This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Kelly Xiong. Find her on Instagram at @k.3lly. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Collagen drinks have become extremely popular recently. With the rise of gym culture and more people buying supplements, collagen drinks have become highly sought-after. Before buying a collagen powder mix, you should know what they are, what they do and if you even need it. There are a lot of collagen mixes on the market but it’s important to distinguish the good ones from the bad. The internet, though it can be a great source of information, there can also be a lot of misinformation. Knowing which sources to trust and which brands are legit versus the ones that aren’t can make all the difference.
What is collagen?
Collagen makes up most of the proteins in our bodies. It makes up about 30% of all the proteins in the body. It is the primary building block for the skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues. Collagen can also be found in our organs and blood vessels. Its main role is to provide structure, strength and support throughout the entire body. One of the roles collagen plays in our body is to give elasticity to our skin.
Our body naturally produces collagen, but as we age, we produce less and less of it and the existing collagen we do have breaks down faster. This is where the collagen supplements come in. It is a way to supplement collagen that we are losing in order to still retain most of its benefits, especially when choosing the best collagen supplements for enhanced skin, joint, and bone health.
Collagen can be found in foods but you can also take them through supplements such as pills, gummies, drinks or powdered mixes.
Are collagen drinks safe?
A big question before taking anything is “are collagen drinks safe?” One of the easiest ways to supplement lost collagen is through liquid. You can buy little packets of powdered collagen to mix in with water or a smoothie and drink throughout the day. Many studies have been done on the benefits and effectiveness of collagen supplements and there have been some commonly cited benefits. However, scientists are still debating the benefits of these collagen supplements and how there should be more studies diving into the less well-understood benefits such as lowering blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
There are some side effects to collagen supplements, however. They’re not huge, or very common, but if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you probably should hold off on taking these supplements until more research comes out about their safety during these stages.
How much collagen should you take?
Research has shown that you can safely consume around 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen a day. This varies depending on which supplement you decide to take. Each ingredient label will tell you what the intended amount taken is.
Recommended collagen supplements
The New York Post recently published their best and most effective collagen supplements. As backed by experts and scientists. This is a good place to start if you don’t know where to start looking for a good collagen supplement. The list includes gummies, pills, powders and tablets.
Foods with collagen in them
Collagen is also naturally occurring in certain foods. If you’re skeptical about taking supplements, you can also eat more foods with more collagen in them. Some high-collagen foods are bone broth, chicken, red meat, fruits and vegetables. Other high-protein foods such as eggs are another easy way to add more collagen into your diet.
Have you tried any collagen supplements? What do you think—are collagen drinks safe? If so, let us know which one is your favorite?
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