by Freda Coetzee
Can Collagen Help With Weight Loss?
Collagen has many health and beauty benefits and might help you lose weight too What is collagen? Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and is responsible for the structural integrity of your body. It creates structure within your bones, cartilage, tendons, connective tissue, muscles, and skin. Without collagen, you’ll just be a bunch of cells connected by a few neurons. Like all proteins, collagen is made up of amino acids. Collagen tends to be high in glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. Amino acids are shaped like chains and the amino acids in collagen are tightly woven together – like a twisted rope. This strong and stable protein is known as the anti-aging superstar since it improves skin elasticity, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and increases skin hydration. Collagen can also help: Reduce bone loss Improve brittle nails Boost hair health Support heart health Collagen supplements Your body naturally produces collagen, but the making of collagen drastically decreases as you age. To boost the amount of collagen in your body, you can eat bone broth, chicken, or egg whites. Alternatively, you can take a collagen supplement. Collagen supplements help your body produce more of the protein. These supplements are made from the bones and tissues of animals, like cows, horses, pigs, or fish and they are available in many forms like pills, gummies, powders, liquid or in some foods and drinks. In order for your body to absorb collagen properly, and produce ample amounts of the protein, you need to take vitamin C. Can collagen enhance weight loss? There is no solid research that proves collagen to be good for weight loss. More research is needed to get some conclusive results. Collagen will not magically help you burn fat, but it might help build muscle, reduce fat accumulation, and help you feel full after meals. Other than that, collagen might help you recover faster after exercise. Collagen might help: Build muscleEating lots of protein will help you build muscle. Muscle burns lots of calories, even when you are resting.One 2015 study noted that participants who took collagen peptides built more muscle and lost more fat than participants who took a placebo.It is important to note that collagen does not have all the amino acids your body needs – you cannot simply swap out other forms of protein for collagen. Reduce fat accumulationSome evidence suggests that collagen can hinder the development and accumulation of fat cells.Collagen from skate, a kind of fish, has been used in a 2018 animal study and a 2019 study on humans. Both mice and humans seemed to have lost some fat but the results, especially in humans, were minimal. SatietyBecause collagen is a protein, it can suppress your appetite and help you feel full for longer. According to a 2020 study, high-protein diets increase satiety hormones and suppress ghrelin, a hunger hormone.Again, it is important to note that collagen does not have all the essential amino acids your body needs, and you can’t simply replace other sources of protein with collagen. Relieve joint painCollagen has been used to treat joint and connective tissue injuries in the past. If your joints are healthy, it can make it easier to do physical activities. If you are able to do more exercise and other physical activities, you can lose more weight.Some studies have proven that collagen can help with joint pain. A 2017 study found that athletes who took collagen peptides, had less pain in their knee joints. Takeaway More evidence is needed to link collagen to weight loss. Collagen might influence your weight since it can help you to eat less as you feel full sooner. It might also reduce fat accumulation and help build muscle. Lastly, collagen can relieve joint pain making exercise more comfortable.
