6 PROS and CONS of Collagen Supplements - Is it Right For You?

Collagen is becoming a trend in the health and skincare industry. It has suddenly become supertrendy among the clean eating crowd, mainly due to its supposed benefits like relieving joint pains, improving gut health, and reducing appearance of wrinkles  Few people use these and advertise how collagen supplements seemed to help in their problem or concern, the next thing, people are talking about it and using it, without actually knowing the science behind it or that other factors which are not accounted for may have played part. But how helpful is collagen supplementation? Here’s a balanced breakdown of the pros and cons of collagen supplementation to help you decide whether it’s right for you or worth your money.

Pros:

• Collagen peptide powders are easy to use, convenient, and dissolve into liquids and other foods without adding much flavor.  However, you have to make sure that it comes from a high-quality source and not from a manufacturers using cheap raw materials.
• You don’t have to turn to expensive powders or pills. Regular gelatin and homemade bone broth can be cheaper alternatives that are still packed with collagen. Gelatin is essentially just collagen that’s been cooked. Bone broth is made from boiling collagen-rich materials. That means both options provide the amino acids needed to produce collagen. But you need to check your sources. And remember that more collagen ingested doesn’t always equal more collagen in your body.
• There have been a few studies that have showed promising results for skin elasticity in women, muscle mass, and joint function in athletes.

Cons:

• These collagen supplements aren’t guaranteed to be absorbed and used in the way you intend. Like any protein you eat, collagen supplements are broken down into amino acids and put back together and utilized how your body sees fit. It may not be reconstructed as collagen, so your levels may not raise significantly. Collagen is also low in some essential amino acids, so make sure to eat other good sources of complete proteins.
• Collagen is a large molecule. Too large to be easily absorbed by your skin. That fact makes collagen creams and other cosmetic products that contain the protein a bad bet for increasing levels in your skin.
• There are only few scientific studies on collagen supplementation, which are less thorough and only done in small populations. As such the claims cannot be counted as conclusive. A more thorough, large-scale research about absorption and benefits will paint a clearer scientific picture about collagen supplementation.