Collagen peptides are tiny proteins derived from collagen used for the structural support of human hair and skin health. Due to the amino acids found in collagen peptides, they are able to improve the quality of skin through increased elasticity and hydration while also providing the building blocks for Keratin production and hair growth.
So are collagen peptides good for you? The short answer is yes. Collagen peptides can be very beneficial to skin and hair health with very few negative effects on your body. Collagen peptides have benefits for your skin barrier, your joint and bone health, and your digestive system, among others.
Are Collagen Peptides Good for You?
Collagen peptides offer a slew of benefits to your body whether they be naturally occurring or through supplements. Collagen and collagen peptides are vital proteins that contain amino acids that protect your skin barrier and hair follicles throughout your body.
While collagen peptides are usually linked to cosmetic benefits and maintaining a youthful appearance, they can actually help treat and prevent more serious conditions like osteoporosis and other muscle loss diseases.
During your youth, your body produces a lot of collagen and collagen peptides providing you with great skin elasticity, hair as well as muscle and bone density. However, by the time you reach 25 your body’s natural production of collagen and collagen peptides begin to decrease.
To counterbalance the loss of collagen peptide levels in your body, most people start taking collagen peptide supplements. While there’s some debate on the effectiveness of collagen peptide supplements, over-the-counter supplements have been shown to positively benefit people’s skin and hair to an extent.
While they’re generally safe, if you are thinking of taking collagen peptide supplements for either cosmetic or medical reasons, you should consult your healthcare provider to discover which supplement is right for your lifestyle and to avoid any adverse reactions.
Benefits of Collagen Peptides
From skin health to bone health, taking collagen peptide supplements as you age could be beneficial in maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well as a youthful appearance. Taking collagen peptide supplements is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to boost collagen levels in your body without needing a prescription or medical procedure. Here are some of the known benefits of taking collagen peptide supplements:
1) Benefits to the Skin Barrier
Aside from keeping your skin elastic, collagen peptide supplements provide an added dose of antioxidants to protect your skin barrier from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable chemical particles that damage cells which can be found within the body as well as external factors such as smoke, pollution, UV rays, etc.
When exposed to these free radicals your skin’s health can rapidly decline and show signs of aging much faster. With the antioxidants and hyaluronic acids found in collagen peptides being able to neutralize free radicals and their effects, it has been shown that boosting collagen levels in your body through supplements can keep your skin healthier.
2) Benefits to Joint Health
In addition to skin elasticity, there is some evidence that collagen peptide supplements can help with joint health. With the excessive pressure put on your joints throughout the day due to walking, running, or even sitting, it’s not uncommon for people to experience injuries to their joints and connective tissues in the area.
It has been shown that taking collagen and collagen peptide supplements increases your joints’ elasticity and prevents injuries to a degree. In 2017, a study showed that professional athletes that took collagen peptide supplements were less likely to experience joint pain during training as opposed to not taking it.
Not only did they experience less joint pains due to the boost in joint elasticity but also the anti-inflammatory properties of collagen peptides which can help prevent injury and shorten recovery time.
3) Benefits to Your Digestive System
Collagen peptides have been shown to help the digestive system primarily in two ways. With collagen playing a vital role in the maintenance of your stomach lining and intestinal tract, boosting collagen intake may help in proper digestion.
Due to the high concentration of amino acids in collagen peptides, it aids in gut repairs preventing you from discomfort and even gut diseases like irritable bowel disease or a leaky gut. Additionally, with improved gut health due to the boost in collagen peptides some studies have shown collagen to support nutrients absorption from the gut.
4) Benefits to Bone Health
Collagen is a key protein found in human bones and muscle mass. When your body naturally produces less collagen as you age, it’s likely that you’ll experience some bone density loss and loss of muscle mass.
For women, in particular, bone density loss and osteoporosis can be a common but serious issue the older you get. In a study done on post-menopausal women, it was discovered that participants who took collagen peptides supplements over the course of a year has better bone density as compared to when they began the experiment.
While it may be inevitable for your body to produce less collagen, supplementing that loss with collagen peptides could help keep serious bone conditions at bay.
Types of Oral Collagen Peptides Supplements
What type of collagen peptide supplement you get could affect how it’s processed in your body. Most animal-derived collagen peptide supplements will contain concentrates of collagen peptides and be absorbed into your body, boosting your collagen levels.
On the other hand, plant-based collagen peptides will simply stimulate and promote your body’s natural collagen production rather than providing an additional artificial collagen supply. While collagen isn’t naturally found in any plant and can’t provide an alternative source of collagen, plant-based collagen peptide supplements can still provide similar benefits and end results as their animal-derived counterparts.
To find out more about the different types of collagen peptides, here’s a list of the most commonly available supplements:
1) Marine Collagen Peptide Supplements
As the name suggests, marine collagen peptide supplements are derived from fish skin or fishbone. They’re a great source of collagen and collagen peptides that can directly boost collagen concentrations in your body.
Additionally, marine collagen peptides are considered one of the best options for collagen supplements as it contains the same type of collagen found in the human body.
While all types of collagen can benefit you, having a supplement with collagen type I which is what’s naturally made within your own body is often easier accepted and absorbed into your body. Marine collagen peptides have also been shown to cause fewer side effects like inflammation as compared to other collagen peptide supplements
2) Bovine Collagen Peptide Supplements
Perhaps the most popular type of supplement, bovine collagen peptide supplements can be taken as collagen powder or collagen pills though both are derived from bones and other collagen-rich body parts of the cows.
While studies have shown that Bovine collagen supplements aren’t as easily absorbed by the body it does provide similar benefits. Containing collagen type I as well, bovine collagen supplements will still help improve and prevent the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and other skin concerns.
Additionally, bovine collagen supplements are also rich in type III collagen. This type of collagen can be very beneficial to wound healing and soft tissue repairs. Overall collagen supplements derived from cows is a viable option for those seeking to boost their collagen levels.
3) Vegan Collagen Peptide Supplements
Unlike the other collagen peptide supplements previously mentioned, vegan collagen peptide supplements aren’t derived from animals or any animal byproducts. To keep these supplements suitable for a vegan diet, collagen peptides are often derived from modified yeast or bacteria.
While this can give a similar effect to animal-derived supplements, vegan collagen supplements don’t provide your body an alternative source of collagen and don’t directly boost collagen levels in your body. Rather, it stimulates your cells to produce more collagen within your body.
While it has been said that vegan collagen supplements are not as effective as animal-derived collagen, you will still see some benefits from it especially if you’re on a specific diet that doesn’t allow animal consumption.
Collagen peptide supplements are generally safe to consume, but it’s advisable for you to contact your healthcare provider before adding any dietary supplement to your daily routine. Collagen peptide supplements may have the potential risk of causing bloating, heartburns, inflammation, and allergies depending on the person.
Purchase Collagen Supplements and Collagen Boosting Products at FACE Med Store
Collagen and collagen peptides are essential in maintaining a youthful appearance, however as you age, collagen production naturally decreases leaving causing visible signs of aging. In addition to the signs of aging, lack of collagen production can also cause serious issues to your bones and joints. With the negative effects of collagen loss, many people try to supplement it through medication or treatments.
Here at FACE Med Store, we offer several supplements and devices that can boost collagen levels and collagen production. From hair supplements to injectable treatments and light therapy, we offer safe and reliable options that can visibly improve the appearance of skin and hair. If you’re in search of a particular device or tool, contact us today to see our stock list and purchase today.
