5 Surprising Benefits of Collagen for Skin, Joints, and Gut Health
- Katie Bateman
- Nov 20, 2024
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Why this Supplement is more than just your Beauty BFF.
Whether you’re looking to improve your skin’s radiance, strengthen your joints, or promote healthier hair and nails, collagen supplements might just be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. Personally, I’ve seen amazing results, and I’m excited to share how collagen could help you too.
I started using collagen supplements three years ago, and in that time, the world of collagen has exploded. With hundreds of different products now on the market, it’s become clear to me that not all collagen supplements are created equal. Another fabulous discovery I’ve made is that, while the benefits to my skin, hair, and nails have been noticeable, I’ve also experienced some unexpected health benefits! If you've been considering adding this powerhouse supplement to your daily routine but don't know where to start, don't worry—I’ve got you covered.
The benefits of collagen, and why it’s worth considering:
1. Healthy, Glowing Skin:
A huge factor to the rise in popularity of Collagen is it's ability to promote healthy glowing skin!
As we age, our natural collagen production starts to decrease, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging. Collagen supplements help reduce those visible signs of aging by promoting skin elasticity and hydration. Who doesn’t want that youthful glow to stick around a bit longer?
Collagen supplements have been shown to significantly improve skin health by targeting various aspects of the aging process:
Enhances Skin Elasticity: As collagen levels naturally decline with age, skin loses its elasticity, resulting in sagging and wrinkles. Supplementing with collagen can help replenish these levels, leading to firmer, more supple skin. Studies suggest that oral collagen peptides can improve skin elasticity, especially in women over 35.
Increases Hydration: Collagen plays a crucial role in maintaining the skin's moisture levels. With age, the skin’s ability to retain moisture diminishes, contributing to dryness and dullness. By restoring collagen, the skin can retain more moisture, giving it a more youthful, plump appearance.
Reduces Wrinkles and Fine Lines: One of the major benefits of collagen supplementation is its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It helps boost the skin’s structural integrity by stimulating the body’s natural collagen production. This can lead to fewer visible wrinkles and smoother skin over time.
Promotes Overall Firmness: Collagen supplements not only work to repair existing damage but also help prevent future skin degradation. By supporting collagen synthesis and maintaining skin structure, these supplements can prevent further sagging and ensure skin stays firmer for longer.
These benefits collectively contribute to healthier, younger-looking skin, making collagen supplements a key player in anti-aging skincare.
2. Joint Support and Flexibility:
If you’ve ever experienced joint pain or stiffness, collagen can make a huge difference. It helps maintain the cartilage in your joints, reducing pain and improving your mobility—perfect for those of us who are active or just want to keep moving smoothly as we age.
Collagen supplementation can have significant benefits for joint and bone health, particularly as we age:
Reduces Joint Pain: Collagen plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of cartilage, the rubber-like tissue that protects joints. As natural collagen production decreases with age, cartilage deteriorates, leading to joint pain and stiffness, often seen in conditions like osteoarthritis. Supplementing with collagen may reduce inflammation in joints and provide relief from pain. Studies suggest that collagen peptides can help ease joint discomfort, improve joint mobility, and reduce overall joint pain, particularly after physical activity.
Improves Flexibility and Mobility: By boosting collagen levels, these supplements help maintain joint lubrication and cushioning, which can improve flexibility and ease of movement. This makes collagen beneficial for those who experience stiffness or reduced mobility, particularly after exercise or in aging populations.
Strengthens Bones: Collagen provides structure to bones, and as levels decline with age, bones may become more brittle and less dense, increasing the risk of fractures. Supplementing with collagen has been shown to stimulate bone formation and slow down the loss of bone mass, making it especially beneficial for post-menopausal women, who are at higher risk of osteoporosis due to a decrease in estrogen levels .
Supports Long-term Joint Health: Regular collagen supplementation helps in maintaining long-term joint health by promoting the repair of cartilage, reducing the risk of joint degeneration. This is especially important for athletes or those leading an active lifestyle who place more stress on their joints .
These benefits make collagen supplements a powerful tool for maintaining overall joint and bone health, helping to keep you active and pain-free as you age.
3. Muscle Repair and Growth:
Collagen is crucial for your muscles! It helps repair the tissue after exercise and promotes muscle mass, which is why it’s great for both recovery and strength building.
Collagen supplementation plays a significant role in supporting muscle mass and strength, especially for if you're involved in physical exercise or recovering from injury:
Supports Muscle Repair and Recovery: Collagen is rich in amino acids, particularly glycine and proline, which are essential for the repair and growth of muscle tissue. After exercise or injury, muscles undergo a natural breakdown, and collagen helps accelerate the recovery process by repairing muscle fibres and connective tissues. This makes it an excellent supplement if you do any sort of resistance training or are recovering from muscle injuries
Increases Muscle Mass: Collagen makes up a substantial portion of the body's muscle tissue, particularly in the tendons and ligaments that support muscles. Supplementing with collagen can help stimulate muscle growth by enhancing protein synthesis, which is key for building lean muscle mass. Studies have shown that individuals who combine collagen supplementation with resistance training can experience a greater increase in muscle mass compared to exercise alone .
Improves Muscle Function and Strength: Collagen's role in maintaining and repairing connective tissues that link muscles to bones (tendons) and stabilising ligaments can enhance muscle function. By ensuring that these connective tissues remain strong and resilient, collagen helps improve overall muscle performance and strength, making it a valuable tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
Preserves Muscle Mass in Aging: As we age, muscle mass naturally declines in a process known as sarcopenia. Collagen supplements can help slow this decline by promoting muscle protein synthesis and maintaining muscle integrity, which is especially beneficial for older adults looking to preserve muscle strength and prevent frailty.
4. Digestive health and gut repair:
Packed with essential amino acids, collagen works wonders for your digestive system in ways that might surprise you. Here’s how:
1. Strengthening Your Gut Lining
Think of collagen as a bricklayer for your gut wall. It fortifies the intestinal lining, which acts as your body’s gatekeeper, deciding what gets absorbed into your bloodstream and what stays out. This can reduce the risk of "leaky gut syndrome," a condition where harmful substances like toxins and bacteria sneak past a compromised gut barrier. A stronger gut lining means better digestion and improved immunity, as up to 70% of your immune cells reside in the gut.
2. Taming Inflammation
Digestive discomforts like bloating or IBS might feel like an unending battle, but collagen’s secret weapon, glycine, is here to help. With its potent anti-inflammatory properties, glycine soothes irritated tissues and calms inflammation in the digestive tract. This not only eases symptoms of gut-related conditions but also fosters a balanced environment for healthy gut flora.
3. Enhancing Digestion and Detoxification
Collagen attracts water and digestive enzymes, helping break down food more efficiently and ensuring nutrients are absorbed optimally. Plus, it supports regular elimination, making detoxification a seamless process for your body.
5. Hair thickness and nail strength:
Collagen plays a critical role in supporting the health of hair and nails, offering several benefits that make it a popular choice for those seeking to strengthen and improve their appearance.
1. Promotes Hair Strength and Growth
Collagen provides essential amino acids that the body uses to produce keratin, a key structural protein in hair. By boosting keratin production, collagen can strengthen hair strands and support their growth. Additionally, collagen enhances blood circulation in the scalp, delivering vital nutrients to hair follicles, which further promotes healthy hair growth.
2. Strengthens Nails and Reduces Brittleness
Regular collagen supplementation has been linked to stronger, more resilient nails. Studies indicate that collagen can significantly reduce nail breakage and improve nail growth by enhancing their strength and flexibility. It’s especially beneficial for those dealing with brittle or slow-growing nails.
3. Protects Hair Follicles From Damage
Collagen acts as an antioxidant, helping to neutralise free radicals that can damage hair follicles. This protection helps maintain the integrity of the follicles, reducing hair thinning and loss, particularly as natural collagen levels decline with age.
How Can You Tell if Your Collagen Supplement is Working?
Noticing the effects of a collagen supplement takes patience, as the results often develop over weeks or months. As I mentioned, Ive been using Collagen supplements consistently for 3 years and I've learned some key signs to look for, as well as tips for tracking your progress:
1. Improved Skin Texture and Hydration
One of the most noticeable early signs is smoother, more hydrated skin. Collagen supports skin elasticity and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. Regularly taking "before and after" photos can help you track subtle changes in your skin.
2. Stronger Hair and Nails
If you’ve been experiencing brittle nails or thinning hair, collagen may help by providing the amino acids needed for keratin production. Over a few months, you may notice faster nail growth, fewer breaks, and shinier, healthier-looking hair.
3. Reduced Joint Discomfort
For those taking collagen to support joint health, a decrease in stiffness or discomfort may be a positive sign. This benefit often becomes evident after 8-12 weeks of consistent supplementation.
4. Enhanced Overall Well-Being
Some people report a general improvement in their health, including better digestion, energy levels, or workout recovery. This can be due to collagen's role in supporting connective tissues throughout the body.
My Favourite Collagen Supplement and how to use it.
Over three years of trying many different Collagen supplements I've finally found one that provided huge bang for buck. After using Shaklee Collagen 9 for just 4 weeks I noticed significant improvement in my skin, hair and nail health as long as a noticeable improvement in my digestion and gut health.
In my opinion Shaklee Collagen 9 is head and shoulders above the other supps i've tried. Here are the key reasons to choose Shaklee over other Collagen supps.
. Complete Amino Acid Profile:
Shaklee’s Collagen-9 provides the complete set of building blocks necessary for optimal collagen synthesis. The product contains all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own, which are critical for various bodily functions, including tissue repair, muscle growth, and collagen production. This full amino acid profile ensures that your body has everything it needs to naturally boost collagen levels, contributing to healthier skin, stronger joints, and better overall health. Unlike other products that may only supply collagen peptides, Collagen-9 gives your body the full toolkit for holistic support
2. High-Quality Collagen Source
Each serving provides 10 grams of bovine collagen sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised animals, ensuring a high-quality and ethically sourced ingredient. This not only supports your health but also aligns with sustainable and responsible farming practices.
3. Clinically Proven Results:
Shaklee’s Collagen-9 undergoes rigorous clinical testing and meets high-quality standards, ensuring that every batch is pure, safe, and effective. The product is not just a collagen booster for skin—it has been shown to provide multifaceted benefits for hair, nails, and joints, supporting an overall youthful appearance and mobility. The research behind this product underscores its efficacy in promoting skin elasticity, hydration, and joint health, making it an all-in-one solution for your anti-aging and wellness needs.
In short, Shaklee’s Collagen-9 offers a holistic approach to collagen supplementation by combining marine-based collagen with essential amino acids, ensuring superior absorption and a full range of benefits for skin, joints, hair, and nails. This makes it an industry leader in collagen supplements.
Delicious Collagen Ceremonial Cacao recipe.
One of my absolute fave ways to incorportae Collagen into every day is to blend it with my morning beverage. Some days thats coffee others it's in this incredibly nourishing Ceremonial Cacao recipe. Click here To see the Recipe.
Tips for Assessing Results
- Be Consistent: Collagen works best when taken daily at the recommended dose (usually 5-10 grams for general health benefits).
- Choose Quality: Ensure your supplement is hydrolyzed for optimal absorption and derived from trusted sources (e.g., grass-fed bovine or wild-caught marine collagen).
- Set Realistic Expectations: It can take 4-12 weeks to see visible results, as collagen supports gradual repair and strengthening processes in your body.
By staying consistent and tracking your changes, you'll better understand how your collagen supplement is working for you.
Incorporating collagen into your diet—whether through powders, broths, or supplements—could be the wellness upgrade you’ve been searching for.
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