By: VTC's Wellness Team

BENEFITS OF COLLAGEN PEPTIDES

Published: May 13, 2022

With the rise of focus on health, wellness, and beauty, more people are adding supplements to their diet. Along with dietary supplements, many people are now opting for beauty supplements to help maintain their youthful appearance -- and collagen peptides are a frontrunner. The demand for collagen supplements has risen by over 300% in the last few years. Now more than ever, people are starting to realize just how beneficial it can be for not only their skin but their overall health. 

Collagen is a major component of the skin and it provides a lot of benefits like maintaining the skin’s elasticity and hydration, making it firmer and more supple, and reducing wrinkles. It also can help maintain healthy joints, aid in muscle growth and recovery, and provide immune health. Although collagen is found in many food items like bone broth, fish and meat, it is often not easy to get enough collagen from food alone. That is why more people have started using collagen supplements to get the amount they need. Adding supplements to your diet is a great way to keep up with our body’s demand for vital nutrients or add an extra boost to your health!

Here are some amazing potential benefits of collagen:

1. Improves skin

Collagen peptides are made up of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. These are key components in helping to maintain skin elasticity. Collagen supplements are a great way to provide these essential amino acids to your skin, as they can help promote smooth skin, wrinkle reduction, and provide hydration. This type of supplement can help stimulate natural production from the body as well as possibly other important proteins for the skin.

Additionally, taking collagen peptides orally has been shown to be more effective than topical application and is often more cost-effective as well. (1, 2, 3)

2. Supports healthy bones and joints

Just as these essential peptides are found in your skin, they are also found in your cartilage, bones, and other tissues. As you age, your body produces less collagen. This can then affect your joint health and bone mass. Increasing your collagen production can help inhibit the development of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and improve some symptoms and pain. With a collagen supplement, you could see a reduction of joint inflammation and pain as well as an increase in overall bone health (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)

3. Improves hair and nail health

Similar to the skin, your hair and nails can also benefit from collagen peptides. These peptides can help with brittleness and strength of your hair and nails, improving overall health and appearance. (10) 

4. Aids in workout recovery and muscle growth

Collagen can be beneficial for workout recovery through muscle repair and joint lubrication, which in turn has the potential to increase muscle mass and strength. Although collagen isn’t more effective than whey protein for building muscle, it is a great supplement to aid in the synthesis of muscle proteins such as creatine. Adding collagen to your supplement regime can help you give your muscles and workouts an extra boost. (11, 12)

5. Improves gut and immune health

Your gut health can have an impact on your immune and overall health. The amino acids in collagen peptides are shown to help build and maintain healthy connective tissue which can help repair the intestinal lining, reducing gut inflammation and aiding in digestion.

With all the benefits collagen provides, adding more collagen is a great way to give your overall health and skincare a boost!  

Published: May 13, 2022