Studies recommend that adults consume between 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen per day to enjoy its health benefits. You can consume collagen powder by mixing it into smoothies, shakes, baked goods, or even your coffee or tea.
Collagen peptides are usually considered the best form of collagen for ingestion. Hydrolyzed collagen should be taken if a person wants to take a collagen supplement. Hydrolyzed collagen means the collagen has been broken down into small peptides, which are easy for the body to digest.
You can consume collagen by either eating it naturally through whole foods (e.g. bone broth, organ meats, etc.) or choosing hydrolyzed peptides in supplement form. Collagen has also been linked to skincare products and injections, but neither helps your body's collagen production — collagen protein must be ingested.
While there are plenty of suggestions floating around, really, the best time of day to take your collagen supplement is whenever works best for you. Suppose you like to take it in the morning, great. If you prefer it as a snack during the day, great, or if you want to take it before bed, that's also great.
Research has shown indicated that adults can safely consume between 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen a day. Read the label on your supplement to see how much it contains. Many people take 1-2 tablespoons of collagen powder per day.
As such, no matter your goal for using collagen, it will take at least 8 weeks to experience noticeable results ( 6 ). Most studies use a minimum of 8 weeks to assess collagen's effects on skin health and joint pain relief, but other studies use longer periods, such as 12 months, for bone health ( 9 , 14 , 22 ).
Collagen does not help with body fat because you cannot reduce fat in specific areas of your body. You can lose weight using collagen rich foods like bone broth, but it will not specifically target your belly fat.
"It's worth remembering that coffee doesn't destroy collagen, it inhibits its production," says nutritional therapist at the Pulse Light Clinic, Lisa Borg.
Many people abide by this method because you need stomach acid to digest proteins, so in theory, taking collagen on an empty stomach ensures you will be able to better break down the collagen. However, you do not need to take collagen on an empty stomach to obtain the benefits.
We suggest you go with the powder form for the potency advantage, fewer additives, and eco-friendly edge. "Many liquid collagen brands tout the bioavailability of their product, claiming that the collagen is more efficiently absorbed and usable by the body," adds Kujawski.
Vitamin C
“Like vitamin A, vitamin C supports collagen synthesis in the body, so combining collagen with vitamin C-rich foods or a vitamin C supplement is a win-win,” says Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S., D.C., founder of Ancient Nutrition and member of The Vitamin Shoppe Wellness Council.
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Jen Says: "My go-to collagen routine is adding Vital Proteins® Collagen Peptides ($27; shop now) in my morning cup of coffee or smoothie – so easy to use."
Can I take collagen and vitamin D together? Yes, you can take collagen and vitamin D together. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is essential for bone health. Collagen also supports bone health by strengthening the connective tissues around your joints.
Generally, collagen protein can be safely added to hot coffee, as brewing temperatures are usually below the point at which collagen proteins break down. It can also be added to buttered or bulletproof coffee, though it may not provide additional benefits.
Collagen supplements can be taken at any time of the day with or without food.
While a special type of collagen rarely ever found in collagen protein supplements (undenatured type ll collagen peptides) can improve joint health and function, collagen protein can't. There's also no strong evidence collagen protein can improve skin, hair, or nail health, and no reason to think it would.
How can I naturally rebuild collagen? You can naturally support the collagen production process by using topicals such as vitamin C and retinol, collagen peptide supplements, eating a nutrient rich diet, and avoiding habits that damage the collagen (such as poor sleep and sun exposure.)
Taking a collagen supplement will not cause you to gain weight. In fact, it can help support you on your weight loss journey along with proper diet and exercise. Collagen is beneficial to your bones, muscles, hair, skin, and nails. It also helps to improve your heart health.
Are collagen supplements a good option for tightening loose skin? A: Collagen supplements aren't the best option if you want to improve the appearance of your skin. That's mainly because there's no evidence-based science to prove they work ― or that they're safe.
By supporting the microbiome, nourishing the gut lining, and even increasing butyrate production in the gut, collagen may help improve bowel movements and other gut symptoms like gas and bloating.
After daily collagen supplementation for a few weeks, you will typically start to notice a few things: hair growth, skin hydration and skin moisture, improvement in joint health and skin health, lessening of fine lines, and other possible anti-aging improvements.
Collagen supplements may not be safe for: People with fish, shellfish, or egg allergies (collagen supplements may contain these allergens as ingredients)16. People with a Kosher or Halal diet. People with a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Improvements in skin, nails, muscle and joint health may become noticeable after three to six months of regular collagen supplementation, but results varied across scientific studies. Results may take longer depending on personal factors including age, nutritional status and overall health.
When you have too much collagen, your skin can stretch, thicken, and harden. It also can cause damage to internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.