A decade ago, you’d be hard-pressed to find a collagen supplement on the shelves at your local grocery store.
Today?
Collagen products are EVERYWHERE. From capsules to powders to topical skincare, collagen is dominating the wellness industry.
From 2018 to 2020 alone, the collagen industry grew from a $3.5 billion market to $8.4 billion.
Why is collagen exploding in popularity? And does it deserve the hype?
The fact is, collagen has a lot of benefits for your connective tissues like joints, bones and tendons.
But over the past few years, research has found that taking collagen can also do wonders for your skin, hair and nails [1].
Brands were quick to jump on the bandwagon.
Responsible companies promoted collagen from clean, highly bioavailable sources. Others just wanted to make a buck, pushing products like collagen gummies and collagen coffee creamer.
As a result, it can be tough to separate collagen myths from facts.
Luckily, the Manna team is here to help. Below, we’ll tell you more about collagen and what it really does for your health.
And, we’ll debunk some of the most common collagen myths.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a structural protein produced by your body. It’s the most abundant protein in the body, making up about a third of your total protein.
Collagen is the main structural component in connective tissues like joints, tendons, bone and cartilage.
Your skin is comprised of about 75% collagen, and collagen is the main component of your hair and nails [2].
Essentially, collagen is what gives our bodies structure. It’s responsible for building our bones, connecting our bones to muscle, giving us mobility via our joints, and keeping everything wrapped up in skin. It also provides structure to organs like the heart, kidneys and bladder.
We can safely say that collagen is vital to your overall well-being.
Are Collagen Products a Fad?
Yes and no.
Some collagen products are definitely just fads, such as some collagen-infused drinks and topical creams. These products may contain collagen, but your body unfortunately can’t effectively benefit from them.
However, taking collagen for healthy hair, skin, nails and joints is not just a fad. Studies have found that taking high-quality collagen from highly bioavailable sources can benefit your overall health and reduce signs of aging [3].*
One study found that women who took collagen for 8 weeks showed a “significant improvement” in skin elasticity compared to those who did not [3].
Another study found that taking collagen supplements for 12 weeks resulted in visibly reduced signs of aging among participants [4].
So, you may benefit from taking collagen in as little as a few weeks. But to get high-quality collagen that your body can efficiently absorb, you first need to separate collagen myths from the facts.
5 Collagen Myths Debunked
Here are the top five collagen myths you need to know to protect your health and your wallet.
1. Only elderly people need collagen supplements
Collagen is popular for reducing signs of aging. This has led some to believe that only elderly people will benefit from taking it. But this is not true at all.
You lose about 1% of your body’s collagen every year starting in your mid-20s [5]. Smoking and exposure to sunlight will cause collagen to deplete even faster.
By age 35, your body may produce 10%-20% less collagen, resulting in early signs of aging.
It’s especially important for women to maintain healthy collagen levels from early adulthood.
Women’s skin will lose about 30% of its collagen within just five years of menopause—that’s as much as the previous 20 years combined [6]! Promoting optimal collagen levels early can protect your skin, bones and joints in the long run.
2. Topical collagen (creams and lotions) are better than collagen supplements
Collagen is good for your skin, so lathering collagen cream all over your body might make sense.
Unfortunately, it’s about as effective as getting your vitamin C by taking a bath in orange juice.
The collagen in topical products just sits on the outer layer of your skin until it washes off in the shower. Some creams are made with hydrolyzed collagen, which might penetrate the skin.
When a collagen supplement is hydrolyzed, the collagen has been broken down to increase absorption rates. But even then, your body can’t fully benefit from these tiny collagen fragments as they are unable to penetrate past the outer dermis of your skin [7].
On the other hand, collagen consumed orally supports the body’s natural collagen production because it can be absorbed through the bloodstream. This allows for the full range of benefits for your body, such as benefits to deep skin layers and connective tissue.
For collagen to be effective, it must be hydrolyzed and absorbed in the digestive tract. Experts recommend drinking hydrolyzed collagen peptides in a supplement like Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides.
Manna’s collagen peptides are combined with liposomes to protect collagen as it travels through your digestive tract, helping you get up to 10x more nutrition with every dose.
3. You get enough collagen from your diet alone
Young people under 25 may get enough collagen from their diets. But remember, as you age, you need more and more collagen to make up for collagen depletion.
This can be especially difficult for vegetarians and vegans, as many collagen-rich foods come from animal sources, such as meat, seafood, eggs and fish.
Luckily, vitamin C is a precursor to collagen. If you eat a lot of vitamin-C-rich foods, your body can produce collagen effectively. Unfortunately, less than 10% of Americans achieve optimal vitamin C levels [8]. And, collagen will still deplete as you age even if you get plenty of vitamin C.
There is no way to test for collagen deficiency at this time. But it’s safe to assume that most of us don’t get enough collagen in our diets.
4. You can mix collagen supplements with coffee
A popular collagen product is collagen coffee creamer. Many other collagen products are advertised as coffee additives. But research has found that dumping collagen in your coffee is the same as dumping it in the trash.
When added to coffee, collagen’s molecular structure breaks down [7]. Even worse, studies have found that caffeine “significantly” inhibits collagen biosynthesis in skin, meaning it prevents collagen from benefiting your skin [9].
On the other hand, Manna’s Liposomal Collagen supplement is not exposed to heat during processing and is recommended to be mixed with cold liquids to keep the collagen protein stable. But, to be fair, as long as you aren’t taking a blow torch to the supplement, you can add to your warm coffee!
5. Collagen is only good for your skin
The wellness industry is obsessed with collagen for its effect on signs of aging. But collagen benefits much more than just your skin.
Collagen provides structure to your entire body from your cells all the way up to your skeleton and joints. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and it’s critical to mobility, organ function, cellular health and much more.
This is why it’s so important to maintain a diet high in collagen and to increase your collagen consumption as you age. If you feel like you don’t get enough collagen in your diet, consider taking a comprehensive collagen supplement like Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides.
Collagen Myths: Busted
Now that we’ve debunked some of the most popular collagen myths, you’re ready to shop for a collagen product that benefits your overall health.
Manna produces three different collagen supplements, making it easy to choose a collagen type for your specific needs.
All of our collagen supplements are hydrolyzed and bound to liposomes to promote maximum bioavailability.
And, our collagen is derived from whole food and sustainable animal sources with no hormones, antibiotics or steroids.
Manna Liposomal Collagen Peptides: Type 1 and type 3 collagen from grass-fed bovine combine forces to fight signs of aging and support bone and muscle health.
Don’t wait to make collagen a part of your diet or supplement routine.
Collagen is much more than a fad. It forms the building blocks for a healthy and youthful you.
FAQ
Common collagen myths include beliefs that only elderly people need collagen supplements, that topical collagen is more effective than oral supplements, and that collagen can be fully obtained from diet alone.
Yes, high-quality collagen supplements can improve skin health by increasing skin elasticity and reducing signs of aging. Oral supplements are more effective than topical products.
Yes, adding collagen to hot coffee can break down its molecular structure, reducing its effectiveness. It’s better to consume collagen supplements with cold or room-temperature liquids.
No, while some collagen products may be fads, high-quality collagen supplements from bioavailable sources provide genuine health benefits for skin, joints, hair, and nails.
Collagen is primarily found in animal products, making it difficult for vegetarians and vegans to get enough through diet alone. Supplementing with collagen can be beneficial, especially as collagen production decreases with age.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681787/
- https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Collagen.aspx
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23949208/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22956862/
- http://pdf.xuebalib.com:1262/5ipkUam1I908.pdf
- https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/skin-care-during-menopause#:~:text=In%20menopause%2C%20skin%20quickly%20loses,for%20the%20next%2020%20years.
- https://today.tamu.edu/2019/11/04/collagen-in-your-coffee-a-scientist-says-forget-it/
- https://www.nutri-facts.org/en_US/news/articles/u-s—nhanes.html#:~:text=About%2021%20million%20Americans%20have,(100%20micromole%20per%20liter).
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4206198/
