Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in your body. It is the main component of connective tissues, and it makes up several body parts such as ligaments, tendons, muscles, and skin. Collagen has the ability to provide skin with structure and strengthens bones. For the same reason, people have started taking marine collagen powder regularly.
Collagen is a significant part of your tissues and bones, and your body requires a proper amount of collagen on a daily basis. You can add it to your daily diet or take it separately as tablets or in powder form.
There are many benefits of including collagen in your diet, and they can be listed below.
1. Relieves Joint Pain
Collagens are great for maintaining the integrity of your cartilage, which is a rubber-like tissue that protects your joints.
As you grow older, the collagen component in your body decreases, and the risk of you developing degenerative joint disorder like osteoarthritis increases.
2. Skin improvement
Collagen is a vital component of your skin and plays a crucial role in strengthening it—lack of collagen results in the formation of wrinkles and dry skin. Consumption of collagen also promotes the production of other proteins that help structure the skin, including fibrillin and elastin.
3. Boosts Muscle Mass
Around 1 to 10% of muscle tissue is made of collagen; hence, this protein is necessary to keep your muscles strong and functioning. As the collagen decreases with age, your body loses muscle mass, and you may require collagen supplements to be fit and in shape.
4. Prevents Bone Loss
The bones contain a certain amount of collagen, which gives them structure and helps keep them strong. To keep the bone mass consistent with age, people add collagen to their diet. The collagen helps increase bone mineral density (BMD) in women as well.
5. Healthy for Heart
Research shows that collagen supplements help reduce the risk of heart-related conditions. Collagen is the protein that structures your arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of the body.
There are many food items you can eat to increase your body’s collagen amount, such as pork skin and bone broth.
You can also consume collagen in 3 different forms/supplements.
1. Undenatured Collagen
This type of collagen is derived from chicken cartilage. This type of collagen has the ability to improve your joint health, and you have to consume 10 to 40 milligrams of collagen for it.
2. Hydrolyzed collagen
This collagen type is derived from cattle (bovine), seafood/marine collagen powder, pigs, poultry and other sources. This is the most basic form of collagen supplement as your body can quickly absorb it.
3. Gelatin
This collagen was derived from animal sources and is mainly used for cooking as an ingredient in gelatinous desserts. It can be mixed in sauce, smoothies, and sauce, and other foods.
These qualities of collagen make it favourable for many young and older adults. One can consume it in a capsule or from a powder.
What are the ways to consume collagen?
One can try many ways of consuming collagen, and the most popular three methods are:
- Capsule
- Since collagen is virtually tasteless and highly soluble., you can mix it into your coffee, tea, smoothies and other foods.
- You can add it to baked goods.
There’s no doubt that collagen makes you stronger and healthy, and including it in your diet is absolutely an amazing idea.