5. Collagen Supports Gut Health
Each year, digestive diseases account for over 100 million ambulatory care visits, 14 million hospital admissions, and 236,000 deaths in the United States alone. Common GI symptoms include heartburn, reflux, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation (15).
Luckily, there are two amino acids within collagen—glycine and proline—that radically improve gut health. Glycine, the most abundat amino acid in collagen, enhances the intestinal mucosal barrier, while reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Proline, on the other hand, upregulates the proteins in intestinal cells (16).
Fun Fact: The collagen found in your intestines is Type 3 Collagen.
To learn more about collagen and gut health, read this article next: Collagen for Gut Health: Why It Works and How You Can Benefit
6. Collagen Revitalizes Aging Skin
The collagen content in your skin exceeds a whopping 75%. However, as you age, that collagen content depletes rather quickly (7).
Which results in your skin going from supple, smooth, and elastic to thin, dry, and wrinkly—usually starting at around 45 years of age in both men and women (17).
Thankfully, a high-quality collagen supplement can reverse those frustrating signs of aging.
A recent review of 19 studies evaluated collagen supplementation in regards to skin wrinkles, hydration, elasticity, and firmness. It was confirmed that daily collagen peptide supplementation resulted in reduced wrinkles and improved skin elasticity and hydration in just 90 days (18).
*Note: The participants from the studies mentioned above were 95% women.