Collagen powders: Do they work on your pores and skin? What you want to know
It’s mentioned to help wound therapeutic, scale back muscle waste and enhance pores and skin elasticity as we become old, however does collagen powder actually stack up?
Collagen powder has turn into standard for its touted advantages for enhancing all the things from joint well being to the looks of the pores and skin.
As a part of our new Actuality Test sequence, which breaks down the newest well being, health and wonder fads, right here’s what to know earlier than you bounce aboard this pattern.
What’s collagen?
Collagen is probably the most plentiful protein in your physique, accounting for a few third of its protein composition.
It’s a structural protein that binds cells and tissues collectively and is present in all the things from bones to muscular tissues, pores and skin, ligaments and tendons.
Whereas your physique makes collagen, as we become old manufacturing of it slows down and cell construction weakens.
“Collagen decreases as you age, which contributes to wrinkles, stiffer and fewer versatile tendons and ligaments, weakening muscular tissues and joint ache brought on by worn cartilage,” says Sydney dietitian Skye Swaney.
It might be doable to spice up your physique’s collagen manufacturing by way of the food regimen by consuming loads of vitamins comparable to vitamin C, proline, glycine and copper, which assist the collagen-making course of, in addition to protein-packed meals comparable to bone broth.
Collagen dietary supplements, normally within the type of powders, are additionally growing in recognition, and might merely be added to meals.
- Secret ingredient: Cacao and collagen mousse
What does collagen powder do?
“Collagen powder is basically floor up collagen produced from animal bones, pores and skin and connective tissue,” Skye says.
Utilizing a complement comparable to collagen powder is claimed to have a variety of potential advantages.
“Early analysis suggests it might do all the things from enhancing joint ache and selling muscle development to aiding weight regulation and lowering wrinkles,” Skye says.
A 2015 research discovered collagen supplementation in aged males who had been power coaching had been capable of enhance their muscle mass, whereas German analysis discovered girls who took collagen dietary supplements improved their pores and skin elasticity.
A US research additionally discovered collagen dietary supplements lowered ache in folks experiencing osteoarthritis over a 70-day interval.
“I exploit it quite a bit with athletes that I work with, each for harm restoration but additionally in serving to to forestall accidents occurring,” says Skye.
Fellow Sydney dietitian Chloe McLeod says collagen powder is especially good at serving to to enhance the power and well being of ligaments.
What to be cautious of when shopping for collagen powder
Chloe advises studying the substances record earlier than shopping for any collagen powder.
“Ideally will probably be 100 per cent collagen or if it’s not 100 per cent collagen it may need some vitamin C added into it,” she says.
“(Additionally) be certain it doesn’t have any pointless extra fillers, which may be added to make a product a bit thicker or to make it go a bit additional, however aren’t crucial.
“Take a look at the place the product is made and the place the substances have been sourced from.”
Dietary supplements are strictly regulated in Australia, so Chloe says she’s extra more likely to advocate utilizing a collagen powder made in Australia utilizing Australian substances.
Is collagen powder simply one other well being fad?
Each Skye and Chloe agree extra analysis must be completed to again up claims surrounding collagen powder and its use.
“There’s no hurt (utilizing collagen powders)… but it surely’s not at a degree but the place I’d say once I’m working with a consumer, ‘Let’s add collagen into (your food regimen to) assist enhance your intestine signs or have it scale back your wrinkles’,” Chloe says.
“Even when collagen dietary supplements are proven to be useful, it’s unclear whether or not they’re crucial to attain these outcomes, or whether or not the identical outcomes may very well be achieved by way of enhancing food regimen.”
“There are many meals sources of collagen, so for those who’re consuming a balanced food regimen, dietary supplements shouldn’t be crucial,” Skye says.
- Youth enhance: 5 greatest anti-ageing meals for youthful wanting pores and skin
Written by Tania Gomez
