Remember the time when all brands started marketing their products as immunity builders? From toilet cleaners to even dish soap, it seemed like everything on the market could support your immunity and keep viruses away. This is exactly what happened when collagen came under the spotlight. Suddenly, all skincare brands jumped on the trend bandwagon and started using it as a marketing tool to increase their sales. Amid this chaos, with all the information on collagen spreading around the world via different channels and mediums, the real facts were left behind. This has left us with several myths about collagen supplements that need to be debunked. Here's where we come in! If you are someone who wants to know what the real deal is about collagen supplements, then this blog is for you.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein in our body that makes up our bones, skin, hair, and nails. It's the main structural protein that gives our skin elasticity and tightness. Over time, our body produces less collagen, hence the need for collagen supplements.
There are 28 different forms of collagen, but the four most common ones include:
Type I: The most prevalent form, present in all connective tissue.
Type ll: Located in joints and intervertebral discs.
Type lIl: The major component of reticular fibers, which are located in your skin and blood vessels.
Type lV: A part of your kidneys, inner ear, and eye lens.
Collagen supplements are used to increase the amount of collagen in your body. These are obtained from various animal sources, but by far the best source is considered to be Korean Marine Collagen. This collagen is sourced from deep sea fish and is one of the major ingredients used in Korean skincare products. While these are well-known facts about collagen, let’s dive into busting some common myths.
6 Myths Associated with Collagen Supplements that you Need to Know
Myth #1: Collagen supplements can only improve skin health.
Fact: Collagen is most certainly a recurring word in the skin care industry, but did you know that collagen supplements can do more than just make your skin more youthful?
Collagen is one of the structural proteins that make up our skin, bones, nails, hair, cartilage, etc. By using collagen supplements, you can not only get youthful skin but also improve the condition of your bones, nails, and hair. With bones, your body’s natural collagen keeps your joints stretchy. Since collagen production decreases as we age, the likelihood of developing joint issues like osteoarthritis increases. Collagen peptides help protect your ligaments, and tendons and strengthen bones by providing structure and integrity to the bone matrix. Collagen increases the body’s hair-building proteins, which can result in longer, thicker hair. It is also responsible for supporting the nail infrastructure and promoting nail growth.
Myth #2: Only older people need collagen supplements
Fact: Nowadays, plenty of anti-aging products use collagen, which is known to make your skin tighter. Hence, many believe that it’s a supplement for older adults who tend to have loose skin.
The truth is that collagen benefits not only seniors but also people in their 20s.
Although collagen is present in our bodies from birth, over time the production of collagen reduces, resulting in symptoms of aging like loose skin, wrinkles, etc. According to studies, our collagen production starts dropping in our 20s, and it reduces by 1% every year. As a result, it is advised to begin taking collagen supplements by the age of 25 to prevent hair loss and skin problems associated with aging.
Myth #3 Collagen and collagen peptides are the same.
Fact: If you have been looking for collagen supplements, you must have come across something called collagen peptides.
Like all other proteins, collagen is also made of a long amino acid chain. Collagen peptides, on the other hand, are broken-down pieces of these long amino acid chains. Proteins contain 50 or more amino acids, while peptides contain only 20–50 amino acids. Does this difference matter? It does. Peptides are smaller in size compared to proteins, making them easier for our body to absorb. A lot of deficiencies are caused not because of a lack of nutrition, but because of the incapability of absorbing those nutrients. Consuming collagen in the form of peptides makes it easier for the body to absorb it completely, giving you better results.
Myth #4: One can get collagen from a vegetarian diet.
Fact: Unfortunately, you can never have vegetarian or vegan collagen. All types of collagen are derived from animal sources only. If you wish to replenish your collagen levels with a collagen-rich diet, there is no other way than to consume animal products like eggs, milk, chicken, bone broth, etc. Those who have dietary restrictions can opt for collagen peptides or other collagen supplements to get their nutritional benefits.
Myth #5: Collagen supplements give immediate benefits.
Fact: There are a lot of cosmetics on the shelf that promise quick results. Yet, the majority of the time, these effects will go away as quickly as they appeared and may contain numerous harmful chemicals to produce such significant changes. If you believe collagen supplements can also transform your hair, skin, and nails overnight, then you are mistaken here. Collagen supplements help replenish the collagen levels in your body, which should take at least a month or two. But these results are long-lasting and don’t cause any harm to your body.
Myth #6: Topical application of collagen and oral intake makes no difference.
Fact: A lot of creams and serums on the market contain collagen, which can be applied topically. But the effect that these creams can have on your skin is limited to only the epidermis, which is the topmost layer of the skin. Taking supplements makes your skin healthier from within by reversing the deficiency. So it does make a very significant difference.
Wrapping Up
Collagen supplements can be a useful tool in helping you accomplish your health goals, no matter what they are. Finding the best collagen supplement might be challenging because the market is overcrowded with them. The best course of action is to inquire about the collagen peptide supplement's source, dosage, and clinical support to make sure you enjoy all of its remarkable benefits.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583892/
https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_the_best_form_of_collagen_to_take/article.htm
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