Golden Years Bliss presents: how collagen supplements can improve your life!
Collagen is a wonderful protein that is found in your muscles, bones, skin, and many other body parts. This wonderful nutrient prevents bone loss, relieves joint pain, improves your skin, nails, and hair health, and fuels your body with the right things.
While your body can naturally produce collagen, aging and different lifestyle factors make it harder for your body to create it. As you can imagine, the proteins you already have in your body begin to break down, and you notice you start feeling pain in your joints; your ligaments, tendons, muscles, and skin aren’t as strong as they used to be. That’s no good.
You can avoid these side effects by consuming foods that are rich in this collagen, such as bone broth, meat on the bone (skin, bone, cartilage, and joint material), eggs and eggshell membranes, and certain organ meats, or you can take collagen supplements. Most of them are hydrolyzed, which means that the collagen has been broken down, so your body can absorb it faster and better. You can find these collagen supplements in capsules or as powders, and they will change your life.
Now that you know more about what happens in your body and how to get that collagen intake from your diet, it’s time to dive deep into your subject. Without further ado, let’s talk about all the amazing benefits of taking collagen supplements!
1. Prevent bone loss
As we’ve already discussed in our introduction, your bones are mainly made of collagen, and while your body can produce it with ease, this changes with aging. Unfortunately, this can lead to osteoporosis, which is known for causing low bone density and putting you at a higher risk of bone fractures.
According to research, consuming collagen supplements can help your body stop this dangerous bone breakdown. Experts wanted to know more about the effects this has, and they studied its effects for 12 months. In the trial, a group of postmenopausal women was divided into sub-groups: one group took a vitamin D and calcium supplement with 5 grams of collagen, and another group took a vitamin D and calcium supplement with no collagen.
Compared to those who only took vitamin D and calcium, those who took both of those supplements with collagen had fewer blood levels of proteins that encourage bone loss. If you’re into clinical studies and their discoveries, you should try taking collagen supplements to make you feel better and healthier.
2. Boost your muscle mass
Experts say that collagen makes up around 1–10% of your muscle tissue, and if you work out a lot or just want to preserve your muscle mass as you age, taking collagen supplements is going to help you with that. This incredible protein is important for helping your muscles be strong and function properly, and thanks to its great properties, it can boost the synthesis of muscle proteins like creatine, promoting growth.
3. Keep your skin hydrated
If you want gorgeous skin that looks plump, hydrated, and smooth, you need to include collagen supplements in your diet. This wonderful protein is known for improving skin elasticity and hydration in older people, and if you have issues with wrinkles, it will minimize their appearance.
4. Improve your heart health
Another reason you should include collagen supplements in your diet is that they can help you improve your heart health. According to experts, this great protein can help maintain the shape of your blood vessels and arteries. When your body can’t produce enough collagen and doesn’t get its requirements from elsewhere, it can weaken your arteries.
Moreover, when your blood vessels are too fragile, your body is at a higher risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. So take your collagen supplements, make sure you have an active lifestyle and a healthy diet, and you’ll be on top of your game for many years to come!
5. Make your hair thick
If you have problems with thin hair or hair loss, taking collagen supplements will drastically change this awful situation. In one study, a group of women who had issues with their hair took collagen supplements daily and noticed a pretty big difference in a couple of months.
They said that their hair was stronger, longer, and thicker, and their scalps had more coverage than before. Keep in mind that you need to be consistent with taking your supplements if you want to see a major difference, and it can take a while, depending on different factors in your body. Be patient; the results will come!
6. Have stronger nails
Some people have fragile nails that can easily chip and break, while others are naturally blessed with strong ones. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be a problem for you anymore because experts discovered that taking collagen supplements daily can improve the quality and strength of your nails. Moreover, they’ll also grow faster, and you’ll notice fewer chipped nails so that manicure is going to look wonderful from now on!
If you want to get the amazing benefits of collagen while giving your delicious coffee a subtle vanilla taste, I recommend you check out this creamer from Vital Proteins! It tastes amazing and will make your beverage feel as satisfying as a snack!
7. Reduce osteoarthritis pain
We’ve previously said that collagen supplements can help you maintain your bone density and reduce your risk of osteoarthritis. However, if you already have this bone issue and you particularly feel it in your knee, this protein will act as a mild pain reliever and improve your joint function.
Keep in mind that results won’t come in a few days. You have to be consistent with your supplement routine, but according to experts, you can see improvement as fast as 3 or 5 months.
Collagen supplements precautions
While collagen supplements can help you improve your health and well-being, studies say that 10 grams per day for 6 months is healthy for many people. While there aren’t any known interactions between these supplements and medications, and since collagen is a protein that is already in your body, you still need to be aware of a couple of precautions:
- Allergies: if you have shellfish, eggs, or fish allergies, doctors say that you should probably avoid taking collagen supplements;
- Kidney disease: if you’re diagnosed with kidney disease and you were told to limit your protein intake, you should ask your doctor whether you can take these supplements or not, because protein can add up quickly;
- Gastrointestinal side effects: if you take too much collagen, you might have gastrointestinal side effects.
While there are many benefits to taking collagen supplements, it’s better to talk to your doctor about your dietary needs before you take anything. They will know what to recommend and what to do based on your health goals and health history.
Have you ever taken collagen supplements? If yes, leave a comment below and let us know if it was helpful for your health and wellness. Did you notice any changes? Your insights might be helpful for other readers, so let’s chat.
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