You heard it right—collagen is making a comeback into the wellness world in a powdered form to replace your coffee whitener.
What is collagen?
Collagen is a naturally produced protein found in the connective tissues between bones as well as in muscles, skin, blood vessels, and tendons. The most abundant protein in the body, it makes our skin elastic and helps promote dead skin cell turnover. You may have heard about collagen as one of the main ingredients in anti-aging face creams. But its role in the body extends beyond our youthful looks—collagen is an essential part of our joint cartilage. As we age, our body start producing less and less collagen, which translates into wrinkles, sagging skin, and a slew of joint problems. (This miracle berry revitalizes your cells.)
There is a substantive body of research demonstrating collagen’s beneficial effects for people with osteoarthritis. One study showed that a daily intake of 8 to 12 grams of collagen improved symptoms of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. A longer study, spanning over 24 weeks, found that athletes experienced less joint pain when supplementing with collagen. Oral collagen intake has also been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
A cup of bone broth or a cup of coffee?
Traditionally, to counteract the effects of decreasing collagen levels, health enthusiasts have been drinking rich, homemade bone broth. A simple recipe for reducing joint pain and inflammation, bone broth has been a go-to natural source of collagen for years. The flipside of this wonder remedy? It takes a long time to make. So, it comes as no surprise that in our fast-paced world, people are looking for an “instant” way to supplement collagen.
Most powdered collagen additives are made from the connective tissues of cows. Once in the drink, the collagen doesn’t take on the consistency of gelatin (a derivative of collagen), instead, it easily dissolves. Producers of this protein-loaded mix claim that it doesn’t really alter the taste of your drink and the benefits experienced from a tablespoon or two are worth giving it a try. However, as with many similar products, powdered collagen supplements aren’t strongly regulated by the FDA. (Eat this! Get stronger.)
Whether you want to try mixing collagen powder in your cup of java or want to wait 10 hours to make bone broth in a slow cooker, collagen supplementation may be a good way to help strengthen your joints through dietary means. With its roster of benefits, collagen won’t just help you look good , it may help you feel good too.