The benefits of collagen powder

I first learned about collagen powder when I was pregnant with my third child a couple of years ago. I needed to add more protein to my diet and a chiropractor I was seeing recommended I start taking it. She was also pregnant at the time and she said it was a really easy way to get some extra protein in without even thinking about it.

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All opinions expressed here are my own. I have learned this information by doing my own research. I am not a doctor or a professional health care consultant. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about how collagen powder might affect your personal health.

What is collagen powder you ask? Collagen powder is collagen peptides which are actually made from the connective tissues of cows and fish. I know it sounds gross, but it’s really not when it’s in power form. Our bodies actually contain collagen as well. It’s what helps us have smooth skin and strong hair and nails. As we age, the amount of collagen our body produces starts to decline.

An easy way to help replenish our collagen is to consume it in powder form on a daily basis. You can add it to your water, juice, smoothies or even coffee.

Here are some of the benefits of collagen powder:

• It contains lots of protein. Depending on the brand, collagen powder can contain up to 20 grams of protein per serving.
• It helps support healthy hair, skin and nails. Last year I was having some health issues that were causing me to lose more hair than usual. Collagen powder was one of the things that helped stop the hair loss and helped it start growing back faster.
• It helps reduce the signs of aging. As we age our skin loses its elasticity and can start to become loose and wrinkly. There are certain collagen creams and skin products that claim to help with skin elasticity, but for more long term results and benefits, you should really replenish your collagen internally.
• It can help reduce joint pain. If you have arthritis or another type of joint pain, taking collagen powder might be able to help relieve some of that. Collagen is good for bone and joint health, but it also may help with reducing inflammation.

A few tips for using collagen powder

• Add it to flavored water, juice or coffee. It says it doesn’t have a fishy taste, but I could still taste it slightly in plain water. I don’t taste it at all when I put it in my vitamin water or coffee.
• It doesn’t dissolve in cold drinks. If you put collagen powder in a cold drink it will just turn clumpy and gross. When adding it to vitamin water, I put room temperature vitamin water in a glass and then add the collagen powder before adding ice. When I make my iced coffee, I add the collagen powder to the shot of hot coffee before pouring it over ice.
• When purchasing collagen powder make sure it is a collagen hydrolysate or hydrolyzed collagen. This is the most pure form of collagen, the one you will get the most benefits from and shouldn’t have any additives. It also breaks down and dissolves easily in warm liquids as mentioned above.

I use Great Lakes collagen powder. It was the one recommended to me, it is reasonably priced, and it’s the right type of pure collagen with no additives. You can order it from Amazon by clicking on the link below.

There are many benefits to taking collagen powder, but the top one for me is the benefit of added protein. I need lots of protein in my diet and I love that adding collagen powder to my coffee is such an easy way to get it.