In 2021, consumers in the United States alone are expected to spend $293 million on collagen supplements. So, the question arises: are collagen supplements even worth the money or are they just another one of those in-fashion treatments that cost plenty but have either very low pay-off or come with a tote full of side effects?
What Do You Know about Collagen?
Collagen is one the main building blocks in our body. It forms a kind of “base” of the skin, which prevents it from sagging, ensures its elasticity and firmness. It also plays an important role in regenerating abilities of the skin by speeding up its healing after damage.
This protein, however, starts to decline in your body after the age of 30. The fibers in our body begin to weaken, becoming prone to damage. The lack of these amino acids then gives you wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.
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Collagen Supplements to the Rescue!
But not to worry! Collagen supplements are now getting more and more popular to satisfy the needs of people who want to restore their youthful and fresh skin.
Now one may ask, what kind of supplements are the most effective for our skin? The market is currently inundated with many options, but you need to be meticulous in picking the most beneficial one.
Your best choice is collagen supplements without added sugars!
Supplements without Sugars
To absorb these broken-down chains of collagen there are some drinks or pills that will activate your gag reflex to the fullest. To reduce that strong taste, many companies have now begun to use additional sweeteners and sugars.
This is not the most favorable way to make this process bearable. Brands these days use heavy sugars like fructose, corn syrup, fruit juices that are artificial sweeteners. The combination of these artificial sugars with collagen can be harmful to your health.
Hence, the best option to search for when looking at the ingredients of the supplement you’re purchasing are plant extracted sugars. This healthy form of sugars has no preservatives and can maximize the effect of the supplement.
Pro tip: All you need to do is search for the words; Palm sugar, Coconut sugar, molasses, and raw honey. These happen to be the healthiest and high-quality sugars for permanent intake.
Food Choices to Supplement Your Collagen Intake
Collagen consists peptides which are the smaller chains of collagen. The best collagen to consume is the triple helix structured collagen. This type of collagen peptides is abundant in most of our daily protein intake: meat (chicken, fish, beef, pork).
The most powerful collagen out of these is present in fish. Marine collagen is also one of the main ingredients of most supplements in almost all forms. The fish meat and its scales are powerhouses of collagen. The small chains of peptides easily get absorbed in our skin, showing noticeable results by keeping our skin firm.
Since it is quite expensive to produce marine collagen supplements, some unscrupulous manufacturers may use a cheaper version of the collagen while advertising it as marine. So, you need to be careful when shopping on the market. Luckily, we have already done this for you – check out our article with the best fish oil supplements.
The best quality collagen is in red snapper, deep-sea fishes, and shellfish. The marine collagen also absorbs other essential minerals in the body that positively aid the supplement.
Pro tip: As you search the stores reading the ingredients list at the back of the supplement packaging, pick the products that have no antibiotics in them.
What Are Your Daily Options for Collagen Intake?
There are multiple natural options available that can help boost your collagen intake.
Treating yourself to a good basket at lunch, eating a few fruits during a heavy day of work, or picking up seasonal fruits can act as your daily collagen supplement. Citrus fruits like lemons, grapefruits, oranges, which can be a part of your main courses, salads, and desserts, are full of vitamin C that plays a significant role in producing collagen.
Similarly, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries are equally helpful in this process. Lastly, tropical fruits contain vitamin C and several other minerals like zinc that can serve as a natural dose for our body’s collagen production.
The Best Form of Collagen Supplements – Liquid, Powder, or Pills?
Powders or tablets should not be your go-to option when buying a collagen supplement. Here’s why this form of supplement should not be your preferred choice:
- The core aim of the nutrients present in the supplements is to be absorbed by the body most efficiently. The absorption level of powders and tablets is relatively low in comparison to liquid supplements.
- Liquid supplements are more digestible and hence are on better absorption levels.
And no need to worry! Many companies are working hard to reduce the dreadful taste of liquid supplements to ease your gag reflex. However, these liquid supplements would be heavy on your wallet as they are comparatively high in quality.
This liquid collagen is great for 3 main reasons:
- Liquid collagen absorbs better and is considered more efficient
- It contains only premium marine collagen
- It tastes sweet & citrusy
Pro tip: if you choose to take tablets or powder over a liquid supplement, make sure to pair up the powder mix with water or juice to make the strong taste less intense!
Benefits of Collagen Supplements
Listed below are a few benefits of collagen supplements:
- Collagen supplements help our skin remaining plump and youthful longer.
- These supplements are known as a part of anti-aging regimen in smoothing the wrinkles.
- The results are cumulative, which means that the visible effect takes time to be noticed but it is also longer than from topical treatments.
Takeaway
Within these eight to ten weeks, one should ideally keep a healthy and moderate eating pattern, along with optimum water consumption. There should be a gradual uplifting change in your skin and improvement in overall body functions, which will indicate the positive effects the supplements have on your system.
So, if you’re looking for youthful, rosy skin, perhaps it’s time to invest in collagen supplements and upgrade your self-care routine!
Opening photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice; the content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
