Adding Collagen To Your Diet
I’ve never considered my hair to be my crowning glory and my nails are a train wreck. They’re papery thin and tear no matter how short they are. It finally occurred to me that I may be lacking in collagen. Since collagen is principally found in animal products and I haven’t eaten meat since 2007, it’s not much of a stretch to think I may be deficient in it.
Our collagen production slows down as we get older, so if I am already lacking because of my diet, it’s a double whammy. My sister-in-law has been adding collagen to her morning tea for years and swears by it. I assumed I was out of luck because I don’t eat meat until Collagen For Her reached out.
They asked if I would be interested in trying their product and sharing it with you. I initially said no because I assumed it would be made with beef. When they explained they make a pure Marine Collagen Beauty Blend with Biotin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin C, I was all in!
It’s made from hydrolyzed fish collagen and has added hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Biotin, Natural Flavor. OK, that’s a perfect formula for me because I know taking Biotin helps your skin and hair plus hyaluronic acid helps boost skin elasticity. Collagen in skin creams is nothing new and it makes sense that the best way to get it into our bodies is from the inside out. Don’t get me wrong, if you’ve got a great collagen face cream it can’t hurt, but what we put in our bodies also makes a huge difference.
I simply add one scoop to my afternoon tea and it dissolves completely leaving no floating gunk and it has no taste! To be honest, I assumed it would have a fishy taste, but nada. I can’t tell it’s in there.
Collagen plays a key role in the elasticity of our skin and a lack of it can cause dry skin and wrinkles. Hand up here because my skin is dry, dry, dry. Collagen also helps relieve joint pain. I don’t know about you, but some mornings I wake up, and every joint hurts. I do have a lot of arthritis in my hands these days and I’m hoping that adding collagen to my diet helps. Collagen is supposed to have some pain-relieving properties
What are the benefits of adding collagen to your diet?
Multiple studies report:
- it helps relieve joint pain from arthritis
- has the key amino acid glutamine, which helps prevent inflammation in the gut wall and healing leaky gut syndrome
- aids in weight loss by boosting your metabolism
- may help build bone density
- helps increase muscle mass
- maintains healthy joints and tendons
These may be lofty claims but I’m willing to try it and see if it helps with my nails and arthritis. How’s that for priorities? 🙂 If adding a tiny scoop of collagen powder to my tea once a day can help, I’ll be a happy camper.
Since I am sharing with you, they also sent me their very popular Collagen Peptide Powder and Multi-Collagen Capsules…which would be super easy to take on the go.
My supermarket and beauty store shelves are lined with collagen supplements, which tells me I’m not the only one using them for health benefits. I like that Collagen For Her was created by a woman for women plus I’m always happy to support companies who give back.
‘Collagen For Her donates a portion of our proceeds to charities that support women empowerment in order to create a happier, healthier generation of women.’ ~ from their website
The time it takes to see results varies with each individual but it can take up to 12 weeks to start seeing results so I will keep you posted on my progress.
Collagen For Her is generously offering my readers 10% off any order with the code WELLSTYLED at checkout here. You can also shop the entire line through their store on Amazon here.
Do you add collagen to your diet?
Thank you to Collagen For Her for partnering on this post, all opinions are my own.
Hi Jennifer!
I’ve tried repeatedly to communicate with this company to see if some issues I was having with swelling ankles and feet are attributable to my taking 3 capsules/day.
I received no response and there is no phone number. I had taken them for more than three months and saw the benefit to my hair. I stopped taking them, due to their lack of response. I spoke to my doctors, they had no idea. Any advice?
I’m sorry you’re having this issue. I haven’t but I would stop taking it too if it caused swelling of any kind! That’s wise of you.
Do these powders dissolve well in iced liquids? I love tea except in the summer when the temps are too high to enjoy a hot beverage.
I haven’t tried iced liquids but I assume they do.
Hi Jennifer,
Was scrolling through your blogs and found this one on collagen. Now that you have been taking it for several months, are you seeing results?
Yes, I am. My nails have stopped peeling. They’re never going to be long, but they are no longer torn to the quick. I think my hair seems better too, but I do use Rogaine, so I can’t say for sure it’s the collagen.
I hope this recommendation is okay here. This product has made such a difference for me, I felt I needed to share. I am in no way affiliated with this company, but I have to recommend Flexi Nail to all who are having difficulty with their nails.
Mine had been healthy, once in my life, but following menopause they were torn and ragged. I had tried collagen, biotin, and multiple topical products others had raved about, all with no change whatsoever.
Flexi Nail is an oil you brush on twice a day. I started noticing improvement within a couple of weeks. After a couple of months, my nails are healthy and strong. I now have to cut them to keep them from being a scratching hazard for my grandsons.
That sounds amazing!! I will google it, thanks Sandy
I wish I could take collegan supplements, as my nails and joints would benefit. As a breast cancer survivor, it’s not approved by the oncology pharmacists at my cancer center. Any readers who are also breast cancer patients should check with their medical team before taking collegan. It’s a long explanation that medical professionals are best prepared to give. My lay person interpretation is that the binding properties that give collegan its protective features MAY also be protective of cancer cells as well. Stay healthy., everyone.
I’m going to try your recommendation. I recently tried another collagen powder in my coffee and it tasted terrible and was gunky with little bits floating to the top. I’m glad to hear this dissolves well and has no taste. I have arthritis in my knees (age 65) and take Mobic intermittently when they feel more inflamed and stiff after gardening.
P.S. I love your blog, thank you.
I put mine in my afternoon tea and can’t taste a thing!! I hope you like it
For all of the Canadian readers out there…..check out your local health food store or health/natural section of your grocery store. There are many reputable brands of collagen available just choose whether you want it the origin to be beef, fish or vegan.
As for does it work…yes but it is one of those things that takes time. An earlier comment here noted that when something changes slowly we often forget what caused the change or attribute the change to the wrong product or supplement. Sometimes we need a combo of supplements to get a result and as an earlier comment suggests Vitamin D may also be needed.
Medical (allopathic) Doctors do not study supplements but Naturopathic Doctors do….they both spend the same amount of time in school but they focus on different things. If you wonder what supplements are best for you make an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor
I’ve been taking collagen powder for several months now. My hair stylist remarked that my hair has been growing faster ( I hadn’t told her anything).
My knee pain has also improved significantly.
My nails have always been strong, so no difference there.
I wholeheartedly believe in taking collagen.
My nails have always been thin and weak. My hair is fine and thin, too. A couple of years ago my doctor tested me for Vitamin B and Vitamin D shortages because of some medical problems I was having. My Vitamin B levels were fine but my Vitamin D level came back super low. She started me on 50,000 units of Vitamin D weekly. A year later I realized that my nails were getting very long and were super strong. Unfortunately, the Vitamin D did not make my hair more plentiful, but after being straight for forty years, I suddenly have curly hair again. I am trying to learn how to style it again. The only change I made was the addition of Vitamin D
Hi Jennifer,
I have always had strong healthy nails. I do use Nailtiques Formulal 2 (2 coats) . The product is used for soft, peeling, bitten, weak or thin nails. I have been using this product for at least 35 years. This is used as a base coat, then use your polish, The best top coat is Seche Vite, it’s a dry fast top coat, then leaves a nice shine. You can find the products at CVS, Ulta, Amazon.
I have had RA for over eight years and under the care of a Rheumatologist. I also use Voltaren for arthritis pain. Voltaren is now available as a OTC medicine, Costco carries now as well. You probably are aware of it.
I used to have super thick hair, now it’s very thin. I think we are the same age about.
Good luck.
I’m using the Voltaren too. I think you’re right about age. We’re all dealing with a lot!
Appreciate this post Jennifer and shall definitely give it a try. (Unfortunately it doesn’t ship to Canada so will have to search out another brand or once the border opens up have it shipped to my USA broker’s address where I can pick it up). (Have pinned it to my Pinterest Board to jar my memory.) Actually do not require it for weight loss (as actually am trying to put on a few pounds nor for my nails which are strong (thanks to the intake of gelatin caplets or its byproduct a dish of flavoured jello once every week or so) BUT if it works for joint pain I am more than willing to give it a try as noticing a few more creaks in body parts than before. Not to mention ; who knows perhaps it will also work for crepe skin as during this past year my arms appear like they could use a good ironing as well …. lol!
-Brenda-
Lol, let me know if you find a way to iron our upper arms!! Mine sure need it 😉
Hi Jennifer! I’ve never submitted a comment before but I’m very interested in these supplements. (And I really like you blog—because of its topics and thoughtfulness.)
But here’s a question:
I’ve been a vegetarian for decades and a vegan for nearly 10 years so of course I’ve skipped all of the collagen products I’ve seen. Is the marine supplement algae based d therefore vegan?
Thanks so much for researching this. And I’d like to hear more about your commitment to plant based eating.
As I understand, vegan means you eat no animal products of any kind. The Marine Blend is made from fish so it’s not vegan.
Can’t wait to try it! One note, since it contains biotin…biotin does not interfere with your thyroid medication, but it does interfere with your thyroid blood test and can mess up your numbers. Stop taking biotin at least 2 days before having a TSH blood test done.
Yes, great point. I actually stop all my supplements a few days before getting blood work.
I just bought some to try, Jennifer. My hair is thinning and my skin is getting dryer. I hope this helps, at least a little. Thanks for this information.
We will find out together!! I hope it helps us too
I sometimes wonder if we can make any big changes to our bodies we were gifted with by our ancestors but hope springs eternal. I have good skin through nothing I do. I have never used creams or anything on it but on the other hand I have these veins that show on the backs of my hands. If I could find something to help that, in a New York minute I would try it, so I say if something won’t hurt you, go for it. I’d certainly try it if I had weak nails. Why not?
I am taking collagen now in my morning tea and sometimes l put it in smoothies instead of a protein powder. I am on a mission to lose weight and l am doing HIT workouts and more daily exercise than before and l find it really helps with all the aches of osteoporosis, and my nails have improved.
My arthritis is the pits so I’d be thrilled if it helped that too!
I’ll be interested in hearing how this works out for you. I’ve tried Biotin and didn’t notice any difference, but I haven’t tried collagen. I’m in Canada, so I’d have to look for a different brand. I’m curious though, why no beef products, but fish is okay?
I read a few books about the meat industry and could never eat meat again. For years I didn’t eat poultry but do eat it in small amounts now.
I basically don’t eat anything that gives birth to live young. No mammals. Fish just doesn’t seem the same to me.
I’m very interested in trying this. I bought a collagen supplement from Costco, but it’s six chalky chunky pills a day. Ugh. The powder form sound delightful in a spot of tea.
I’m an active 80, hoping to stay this way, and keeping healthy hair, nails, and especially bones is vital.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful finds. I hope you and your fans have a wonderful, blessed week.
I have never tried taking collagen. I wonder how it’s absorbed after it is digested/broken down. Does the collagen pass into the intestines to be absorbed or is it absorbed in the stomach? I do take biotin 2500 mcg daily plus a multi vitamin and I can always tell a difference if I don’t take it for a week or two. 2500 mcg is 8333% the daily requirement which seems like a very high dose. Biotin is one of the water soluble B vitamins so any excess is excreted. I’m only talking about my own experience. Because we are all different, it might be a good idea to have a healthcare provider give the OK just to be safe. I’ll be interested to hear how Jennifer’s taking collagen turns out. My nails are fragile so I hope it works. PS, I’m a nurse by background and continuing to learn.