Lately, collagen supplements have become the new health trend and rave because of its many health benefits. But what is collagen exactly and why is it important? Collagen is an abundant protein that can be found in our bodies. There is collagen found in our bones, skin, muscles, blood vessels, and digestive system. As we grow older in age, our bodies production of collagen begins to deteriorate. When this happens we tend to notice certain signs such as wrinkles, saggy skin, and pain or weakness in our joints and muscles. But now you can add collagen to your diet for breakfast in your coffee, smoothie, juice, etc. in order to get that protein. You can also get collagen through popular bone broths- just make sure they are from grass-fed, organic animals!
What can adding collagen powder into your diet do? We’ll tell you! Health Fitness Revolution did the research and put together the top 10 health benefits associated with adding collagen to your diet:
- Improves the health of your skin and hair
We all want stronger and healthier hair. Your hair needs three things to grow healthy: keratin, minerals, and also collagen! That may be why so many women tend to use supplemental products with collagen in them to help their hair grow faster, stronger, and healthier! It also benefits by improving skin elasticity and preventing wrinkles as well.
- Boosts your metabolism
Adding collagen supplements can also help improve your metabolism. It does so by adding muscle mass to your body and helps in aiding the conversion of essential nutrients that your body needs. Muscle mass is important because it helps them improve the health of your bones and improves your posture.
- Reduces pain in your joints
Are your joints becoming weak and fragile? Maybe you have started to notice a slight pain in your walk. A lack of collagen causes pain, inflammation, and the deterioration of your joints. Taking collagen supplements can help aid in the regrowth of your joint tissue and help relieve pain. A study was done related to collagen supplement intake in athletes from Penn State University.
- Prevents bone loss
Our bones are important because they keep the help support and keep the structure of our bodies. This is commonly known as Osteoporosis. Collagen supplements can help stimulate your body to create more collagen in your bones.
- Prevents stretch marks and reduces cellulite
You may start to notice stretch marks appearing on your body and unwanted cellulite taking shape. This is due to the lack of collagen!
- Helps repair leaky gut syndrome
Leaky gut syndrome is a condition where the lining for your small intestine becomes damaged and allows toxins such as waste, bacteria, and undigested food particles to “leak” or pass through the intestinal wall and infiltrate the bloodstream. The intake of this supplement can help aid and reverse this by helping your body rebuild the collagen in your intestinal walls.
- Helps strengthen your nails
Just like your hair, your nails also need collagen to grow healthier and stronger! If you notice your nails become brittle and break easily, you might need to add some collagen to your diet.
- Helps balance your hormones
Hormonal imbalance in your body can affect you in many ways. Different hormones are responsible for different functions within your body. One common way we see hormonal imbalance can be related to acne. Collagen helps balance many of these hormones in order to keep you living a long and healthy life.
- Healthy teeth and gums
Whenever you pay a visit to the dentist’s office and your dentist lectures you on taking care of your teeth and oral hygiene, listen to them! A beautiful smile comes along with strong and healthy gums. Besides regularly brushing your teeth, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash…adding supplemental collagen or eating bone broth can provide the nutrients needed for stronger and healthier teeth structure.
- Helps reduce anxiety
In today’s growing modern society, we are bombarded with many different stressors in our everyday lives. A lot of stress from work, school, and just life, in general, can lead to anxiety. Collagen has anti-anxiety properties that can be found in its high concentration of Glycine.