It feels like Collagen Peptides are all the rage right now. But what you really want to know is whether or not it's right for you. Think about your symptoms, your pain, your primary health concerns.
For me, I know my body needs it. I grew up as a dancer and a gymnast. Because of this, I'm hypermobile, meaning my elbows and shoulders hyperextend, I have a ton of muscle fatigue, and I tend to feel better overall with a higher protein intake. If I make a smoothie, it's a great way for me to get in my greens, but I don't always have enough protein for a full meal. Adding in collagen helps round out the meal!
So let's slow this down. What exactly IS Collagen Peptides?
Collagen Peptides are made from bovine hides. You always want to look for pasture-raised bovine. The hides are cleaned and soaked in hot water to remove the fat, then soaked in an alkaline or acid solution to facilitate the release of collagen. The hides are cooked in water with varying temperatures that fluctuate up to 190 degrees to extract the collagen from the hides. The Collagen Peptides are broken down further with an enzyme treatment, and then the final step is evaporation and milling, which results in the powder form of collagen. The process doesn't involve high heat, and results in a fresh product.
What does that mean for you? Well, collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and is critical for your connective tissue. You have different types of tissue all through your body, but your connective tissue is what we're focused on today. Even your spinal cord and brain are essentially wrapped into connective tissue. So, keeping it optimal is critical to every day movement and keeping your body pain free.
Not everyone has a critical need for collagen, but if you suffer from musculoskeletal issues, it might be the component you've been missing. Muscoloskeletal issues could be things like:
Joint Pain, especially seemingly coming or going, flaring in random places, and not related to a specific injury
Hypermobility, double-jointed, hyperflexible
Accident prone, such as twisting ankles, tripping, falling, clumsy - tendon and ligaments easily injured
Joints constantly pop or click, snap, or get stuck in certain positions
Wake up feeling stiff and achy, but it's relieved by movement
Chronic neck or back pain or tightness/tension
Pins and Needles tingling or pain, numbness in your hands and/or feet, shooting pain in your arms or legs
Painful massage, especially in your arms, legs, or booty
If any of those apply, you might have some chronic muscoloskeletal inflammation going on, and collagen can help!
Bonus? It's also great for skin elasticity, which we see decrease with age (and dehydration), as well as hair and nails.
Vital Proteins is my brand of choice (also, affiliate, because I love them!). Their collagen peptides are specifically formulated for the highest bioavailability meaning a high rate of digestion and absorption, and they're easy to use. Blend into a smoothie, a cold beverage, a hot beverage (my favorite is my hot coffee) and they even have friendly packets you can take on the go, especially for people who travel frequently! One of my favorite highlights? It's also Whole30 Approved. YES!
Now for the super in depth analysis? Don't worry, this chart includes a breakdown of your amino acids.
If you're ready to take the next step and incorporate Collagen Peptides into your diet, simply click on either photo in this post to grab your first order! Keep in mind it can take at least 2-3 weeks to see a difference, and you may need to initially INCREASE your amount (recommended is 2 scoops - don't be afraid of doing 3 or 4!) to get your levels up.
