Collagen – What is it?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and provides support for our skin, muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. As we age, our bodies cannot produce as much collagen as we need, so it is important to take collagen supplements to maintain a healthy body. I started taking collagen about a year ago after reading about how it promotes healthy skin, hair, and nails. I bleach my hair 2-3 times a year to keep the blonde and noticed, after the first few times, how dry my ends were. I also used to get really bad breakouts during “that time of the month”, every month, even if I was consistent with my skincare routine. I then added it into my everyday routine and have noticed how fast my hair grows and my skin is glowing all the time (except, of course, the occasional stress pimples). Here are some of the key benefits collagen has to offer:
Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails: Collagen helps to improve fine lines and wrinkles which are the leading signs of aging. It also helps heal acne and acne scarring, leaving your skin glowing after consistent use. The amino acids found in collagen help to build and strengthen the protein found in our hair. A study conducted shows that daily supplementation with collagen peptides may boost the growth of fingernails by 12%, and reduce the frequency of broken nails by 42%.
Helps with Joint Pain and Anti-Inflammatory: Collagen helps joints and ligaments glide smoothly, reducing the chance for swollen or stiff joints.
Promotes Muscle Mass and Increases Metabolism: The amino acid glycine found in collagen helps convert glucose into energy and increases lean muscle mass. When we have more lean muscle, we have a faster metabolism and when we have more muscle mass, it burns more calories than fat.
Collagen comes in many different forms such as supplements, powders, pills, or even from food. I personally like to add collagen powder into my teas or in my smoothies, but do some more extensive research to see what will work best for you. I’ve tested and tried different brands and flavors of collagen. Some are so disgusting I couldn’t force myself to do it, but after trial and error, I found the two flavors that work best for me.
Original Collagen Peptides (Powder Form)
I add this into my fruit smoothies. Add it to your cart now!
Matcha Flavored Collagen (Powder Form)
My favorite! I take this as a tea in the morning. It can be mixed with hot water or milk. Add it to your cart now!
After reading a ton of reviews, I recommend purchasing this brand through their original website and not through Amazon, as many of the reviews says the flavors are not consistent on Amazon. Vital Proteins has many different flavors and there are also sample sizes you can purchase before you invest in the larger size, because this will be a lifetime investment, so make sure you find your favorite!