What Is the Best Way To Take Collagen?
Collagen is a protein that your body makes and uses to form vital structures like skin, bones, muscles and tendons. Collagen production drops off as you get older, leading to various age-related issues like wrinkled skin, decreased flexibility, joint pain and thinning hair.
The most reliable way to replenish your body's collagen supply is through the foods you eat. Yet, taking dietary supplements can also boost your body's collagen availability. Collagen supplements are sold in multiple forms, including powders, liquids, pills and gummies.
Why Do You Need More Collagen?
Collagen is a word derived from the Greek word for "glue." It's essentially the structural scaffolding that holds your tissues together and keeps them pliant and stretchy. A sufficient collagen supply is crucial for body functions, including:
- Smooth, elastic skin
- Blood clot formation during the wound healing process
- Blood vessel shape and fortification
- Joint and ligament flexibility
- Strong bones
- Building muscle mass
- A thick digestive tract lining
- A healthy scalp
- Thick, supple hair
While your body creates plenty of collagen when you're young, following menopause, production drops off dramatically. External stressors like sun exposure, pollution and smoking can also disrupt your natural ability to create collagen.
The best way to take collagen through the diet
Your body needs certain essential elements like amino acids, vitamin C and minerals to create this protein. When the foods you eat contain collagen or its necessary building blocks, you boost its availability in your system and help your body use it more efficiently.
Food sources that are the most beneficial to offset collagen loss include:
- Bone broth: Bone broth can be made by simmering water with animal bones to extract collagen.
- Egg whites: The amino acids proline, glycine and lysine, vital for collagen production, are all present in egg whites.
- Legumes and nuts: Kidney beans, black beans, edamame and cashews contain the necessary components for collagen formation, including amino acids, zinc and copper.
- Chicken: Because of the abundance of tendons and ligaments, chicken meat contains high levels of collagen.
- Vegetables and fruits: Berries, citrus fruit, tomatoes, leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli and cauliflower are all high in vitamin C, which the body needs to produce collagen.
- Fish skin: Collagen is stored under the skin of fish, so eating fish with the skin on will provide extra collagen to your diet.
Keep in mind that consuming too much sugar and refined carbohydrates can damage the collagen in your skin. Make it a habit to check ingredient lists and eat the whole foods listed above for the fastest potential collagen boost.
Collagen Supplements
Adding collagen supplements to your diet can also help promote skin and joint health. Though with so many different supplements on the market, you may find it confusing to know the best way to take them.
You can find collagen supplements in the following forms:
Collagen Powders
Collagen is sometimes sold in a dry, powdered form. Mix it into your foods or drinks to boost your dietary collagen intake.
Liquid Collagen
Liquid collagen is premixed and ready to drink, making it more convenient to take than powder. The downside? It needs refrigeration, so it's not as mobile for those who want to take it on the go.
Pills or Capsules
With collagen pills or capsules, your daily dose is pre-measured and can be taken quickly and easily. However, with this form of collagen, the tablet or capsule's outer shell needs to be broken down by your digestive system before your body can access the protein. This means absorption into your system may take longer.
Gummies
Gummies offer the convenience of a pill in a chewable, easier-to-digest form. Plus, they have a more palatable taste than most powders or liquids, making gummies a great way to consistently get the collagen you need as you grow older.
The Best Collagen Supplements for Better Hair
Better Not Younger’s Power Within Skin & Scalp Collagen Gummies contain Type I and Type III marine collagen. Of the 16 collagen varieties in your body, Types I and III are the most abundant and the most necessary for healthy skin and hair.
These delicious and fortifying gummies assist your body's creation of better hair from the inside out by:
- Strengthening your scalp to prevent follicle damage and hair fall.
- Building hair strand proteins for more resilience against damage.
- Maintaining hair and skin elasticity and hydration.
Each gummy is power-packed with marine collagen sourced from farmed cod, haddock and pollack; yet they’re free of gluten, eggs, milk, nuts and soy.
Experience the Better Not Younger Difference for Yourself
Be sure to talk to your doctor before changing your diet or beginning a new supplement routine. A holistic approach to better hair involves improving your inner health by eating well and taking Power Within Skin & Scalp Collagen Gummies.
Visit our Shop page to learn more about these and all of Better Not Younger's superior age-related hair-care products.