Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It has functions that play a significant role in providing structure to hair, skin, bones, and tendons. For years, collagen has gained massive popularity in body lotions, shampoos, and food supplements.

Thanks to all its advantages, like improving skin condition and appearance, it has become one of the most widely discussed topics in various beauty cliques and networks. Your body will benefit more from collagen than you would expect.

Collagen production is a natural process that happens in your body. But it gradually declines with age, which can lead to several health problems.

What Happens to Collagen Production As We Age?

Our body naturally generates all of our collagen until our early twenties, when it starts to decrease steadily, by around 1.5% each year. Skin aging, digestive disorders, and popping of the joints are not only an age factor, but they are also symptoms of decreased levels of collagen. Fortunately, science shows that it doesn’t have to be this way. Collagen supplements can restore the right levels that your body needs to boost your health and improve the way you look and feel.

What Are the Benefits of Taking Collagen?

1.   Improves Skin Elasticity and Glow

Collagen makes up to 75% of the mass of the skin, playing an essential role in maintaining its health. When collagen and elastin fibers grow thicker and looser, the normal aging process makes the skin less elastic. Your body uses collagen to rejuvenate your skin’s structure, giving your skin the capacity to bounce back. Your skin should look and feel firm, and wrinkles should be noticeably minimized if there is an adequate amount of collagen in your body.

Studies show that women who regularly drink a collagen supplement reported improved skin conditions, hydration, and a substantial reduction of wrinkles. Also, there are several suggestions that collagen supplements, although not confirmed by clinical evidence, help avoid acne and other skin disorders.

2.   Helps With Joint Health

Collagen also encourages the development of cartilage, the rubbery substance that protects your joints and makes them function more efficiently. Due to the factors of aging and lack of collagen, you can experience stiffness, rigidity, and a general loss of mobility. The amino acids and glycine in collagen help promote the health of the joints. Taking collagen supplements may help relieve joint pain while decreasing the risk of joint degradation.

3.   Helps Increase Muscle Mass

Studies indicate that collagen supplements help increase muscle mass and are essential to maintain your muscles’ strength and functionality. Collagen occupies about 1% to 10% of muscle tissue, and supplements can stimulate muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth after exercise.

4.   Improves Bone Health

Your bones are mostly made of collagen, which gives them structure and keeps them healthy and stable. The aging process contributes to the decrease in collagen levels, which can also affect your bones. Bone mass deteriorates as the collagen in your body declines as you age. This can lead to disorders such as osteoporosis, marked by low bone density and associated with an increased risk of fractured bones. It is said that taking collagen supplements can have many positive effects, which include the prevention of any bone deterioration.

5.   May Prevent Heart Diseases

To improve heart health, some individuals take collagen supplements. According to a study, collagen supplementation could lower the risk of heart attacks or other heart-related diseases. It is believed that collagen helps preserve the arteries’ structure, reducing any chance of a heart attack, stroke, or a condition that can eventually lead to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the accumulation on the artery walls of fats, cholesterol, and other substances that can limit blood flow anywhere inside your body.

6.   Collagen for Healthy Hair and Nails

Collagen is an essential protein that affects your hair and nails as well. Aging is a factor that contributes to a lot of adverse effects on your hair and nails, like becoming thinner or more brittle. However, these issues may also arise from a dietary deficiency or other health-related problems. It can be devastating to experience hair loss, and anxiety sometimes makes the situation even worse. Providing your body with an adequate amount of collagen can aid in preserving good hair and nail health. Taking collagen supplements can encourage hair growth and give your nails a better condition than before.

7.   More Health Benefits: For Your Overall Well Being

When you start taking collagen, you can avoid severe problems like intestinal or joint pain, hair loss, dry skin, and more. But aside from all the primary effects, here are several more benefits in taking collagen supplements.

• Helps with digestion: A leaky gut or leaky stomach is related to many factors, like stress, anxiety, and food deficiencies. There are claims that collagen can help improve this intestinal condition, although there is very little evidence to support this claim.
• Reduces anxiety: Anxiety is a mental disorder that can affect your daily life. There are no studies to back this up, but it is said that collagen can help ease anxiety and improve mood.
• Helps improve sleep: Sleep is a crucial factor in healing both mental health and your physical body. Studies have shown that glycine could enhance sleep quality, and it even substantially improves sleep for people with sleeping disorders such as insomnia.

Natural Collagen Sources

Collagen supplements are always an option, but there are plenty of foods that can help boost your natural collagen production. Hyaluronic acid and collagen levels in the body can be increased by consuming foods high in vitamin C and amino acids. Here are some of the food that can be a great source of collagen:

• Chicken, fish
• Berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, avocados
• Cashews, beans, soy
• Bone broth
• Egg whites
• Leafy greens, red and yellow vegetables

Side Effects of Taking Collagen

For most individuals, collagen supplements are usually safe and seldom cause any adverse effects. However, some people have claimed that collagen supplements leave their mouths with a constant bad taste. Additionally, you have to look out for any ingredients that may cause any allergic reactions, but other than that, those who take collagen supplements tend to be healthy.

The bottom line is that a variety of health benefits and relatively few known risks are associated with collagen ingestion. Many advantages of collagen supplements have been stated by people who have tried it, but some don’t have much research to back up those claims. In general, collagen supplements are safe and certainly worth trying.