What’s the Big Deal with Collagen Peptides???

You’ve probably heard about collagen by now.  The health industry is promoting it as the new *magic formula* that will bring you strong hair and nails, flawless skin, a healthy gut and the ability to fly. Ok maybe not the last one, but honestly I wouldn’t be surprised. So what’s the big deal with collagen peptides anyway???

Do they actually do all they’re advertised to do? And is it worth spending your money on this fairly costly supplement? As a personal trainer and nutrition coach, I get this question quite often.

So let’s start with the basics…

What exactly is collagen?

Collagen is a structural protein that is made in abundance within the human body. Its purpose is to hold everything together and make your skin and joints smooth and flexible. But as we age, our bodies begin to produce less collagen, so we start to see things breaking down and beginning to wrinkle. The health industry claims that supplementing with collagen peptides will help to offset these issues.

No wonder people have been flocking to the collagen aisle in your local health store ;).

But the question remains…does it actually work?

There is some evidence that consistently supplementing with collagen does increase the collagen density in skin.

I’ve been supplementing with collagen in my morning smoothies consistently for almost a year now. While I haven’t noticed a significant difference in my skin, I do think it has been helping my gut health.

Some people take collagen for its protein content alone. But it’s important to know that collagen is not a source of complete protein. A complete protein provides all the essential amino acids that your body requires. Complete protein sources include meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. It’s important to consume complete proteins regularly to fully utilize the protein source and gain all the benefits of that protein. So collagen is not your best choice of protein when making your post-workout shake.

So at the end of the day, do I recommend regularly supplementing with collagen?

Maybe.

I think it depends on your goals and your body. If you’re looking for improved gut health, I think it’s a great place to start. If you’re curious about what it will do for your skin, hair and nails, I think it’s absolutely worth buying a tub and giving it a try for a month or so. Take some before and after photos and see what happens. But don’t expect miracles like everyone claims this stuff creates.

If you are going to give it a try, keep in mind it’s very important to buy high-quality collagen. Poorly-sourced collagen won’t be doing your body any favors. I recommend vital proteins, or for a cheaper but still high-quality product, check out Thrive Market’s brand, which is what I use daily.

I like to mix my collagen into oatmeal, soups and smoothies. I’ve included a few of my fave smoothie recipes for you to try out!

Do you supplement with collagen? And have you noticed a difference in your hair, skin, nails or gut? Comment below, we’d love to hear your experience!