Collagen Drinks and Supplements: Are They Beneficial for You?

The human body often requires a variety of several kinds of proteins to function properly and thus to allow you to stay fit and healthy. One such type of protein substance is collagen. Collagen is a component that forms a major structural protein of the body and it is present in the cells and tissues of your body, helping in better health of the cells. Collagen protein is mostly found in the cells and tissues of the skin, nails, and hair, and even in other parts of the body, such as in the bones, tendons, connective tissues, cartilage, and so on. Collagen is a useful substance in the body that aids in providing structural support to tissues and forms an important part of several types of cellular processes. This protein is highly crucial for better skin health because this protein substance enhances the volume and moisture in your hair and skin and aids in better functioning of the hyaluronic acid, a chemical component that is meant for healthy skin. This component is also vital for increasing skin elasticity. Are you interested to know in detail about collagen drinks and supplements and how they are beneficial for your health? If so, then this one is the most helpful article for you because this article will discuss all the facts related to the consumption of collagen protein supplements along with expert suggestions.

Collagen supplements and your health

Collagen supplements are often considered beneficial for health as your body gets the required amount of protein, and these proteins take good care of your skin, hair, bone joints, and so on. There are different types for most collagens. The majority of the collagen health supplements and drinks that people usually take belong to types I, II, and III. These types account for most of the collagen proteins that are present in the human body. These collagen proteins consist of a digestible form of collagen known as the collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen which are often required by the body. Apart from drinks and supplements, substitutes for collagen can also be taken through collagen capsules and gummies, as they often contain the same active ingredients as collagen powder.

Collagen powders and capsules are easy to use because the powder can be mixed with foods or beverages and the collagen capsules can be easily digested. But, despite having a number of health benefits, there are often certain negative side effects that collagen supplements are known to have on the overall health and physiological functioning of the body. So, before taking in collagen drinks and supplements, you must consult with your healthcare professional so that the consequences of adverse effects do not harm you severely. You must also consult an expert to know about the doses of capsules and supplements that are right for you.

What is all about collagen drinks and supplements?

Collagen drinks and supplements are rich in collagen protein that are required by the body for proper functioning. Your body can synthesize collagen proteins naturally and these proteins use up the amino acids, which are often termed as the ‘building blocks of protein’. There are different food components that we eat in our daily diet that are rich in collagen proteins, which include eggs, meat, fish, extracts of protein in soup and bone broth, and so on. Other than these, certain types of drinks and health supplements help to add more collagen proteins to your body, so that your skin, hair, and nails, along with your bones and muscles remain in a healthy state. Moreover, cases like heavy smoking, aging, and sun damage might gradually reduce the collagen content in your body. Having the correct doses of collagen-containing health drinks and supplements can help you replenish the collagen and the necessary protein deficits.

Nutrients that are present in collagen supplements

You might wonder why is it so important to have collagen drinks and supplements. Here is a complete nutritional profile of collagen supplements on an average with the measure of the nutrients present in them (the amounts):

• Calories: 50
• Fiber: 0 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams
• Protein: 12 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 0 grams

How do collagen supplements benefit you?

The collagen proteins that are present in collagen drinks and such types of health supplements are mostly derived from animal sources such as chicken, fish, pigs, cattle, and so on. these components consist of peptides and simpler chains of amino acids along with other proteins like collagen and keratin for better skin and bone health. So, it is essential to have collagen health drinks and supplements, because as per studies and research works (3), (4) collagen protein present in supplements helps in the following functions:

• Better cellular communication
• Improved immune system of the body
• Healthy repairing of cells and tissues in your body
• Cellular migration involves processes essential for the health and proper maintenance of the tissues.

What do experts have to say about collagen drinks and supplements?

Many experts are often known to conclude that collagen is a protein that is highly essential for the goodness of your skin. There are many dermatologists who often recommend their patient’s health supplements that are rich in collagen protein for better skin elasticity and reducing signs of skin aging such as the appearance of wrinkles, and sagged skin, and these supplements help in retaining the skin moisture as well. In fact, some experts also claim your overall skin health can improve, along with better moisture and elasticity, and reduce problems of wrinkles, and roughness, if you drink collagen supplements that consist of peptides such as prolyl-hydroxyproline and hydroxy-prolyl glycine. Though collagen is quite essential for better skin health, using only collagen will not be enough. Besides collagen proteins, your skin should also have enough amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, coenzyme, hyaluronic acid, and other necessary components to remain healthy and free from skin problems.

Apart from keeping your skin healthy, collagen supplements (often combined with keratin and other necessary protein components) are also vital for better nail and hair growth and reducing the brittleness in nails. However further studies are required to reach a generalization that collagen drinks and supplements are essential for better growth and health of your nails and hair.

Should you try collagen health drinks and supplements?

It is important to note the fact that if your body has to take in the collagen protein that you would consume through health drinks and supplements, then the protein has to break down into simpler forms such as peptides for the body to absorb through the blood flow (especially through the gut movement). You can take in drinks and supplements containing collagen because as the protein enters the body, it would further and simpler forms in the body, and will help in better development of your skin, hair, and nails, along with cartilage, bone, muscles, or tendons. It is in fact, healthy for you to consume collagen drinks and supplements if you intend to improve the overall texture of your skin and its elasticity and minimize the skin problems that appear as a result of aging (because you will lose collagen proteins as you gradually age) such as wrinkles and loose skin.

Before choosing to consume collagen drinks and supplements, it is highly important for you to note the contents of the supplements very carefully and to discuss with your healthcare professional if it is right for you to take in such protein components. You should also be mindful of the list of ingredients and the protein profile present in the supplements and drinks. This is suggested because there is very little solid evidence that only collagen drinks and supplements will aid you in better skin health and there are many people who need to limit or avoid the consumption of protein supplements to get rid of the side effects of such supplements on their health.

Things you must try to remember: Some helpful tips

Apart from having collagen drinks and supplements for healthy skin and body, you must remember the following points as well:

• Collagen protein supplements and drinks that consist of prolyl-hydroxyproline and hydroxy-prolyl glycine work wonders for improving skin health
• Try to avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol
• When you are going out in the sun, to protect your skin from sun damage, apply sunscreen with the correct SPF range and reapply the sunscreen every two hours
• Wear clothes and hats that will provide you with protection from the harmful UV rays of the sun
• Have a healthy and balanced diet that is full of nutritional components
• Have foods that are rich in protein.