Collagen Benefits
By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director
Collagen powder can be obtained from your local store (Vital Proteins brand) or online (Custom Collagen brand) and is a great way to add protein to your daily macronutrient consumption, as well as benefit your health in several ways.
Benefits include…
May improve some measures of pain and function with those who have osteoarthritis or other arthritic conditions (1)
Decrease in swollen/tender joints for those with rheumatoid arthritis and possibly disease remission (2, 3)
Pain reduction for athletes with activity-related joint pain (4)
Increase in muscle strength and lean body mass when combined with resistance training (5)
Skin benefits: Improves structure/health, hydration, elasticity, wrinkle reduction, and UVA radiation protection (6, 7)
Increased bone formation and reduced bone degradation (8)
May benefit those with cardiovascular disease through its antihypertensive function and inhibition of cardiovascular damage (9)
Supports blood sugar regulation (10)
Supports gut health (11)
What’s the best source for collagen? The answer is homemade bone broth from pasture-raised beef or chicken. But if you can’t afford the time to prepare your own, you can opt for collagen powder from a good source and add it to food/beverages.
Source List:
(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17076983
(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8378772
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8630112
(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18416885
(6) https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TONUTRAJ/TONUTRAJ-8-29.pdf
(7) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jocd.12174
(8) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29337906
(9) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20170381?dopt=Abstract
(10) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27540823?dopt=Abstract