Can eating collagen improve your skin? It’s a big claim, but various research shows that collagen can lead to healthier skin. So can eating collagen increase your skin’s collagen production, improve skin elasticity and firmness, keep you young, prevent skin damage from free radicals, alleviate fine lines and wrinkles, prevent or reduce photo-aging (looking older), prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place and so on…? There are certain nutrients found in collagen which can enhance hormonal activity within your body, which ultimately results in looking younger and feeling rejuvenated.
People are looking for collagen supplements because they believe they will help them get a youthful appearance and maintain it for longer, and some studies appear to confirm the effectiveness of these supplements. On the other hand, many people choose instead to rely more on food sources that are natural sources of collagen, like whole grains, nuts, seeds, and beans.
“The marketing of collagen supplements is taking people for a ride, a bit unless they are deficient in certain dietary amino acids, in which case, of course, it will benefit. But they could equally get that from just increasing amounts and/or diversity of protein intake,” explained scientist Pia Winberg.
There is growing evidence that consuming collagen may be effective in treating skin issues. The body needs collagen whenever there is injury or wear and tear on the collagen fibers. We get these natural substances through our diet, but as people get older, their stomachs are not as well able to process these substances as they used to. The body responds by producing less of the substance and instead turns to collagen produced by the body itself. The collagen supplement isn’t just for fixing your skin—it can also help with your health. Collagen is one of the most important building blocks of your body. Without it, your muscles won’t grow as quickly or repair themselves properly.