Collagen is a hot topic right now in the health and beauty world, having rapidly become one of the most popular supplements on the market over the past few years.
And it’s not hard to understand why: research has increasingly shown that collagen is vital to maintaining our overall health as we age. It has an especially strong impact on how we look, with everything from wrinkles to sagging skin and hair loss being caused by the fact that our collagen levels fall as we get older.
And that’s why many people have turned to collagen supplements to help out!
But if you’re looking to start taking a collagen supplement, you may be wondering: how much do I need to take to see the benefits? Collagen supplements come in varying strengths, but is a high-strength collagen supplement really the better choice?
In this post, we’ll look at the different types of collagen you can buy and the varying strengths on offer, as well as answering some frequently asked questions to help you make the best decision when starting to take collagen supplements.
What is collagen?
Let’s start with the basics! Collagen is a protein found pretty much everywhere in the human body, from joints and ligaments to hair and skin. In fact, it’s the most common protein in the human body!
Collagen is produced naturally in our bodies, but unfortunately, we produce less of it as we age. At some point in our twenties, our body will gradually start to slow down its collagen production – and this results in many of the more unfortunate aspects of ageing.
Our inability to fully replenish and replace our existing collagen leads to a range of problems, including:
- Wrinkles
- Sagging skin
- Joint aches and pains
- Muscle loss
Thankfully, there are things you can do to keep your body producing more collagen for longer. Lifestyle factors have an impact on the rate at which your collagen production slows, including:
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- A diet high in sugar and processed foods
- Sun exposure
And then, of course, there’s the other way you can help to boost your collagen levels: supplements! As we age, supplementation becomes increasingly valuable as a way to slow down and even reverse the effects of collagen loss on your body.
But what types of supplements are best? Well, first we need to look at the different kinds of collagen supplement you can buy, and then we need to consider the different strengths available.
What types of collagen are there?
Given how important it is to the human body, you might be unsurprised to find out there are no fewer than 28 different types of collagen in our bodies!
Thankfully, there are only a handful that do most of the work of keeping us healthy and active, and these are the ones you’ll usually find in supplements:
- Type 1 is the most common type of collagen in the human body, and is the most important for skin, hair and nail health, as well as keeping you fit and active as you age.
- Type 2 is mostly useful for cartilage, helping to cushion your joints and resist any wear and tear.
- Type 3 is the second most common type of collagen in your body and is thought to be important for gut health.
While the many other forms of collagen do play a role in your overall health and wellbeing, these are the three key types to be aware of.
When it comes to supplements, you’ll want to look out for those that contain Type 1 and 3 collagen, as these are the most abundant in our bodies and the ones that’ll most need replenishing as you get older.
When choosing a supplement, you’ll also have to look out for what source of collagen they use. The two most common are bovine and marine collagen – as you might guess, this just means they’ve sourced the collagen from cows or from fish.
While both bovine and marine collagen provide benefits, marine collagen is more bioavailable, meaning its easier for the body to absorb it.
Are there different strengths of collagen supplement?
So, now you know why a collagen supplement could be a great way to help fight off some of those more unfortunate signs of ageing. But you’ll quickly discover that yes, there are a range of different strengths on offer when it comes to collagen supplements, which can be a little confusing if you’re a first-time buyer.
What strength of collagen supplement do I need?
So, which strength of supplement should you go for to get the best results?
In fact, there is no specific amount of collagen we need to offset the ageing process – it depends on a wide range of factors, including your age and lifestyle, and research into the topic is still in its early stages.
However, its generally accepted that daily servings of collagen between 2.5g and 15g are safe, with higher daily intakes having more benefits. For instance, while 2.5g per day might help with skin sagging, higher amounts are more likely to lead to improvements in joint health in addition to helping with your skin.
But strength isn’t everything. A stronger supplement that is from a lower-quality source may not have as much impact as a lower-strength, higher-quality one. Ideally, of course, you’d have both quality and strength!
Does high-strength collagen work faster?
As with most supplements, higher dosages will tend to have a more significant impact, meaning the effects will be visible more quickly. This is especially true if you’re older, as your body’s collagen production will have slowed more, so you’ll need higher levels of supplementation to offset these effects.
Is high-strength collagen safe to take daily?
Yes, you can take high-strength collagen daily without issues. As we mentioned above, doses up to 15g daily are considered safe. Of course, as with anything to do with your health, you should consult your doctor if you have any concerns or are be treated for any related conditions.
Conclusion
So, let’s sum up: collagen supplements are an increasingly popular way to reverse some of the signs of ageing, including wrinkles, sagging skin, and stiff joints. Types 1 and 3 are the most important, as they’re the most prevalent in the human body, while marine collagen is the easiest to absorb.
On this basis, we’d recommend looking for a high-quality, high-strength supplement that uses marine collagen. At present, the only product that ticks all those boxes is sold by Reverse Life, who offer the highest strength marine collagen supplement currently on the market, with a generous 10,000mg (10g) of collagen in each serving.
