All About Collagen

Everything you want to know about my favorite collagen peptides!

What are collagen peptides? Why do you take them? Should I take them?

These are questions I get asked pretty much every time I give you guys a peek at my morning routine on insta-stories… and they are all valid questions! You should know what you’re putting into your body!

I personally started taking Vital Proteins collagen peptides a few years ago. It was something I was hearing a lot of buzz around in the wellness space, so obviously I wanted to see what the fuss was about. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely convinced at first. But as someone who doesn’t eat red meat at all – the thought of easily incorporating collagen protein into my diet was intriguing.

*I am not a doctor or medical professional. This post reflects my opinions, as well as what I have read about the topic. I hope this is helpful for you, but I would also encourage you to do your own research too!

All About Collagen

Before we dive into collagen peptides, let’s talk about plain old collagen. To put it simply, it’s the substance that holds the body together. This structural protein can be found in the skin, bones, muscles, connective tissues, tendon and ligaments. It’s what gives our skin elasticity, strength, and even a little glow because it helps replace dead skin cells. It also helps keep our joints nice and healthy. Unfortunately, our bodies produce less and less collagen as we age… hence why wrinkles start to appear, joint pain can become an issue, and our skin starts to sag. In addition to aging, this can also happen even quicker if you don’t take good care of yourself. If you’ve been smoking cigarettes, consuming too much sugar, or getting a lot of unprotected sun exposure, cut that out ASAP!

But what about collagen peptides?

Collagen peptides, or hydrolyzed collagen, supply amino acids that are needed to build new collagen and promote collagen synthesis, like Glycine and Proline. Collagen peptides also help maintain and restore the protein content of the muscle – making it a really smart pre/post workout choice. Plus there’s no sugar in it, unlike a lot of other typical protein powders/supplements out there.

These peptides are amino acids that have been derived from pasture-raised, grass fed bovine hides. If that is outside of your comfort zone, I understand! It seemed strange for me to say no to beef, but yes to Vital Proteins collagen peptides all the time, so I gravitated towards their marine collagen as well. I started by switching off between the two, but ultimately decided to just stick to the collagen peptides since it wasn’t upsetting my stomach at all!

Q&A:

How do you consume collagen peptides?

I usually mix the collagen peptides right into my coffee in the morning. If I don’t do that, it’s usually because I’m also planning to make a smoothie with Vital Proteins Protein Powder that day – which also has collagen in it!

Can you taste it?

The main reason why I prefer to get collagen from supplements, instead of things like bone broths, is because you can’t taste it. Both the collagen peptides and marine collagen are totally unflavored and they dissolve into your liquid really easily. That beings said, Vital Proteins does have a bunch of flavored options including protein powders, matcha, coffee creamers, and more!

What are the benefits?

Cosmetically, collagen peptides are great for skin health. They promote younger looking skin by reducing fine lines, preventing the formation of deep wrinkles, and improving skin moisture levels. It also strengthens our hair and supports nail growth. Internally, it helps your bone and joint health, as well as your gut health. In fact, collagen contains 18 amino acids that can help increase stomach acid, heal stomach ulcers, aid digestion, and heal/seal the gut lining. Vital Proteins has a great article about these benefits as well as the different types of collagen on their site – I highly recommend checking it out if you’re interested in reading more!

While you could opt to just eat collagen rich and protein rich foods, that can be hard to do every day, especially if you don’t eat red meat like me. That’s why dietary supplements like Vital Proteins are such a great addition to your healthy routine!

How long before you started noticing a difference?

I personally didn’t see “results” right away. It’s not something you add to your coffee one morning and wake up the next feeling and looking different. Instead, you will start to see long term benefits if you take it consistently.

What were the biggest changes you saw?

My hair has always been very thin, and I definitely thinks it helps my hair stay healthy. I can also go months in between hair cuts now, because I rarely get split ends. Plus, it grows faster! All around good things for the hair.

I’ve also noticed a difference in my skin. Collagen is essentially the protein that keeps your skin looking youthful. It gives it the elasticity and glow that we all want. I’ve always had a “young face” so I love that this is an easy way to keep that part of my identity 😂 As a 33 year old, I aways appreciate healthy preventative steps rather than dramatic anti-aging treatments!

And of course, my nails! I don’t think my nails have ever been this strong. Who wouldn’t want that? I also like to believe that it helps my gut health too, although that’s a little bit harder to pinpoint and “prove” for me.

What makes some collagen from certain companies better than others?

I think it’s all about reading ingredients and researching the brands you want to try. Vital Proteins has always been my go-to because they’ve always been very transparent about their products and ingredients. I also love that they have headquarters in Chicago, and you can purchase all of their products on their website, Amazon.com, or even at Whole Foods!

Whats the difference between the beauty water mix and regular collagen mix? Same benefits?

The Beauty Waters are basically collagen + some, and they vary based on the flavor you get. While topical collagen products mostly use marketing jargon, these beauty waters work to help you get those anti-aging cosmetic benefits from the inside out. I also love that they have probiotics, too!

Does it provide a good source of protein for plant based eaters?

If by plant based, you mean that you try to eat more veggies than meat – yes! If by plant based, you mean strict vegetarain – no! Collagen is not a vegetarian product!

What would be a comparable substitute for vegetarians?

Unfortunately, you need to go a different route if you are a vegetarian – but there are still options! First of all, you can make adjustments to your diet. This article has a great list of vegetarian food sources that increase collagen production. You can also find supplements with ingredients that help you naturally produce collagen. The most interesting one I’ve found is silica. Silica actually boosts collagen production by 50%!! If I was a vegetarian, I’d start there (this one looks good!), but definitely do some research on your own. There’s tons of information out there!

What do you mix the matcha green tea with?

Just to warn you – this is not a super concise recipe, but it does the trick! I start by heating some water in my tea kettle, and adding a scoop of matcha to a mug. Once the water is heated, add a few tablespoons of water to the matcha in your mug. Whisk until all of the matcha powder is dissolved, then add more water – about 3/4 of your mug. After that, I’ll froth some oat milk to pour on top. If I’m feeling like I want a treat, I’ll also add a few drops of a vanilla stevia sweetener I have. And that’s it! So easy!

What is the recommended amount of collagen that a person should take?

I personally use one scoop of Vital Proteins collagen peptides or marine collage each day. That translates to about 10 grams. According to my research, that’s pretty normal – but as I always say, every body is different! Feel free to experiment and/or ask questions until you figure out what’s right for you.

Are there any side effects or cons?

I had a follower tell me that she had an awful reaction to collagen peptides – stomach ache and more. After hearing that, I did some googling and found this article about side effects. Turns out collagen supplements can contain a high amount of calcium, and too much calcium in the body can cause constipation, fatigue, nausea, and more. I am not a nutritionist or a doctor, so I really can’t speak any further about these side effects. All I can say is that you should listen to your body and pay attention to how it reacts to what you put in there!

What do you think of Vital Proteins’ other products?

I first wrote this post a few years ago and since then I’ve really become a collagen purist. My favorite products are the Collagen Peptides and Protein Powder. In fact, I have been so obsessed with the Cold Brew protein powder recently that I think I’m going to order the Chocolate and Strawberry to try, too. Seriously, it’s so good. And so much protein!

I also think there matcha is delicious when I want something besides coffee, and their collagen creamers are great – especially if you have the stick pack when you’re traveling. And if you’re feeling sick at all, their Defense shots are the best!

Do you have any other questions about collagen?

Would you like to see any particular kinds of recipes using these products? I’m all ears! And if you’re interested in trying it out for yourself, check out VitalProteins.com or shop the widget below:

*This post was sponsored by Vital Proteins, but (as always) all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that make Lake Shore Lady possible!

PS. You might also like The Benefits of CBD!