What Are Collagen Peptides? An Intro To My Favorite Supplement

*This post contains affiliate links*

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you probably know that I am not a huge fan of marketing gimmicks like ‘miracle’ protein shakes and ‘skinny’ teas.

I’ll also be the first to admit that the reason these products don’t sit well with me now is because i’ve been allured by them in the past and wasted a SHIT TON of money on them.

I am very careful to only recommend supplements and products to my clients that I have personally had great success with, and in my opinion are worth the price tag.

Since healing my gut, there are only a few supplements that I take religiously: a daily probiotic, HCL with protein-heavy meals, and my favorite: collagen peptides.

What are collagen peptides?

from the vital proteins website:

"Collagen peptides are short chain amino acids naturally derived from pasture-raised, grass-fed collagen protein. Unlike gelatin, these peptides are soluble in cold liquids as well as hot. Collagen peptides contain the same amino acids as gelatin which are identical to the protein found in skin, nails, hair, bones, cartilage, and joints. Gluten Free, rBGH Free, Non GMO.”

I decided to start using collagen peptides during a time when I was suffering from horrible acne, digestive problems, and hair loss. Needless to say, I became intrigued for vanity reasons but continue to use this product on a daily basis because I have noticed SO many improvements in my health.

What are collagen peptides useful for?

Hair/skin/nail health - Collagen supplementation has been proven to improve skin elasticity and rejuvenation. I believe that supplementing with collagen was one of the most important factors in healing my cystic acne. I have also personally noticed an improvement in how fast my hair and nails grow since starting to use it.

Bones/ joints - Did you know that 90% of our bone mass is collagen? Research has shown that in addition to vitamins and minerals(calcium, vitamin D, k2), collagen supplementation has been shown to stimulate bone formation. Collagen has also been proven as an effective treatment of osteoarthritis and joint pain. (source)

Gut health - the amino acid profile of collagen is similar to that of bone broth, and provides a healing and soothing effect on the digestive tract. It also contains glycine, an amino acid that improves nutrient assimilation and stomach acid production.

Metabolic function - High levels of tryptophan occur from primarily eating the ‘muscle meats’ of animals which is a common practice in our diets today. This can be problematic by causing the amino acid profile of our blood to contain increased cortisol - a stress hormone that interferes with healthy thyroid, hormone, and metabolic function. Collagen contains the amino acids cysteine, methionine and histidine which help to balance out the high levels of tryptophan - ultimately leading to improved metabolic function.

Protein - if you are someone who has a hard time digesting whole-food sources of protein, collagen peptides are an excellent source of bioavailable protein (18 grams per 2 scoop serving). I often recommend collagen as a replacement for other processed, sweetened protein powders.

Added bonus: collagen peptides are completely flavorless, so you can add them to any smoothie, cold/hot beverage, or soup! I personally love using them in my nightly banana soft serve - they give it an extra creamy texture :)

Recipe:

- 1/2 cup almond/ coconut milk (more if consistency is too thick)
- 1-2 frozen bananas
- 1-2 tbsp nut butter (optional)
- dash of salt
- 1/2 tsp vanila
- 1 cup ice
- Stevia/honey to taste (optional)

Blend in Vitamix or other high powered blender until “soft-serve” consistency

- add toppings: chocolate chips, fruit, nuts, whip cream

This is the brand of collagen peptides that I use and recommend:

Vital proteins - I love that they are transparent about their sourcing, and all of their products are from pasture-raised animals.

Want to turn your passion for nutrition into a business (you can run from anywhere?)

Collagen Peptides vs. Gelatin

Both options are great, in my opinion! Collagen peptides (blue container) dissolve easily into hot or cold drinks, making them a great option for smoothies, soups, baking, you name it!

Gelatin (green container) has all of the same properties as the peptides, but will gel if mixed into cold liquids - so this one is better for hot uses or making gummies :)

Do you use collagen? What improvements have you noticed?

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