Chances are you’ve either heard of or know someone who is taking collagen.  The hype around glowing skin, stronger, healthier looking hair and joint pain relief is all everyone is talking about these days.

But let’s be real, especially with hot new trends, most people have no idea why they’re using something.  All they know is that their neighbor has been taking it and has seen amazing results and they want in on the action.  So how long is it going to take for you to see the same results as Sally?

What is collagen anyway? 

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body.  It gives structure to your skin, bones, ligaments and tendons, teeth, and connective tissues.  This means it keeps your joints healthy (so you’re not in pain rolling out of bed in the morning) and keeps the skin elastic (so your face doesn’t look like a Chinese Shar Pei), just to name a few.

Our bodies’ collagen production decreases as we get older, much like most things, and it’s becoming increasingly more popular (and important) to supplement with collagen to keep us looking good, feeling strong, and healthy.

While there are 28 different types of collagen proteins, the three most common include: type l (for skin),  type ll (joint health), and type III (skin & organs).

But really, how long until my wrinkles go away and my joints stop hurting? 

According to a recent study, it takes on average 6-12 weeks of consistent use for collagen to start showing benefits for noticeable skin improvement.  In addition, a 2012 study found that it takes about 3-6 months of consistent use for collagen to yield benefits on your creaky and achy joints.  In both instances, studies were performed with low dosages (3-10g daily) which indicates that using higher doses of collagen would lead to faster results.

Much like losing weight, you didn’t develop poor skin in a day so don’t expect to have it bounce back to health overnight.  It takes time and consistent effort.

Bringing it home, which collagen should I get? 

You want to make sure what you take works, right?  Absorption and quality is of top priority when looking at a collagen powder.  You want to look for a “hydrolyzed” collagen that is pre-digested and very easy for your body to absorb and utilize.  You also want to avoid anything that has been treated with high temperatures or chemicals.  This denatures the products that take away from your results.

If you need help picking the right collagen for you, reach out to any one of our Certified Sports Nutrition Specialists at Peak.  Our goal is to GET YOU RESULTS.

If you found this blog helpful, make sure to follow us on Instagram @peakAZ for more tips and tricks, and come visit us at one of our store locations!