak or non existent. Studies have shown people suffering form osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis experienced less pain and swelling in their joints and an increase in daily activities and overall health by adding collagen to their daily diet. We're all going to be doing pilates well into our 90's, right? Great!
Gut
An amino acid called glycine, found in collagen peptides, has shown to reduce inflammation, aid in digestion, and resolve symptoms of leaky gut syndrome, IBD, and IBS. Not to mention all the amino acids in your tummy help regulate your hormone levels, especially cortisol levels (hi stress hormone!), which as someone with PCOS, this has helped a ton!
How Do I Use Collagen?
Use it in whatever! It’s tasteless and dissolves in any liquid, hot or cold. I usually put it in my morning coffee or matcha. Use it in smoothies, muffins, cookies, oatmeal, tea, or wine (jk don't put it in wine, trust me). Collagen also has the added benefit of supplying your body with 20 grams of protein, depending on brand, which is dope considering all the other great stuff it does. Below are a few recipes for you to try out with your shiny new collagen powder!
Matcha Latte:
2 Scoops Collagen
1 Tbsp Coconut Butter
2 Tbsp Almond Milk
8 oz Hot Water
Dash of Cinnamon
Blend or whisk all together and enjoy!
Turmeric Latte:
1 Tbsp Ghee
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
2 Scoops Collagen
8 oz Almond Milk (or any nut, seed, or coconut milk)
1 Tbsp Honey
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Cardamom
I heat all my ingredients in a small sauce pan until melted together and then pour and enjoy!
Vegan Collagen
One quick note on this. There are plant based collagens on the market and while it may be a good option for some, it may not do a whole lot for others. Plant based collagen helps your bodies natural production of collagen so if you're body has significantly slowed it's production or stopped, this might not do much. Animal collagen has already been produced by the animal and therefore can just be absorbed into your system. So choose what's right for you!
How are you guys using your collagen? Let me know any other questions and I'll do my best to answer. I want you BBs glowing and thriving!