How To Choose A Good Collagen Powder

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What gives your skin the everlasting, bouncy glow? Its collagen. For years now this supplement has remained one of the industry’s favorites, but it’s not just your skin that loves it. Collagen nourishes the whole body, but many supplements made available aren’t made equal. That’s why it’s essential, if you want thriving health and youthful skin, to know how to choose a good collagen powder.

And that’s exactly what I’m here to tell you today.

Why Does The Body Need Collagen?

Collagen is one of the most abundant sources of protein within the body. It is responsible for adding structure, stability, and strength to widespread tissues, such as tendons, ligaments, hair, teeth, and skin. One of the areas of our bodies where it’s needed the most is the dermal layer of the skin, but it’s also beneficial for gut health, protecting from free radical damage, and supporting daily protein intake.

As a protein, collagen is responsible for healthy joints and skin elasticity, or stretchiness. It’s in your bones, muscles, and blood, comprising three-quarters of your skin and a third of the protein in your body.

How To Choose A Good Supplement...

The best source of collagen is, like any nutrient, always through your diet. Some collagen-rich foods include fish, chicken, egg whites, and bone broth. Vegetarians can eat foods that support the body’s collagen production such as cashews, berries, and avocado.

Because collagen can be increasingly challenging to obtain through the diet, many people now turn to collagen supplements. The rise in popularity of these supplements, with emerging brands producing innovative products that bring their own cult following to the table.

These supplements are usually powders, which can be stirred into water or blended into a smoothie and are quite neutral tasting, though there are also capsules and liquid supplements available. There’s no major difference in how the body absorbs the collagen; it’s the formulation that has the most impact.

What Should You Look For When Buying A Collagen Supplement

In an ideal world, your collagen supplement should just be 100% collagen (be that marine or bovine). Some companies have started to add a whole heap of known nasty additives to their products, in the name of maintaining a profit. But these can actually impact the way your body absorbs the protein. Some of these include:

• Preservatives
• Flavors (even those that say ‘natural’)
• Thickeners
• Stabilizers
• Milk powders (think collagen coffee creamers)
• Sugars (even artificial sweeteners)

How Does Sugar Affect Collagen?

A high-sugar diet also affects the type of collagen you have. Your skin contains three primary types of collagen (aptly named Type I, II and III). The stability and resilience of collagen build with each stage: Type I is the weakest and Type III the strongest. Glycation degrades Type III collagen into Type I, thereby diminishing your skin’s structural strength and stability.

When sugar is added to a collagen supplement, in the name of making it sweeter, this can not only be an unnecessary addition to your daily intake, it can also impair your body’s ability to absorb the collagen - rendering any supplement useless.

So What Are Good Foods To Have With Collagen?

Just as some foods can impair your collagen absorption, other foods can easily support and enhance collagen production. Things like amino acids found in fish are vital for collagen absorption, as well as vitamin C-rich foods, medicinal mushrooms, turmeric, and beets.

It sounds like a lot, but collagen really doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple rules to follow, and you’ll have beautifully bouncing skin in days.

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