Collagen Peptides Have Been Proven to Be Effective at Supporting and Protecting Your Joint Health
Collagen is the major protein in your body, constituting 70-95% of the cartilage in your joints. And in your 30s, you become less capable of producing and replacing collagen. Your body's collagen will start to degrade, impacting your capacity and motivation to run, chase your children around the home, and engage in other forms of physical activity.
Even while it's a regular part of aging, that doesn't mean you have to accept it. Read on to learn how collagen peptides can help replenish the collagen in your body to support and protect your joint health.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen derives its name from the Greek word for glue since it holds cells together and gives organs in the body their distinctive shape and structure. It makes up most of the connective tissues in the body and can be found in the skin, cartilage, bones, tendons, and teeth. Because of this, when collagen levels drop in the body, the skin loses its shape. Therefore, several people use collagen supplements to retain their skin's health. Likewise, low quantities of collagen can loosen cartilage and tendons, leaving them more susceptible to injury.
Causes of Joint Pain
Joint pain and stiffness seem to come with getting older, not just old age. Around 30, your muscle mass and bone density begin to deteriorate, causing strain and pain in your joints.
In addition, as you age, joint mobility gets stiffer and less flexible as the quantity of lubricating fluid within your joints diminishes and the cartilage thins. Ligaments also shrink and lose flexibility, causing joints to feel stiff.
What's more, joint pain is a chronic disease that cannot be healed or reversed; thus, it must be addressed earlier.
Benefits of Collagen for Joint Health
Here are four amazing benefits of collagen for joint health.
Collagen Promotes the Synthesis of Cartilage
Cartilage is the firm, flexible tissue covering the bone ends at a joint. Healthy cartilage helps your bones slide over one another and protects them from rubbing.
However, cartilage degrades because of aging and frequent motion. Due to this, tendons and ligaments stretch, and bones rub against one another, creating discomfort.
Collagen aids in synthesizing and repairing cartilage tissue while also reducing joint pain and inflammation. Therefore, enhance your collagen consumption to maintain an active lifestyle and reach your fitness goals.
Collagen Relieves Joint Pain in Osteoarthritis Patients
As the quantity of collagen in your body declines with age, your risk of degenerative joint conditions such as arthritis rises. Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common types of arthritis, affecting about 32.5 million adults. It is the gradual deterioration of cartilage that protects the joints.
Several studies indicate collagen peptides may aid joint regeneration and minimize osteoarthritis-associated inflammation.
One research found that when individuals with knee osteoarthritis were given acetaminophen and collagen, their joint pain, function, and quality of life improved significantly.
A meta-analysis of five trials involving over 500 individuals with osteoarthritis revealed that ingesting around 10 g of collagen daily for 24 weeks significantly reduced joint stiffness and self-reported pain.
Two randomized, controlled studies were conducted to determine the effects of collagen peptides for 12 weeks. In this instance, two distinct groups were examined to establish if age was a factor: one with a mean average age of 24 years and another with a mean age of 50. In both investigations, collagen was found to promote joint health, whether linked to exercise or function.
Researchers hypothesized that collagen peptides might accumulate in cartilage and encourage collagen production in your tissues. This may result in less inflammation, improved joint support, and decreased discomfort.
Collagen Enhances Muscle Mass
Collagen, the most prevalent protein in the body, is a crucial component of skeletal muscle. Studies indicate that collagen supplements increase muscle mass in individuals with sarcopenia, the age-related decrease of muscular mass.
In 12-week research, 27 males with this disease ingested 15 g of collagen daily while exercising. They acquired much higher muscle mass and strength than those who exercised but did not take collagen.
Researchers have hypothesized that collagen peptides may boost the production of muscle proteins such as creatine and drive muscular development following exercise.
Collagen Prevents Bone Loss
Most of your bones consist of collagen, which provides them structure and strength. Like how collagen degrades with age, bone mass also deteriorates with age. This may result in osteoporosis, which is characterized by reduced bone density and an increased risk of bone fractures.
According to studies, collagen peptides may prevent bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. In 12-month research, women were given either a calcium supplement containing 5 g of collagen or a calcium supplement without collagen. At the end of the study, the people who took the calcium and collagen supplement had much lower levels of proteins in their blood that break down bones than those who only took calcium.
Similar outcomes were discovered in a second trial involving 66 women who took 5 g of collagen daily for a year. The bone mineral density (BMD) of individuals who took collagen increased by up to 7 percent as compared to those who did not take collagen.
Where You Can Get Collagen
Connective tissues (including joints) and bones of chicken, beef (bovine collagen), pork, and fish are the most prevalent sources of collagen. This is what made bone broth popular and is the key to many of its health benefits. But you must cook the bone broth for many hours to extract the collagen. In addition, the issue with collagen obtained from bone broth is that its molecules are big. Your body can break it down, but it takes time and requires a robust digestive system, which you may or may not have.
Therefore, the ideal method to reap the benefits of collagen is to discover a high-quality product with hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides, such as Vital Collagen Powder. Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are collagen that has effectively been predigested for you. In turn, your body is better equipped to utilize these peptides and absorb them more quickly than collagen. Because the molecules are smaller, you can accomplish this. In addition, Vital Collagen Powder is made in a GMP-certified facility in the United States and is completely safe to consume.
The Bottom Line
Collagen is the body's most prevalent protein. As a result, you should ensure that you're receiving enough regardless of whether you're looking to support your joints, skin, hair, nail, or bone health or promote athletic performance. Collagen is an essential component in each of these areas.
