5 Surprising Benefits of Collagen
Collagen is well-known as a beauty supplement, and for a good reason: skin, hair and nails all benefit significantly from a well-formulated collagen supplement. But while your collagen powder is reducing the signs of aging and helping your locks grow, it's also working wonders internally. Here are some of the lesser known effects of peptide collagen supplementation.
1. It helps you detox.
Detoxing is a real buzzword in the health world, but really, our bodies have everything they need to remove toxins; namely a liver and two kidneys. What we can do to help the process is to support the liver through a healthy diet (with lots of greens) and avoid loading our bodies with toxins like alcohol, chemicals, sugar, etc. Taking collagen can help because it is rich in glycine, an amino acid that has enormous healing and detoxification capabilities for the body. Glycine helps reduce damage as your liver processes toxins. This study even showed that glycine reduces liver damage and provide a protective effect on the liver long-term.
2. It has gut-healing properties.
Again, gut health is a favourite topic among the health conscious. Digestive issues are increasingly common, with so many of us suffering IBS or leaky gut (a condition where food particles and toxins pass through the damaged gut wall and create inflammation in the body). Having a healthy gut lining is essential to keep our digestive system functioning well, and to allow the nutrients in our food to be adequately absorbed.
Dr Axe, from the world's most popular natural health website www.draxe.com, states "the biggest digestive benefit of consuming more collagen is that it helps form connective tissue and therefore “seals and heals” the protective lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Today, we know that many illnesses can actually be traced back to inflammation or irritation stemming from an unhealthy gut."
3. It helps you gain lean muscle.
Powerhouse glycine comes into play again here, helping your body to form new muscle and converting glucose into fuel for the process. Collagen is also an excellent post-workout product to add into a protein shake to help with muscle recovery.
4. It's a dream for painful joints.
This study found that collagen helped osteoarthritis sufferers manage pain and improve function, and also stated: "according to published research, orally administered collagen hydrolysate has been shown to be absorbed intestinally and to accumulate in cartilage."
High-dose collagen shows great promise as a future treatment for all kinds of joint disorders. "With its gel-like, smooth structure that covers and holds our bones together, collagen allows us to glide and move without pain. Think of ingesting more collagen like greasing a creaky door hinge: It helps your joints move more easily, reduces pain often associated with aging and even reduces the risk of joint deterioration." - Dr Axe
5. It supports heart health.
One study found subjects had reduced plaque buildup in their arteries as well as significantly reduced cholesterol after six months of collagen peptide supplementation. Another reason to get your daily collagen fix.
Of course, taking a substandard product won't yield results or have health benefits. Learn how to choose the perfect collagen supplement for you here.
