- What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein. Think of collagen as the building blocks for our hair, skin, nails, bones, muscles. It gives our bodies structure. Our body naturally produces collagen but as we get older, we produce less and less… and the collagen that we do produce is lower quality. There are nutrients that can help increase production, like vitamin C.
2. Where can you get collagen?
You can also get collagen through eating chicken and pork skin, drinking bone broth, or supplementing with powdered… like gelatin and powdered animal tissue. Sorry! No fun way to put it.
3. What does collagen do for the body?
Collagen gives structure to the body. Supplementing with collagen can increase muscle mass when combined with strength training, improve symptoms of arthritis and decrease progression, increase bone density, and it can help to repair the gut wall lining which will help improve digestion. Collagen also gives our skin a supple and smooth texture as well as helping with hair growth. (David’s arthritis in his finger joints has dramatically improved).
4. How concerned should we be about quality?
Very! If you are a meat-eater, I would venture to guess that you don’t want to eat the lowest quality of meat. Collagen is the same thing but companies can get even sneakier. Because collagen supplements usually come in powder or pill form, you can’t see the meat or which part of the animal you are ingesting. Make sure you do your research to find a brand that is transparent and trusted.
5. How do I incorporate it into my diet?
In powdered form, you can add a scoop to your morning coffee, matcha latte, herbal tea, or smoothie. It typically does not change the taste of the beverage unless it is flavored collagen. You can also take collagen in pill form. Or you can get collagen through foods rich in it… like bone broth.
The brand Taylor uses
I personally use marine collagen from wild fish scales and I like the brand WithinUs. For a bovine option, Great Lakes is my pick.
Great info – thank you for sharing. I, too, suffer from arthritis and some hair loss so I’d love to know the brand David uses as well. Also are there any cons to taking collagen? Thanks!
I would too!
Hi Anna,
I use Great Lake’s Collagen. It worked miracles on my finger arthritis. As Taylor says, you need to look into where the collagen comes from.
David
Hi Maureen,
I use Great Lake’s Collagen. It worked miracles on my finger arthritis.
David
Hi, is anyone in Australia reading this and can recommend a product that is available here? Thank you.
Hey Martina!
I’m an over 50’s PT based in Sydney. I use Banter Whey Protein plus Collagen (Organic Vanilla). Makes great smoothies and pancakes. Has a 50/50 ration of protein and collagen.
I get mine in Fit Nutrition in Bondi Junction.
Have a fabulous day!
Thanks for this. Not sure if you can get Ancient and Brave Collagen in the US, but it’s fabulous and they do deliver to my remote Scottish Island – so I would think across the big pond wouldn’t be a problem 💙
Can you tell me if you have any financial links to the two brands you recommended?
Thanks
Hi Debra, we do not have financial ties to WithIn Us or Great Lakes. We just love the brands.
I consume collagen daily but was told to stop 2 weeks before my upcoming foot surgery as it serves as a blood thinner and there will be added risk of bleeding if I don’t.
Thank you for sharing, Shelley! It’s important to keep those things in mind when supplementing with anything and always check with a dr.
Collagen in powdered form helped me. I use about 10 grams per day mixed in freshly made carrot /parsley juice about 16oz. The brand I enjoy is YOUTHEORY. it took about 2 months and the first thing I noticed is that my fingernails looked better, my hair is better also although missing hair has not grown back, o well