Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It is the major component of connective tissues that make up several body parts, including tendons, ligaments, skin, and muscles. It has many important functions, including providing your skin with structure and strengthening your bones. In recent years, collagen supplements have become popular. Pharmaceuticals hydrolyse or break down collagen, making it easier for you to absorb.
1. It improves skin health
As well as strengthening skin, it may benefit skin elasticity and hydration. As you age, your body produces less collagen, leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles. Taking supplements that contain collagen may be helpful for slowing the ageing of your skin.
2. It helps relieve joint pain
As the amount of collagen in your body decreases as you get older, your risk of developing degenerative joint disorders such as osteoarthritis increases. Collagen may help promote pain relief for people with joint disorders.
3. It could prevent bone loss
As said before, our bones consist mostly of collagen, which gives them structure and helps keep them strong. It has the potential to help increase BMD and lower levels of proteins in the blood that stimulate bone breakdown.
4. It boosts muscle mass
Collagen makes up between 1–10% of muscle tissue. This protein is necessary to keep your muscles strong and functioning properly. Research has shown that consuming supplements increased muscle growth and strength in people with age-related muscle mass loss.
5. It promotes heart health
Researchers have theorised that taking supplements may help reduce the risk of heart-related conditions. It provides structure to your arteries, which are the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. Without enough collagen, arteries may become weak and fragile.
Although scientists need to carry out more research, taking supplements may help reduce the risk factors associated with heart conditions such as atherosclerosis.
In addition to its amazing benefits, collagen supplements promote brain, heart and gut health, as well as to help control weight and keep hair and nails healthy. However, currently, there’s little-to-no evidence for these effects.
And if you are not interested in synthetically-produced supplements, collagen is also consistent in the connective tissues of animals. Thus, foods such as chicken skin, pork skin, beef, and fish are good sources.
