Updated: 22.08.2024
How to properly use and drink collagen, and for how long? Morning or evening?
Are you wondering how to use drinkable collagen to positively affect your skin, hair, nails, joints, and muscles? Do you want to use collagen long-term? Should you consume collagen in the morning or in the evening? Joint pain, loss of skin firmness, brittle nails, and hair loss – each of these symptoms can indicate that it's time to start collagen supplementation. However, you often hear opinions that products containing this ingredient don't work. How does it work in practice? Is it worth supplementing collagen? How to take collagen? Below, we answer each of these questions.
In ideal conditions, a daily diet should meet the body's total demand for nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, practice shows that composing a daily menu in such a way that meals cover all our nutritional and vital needs is extremely difficult, perhaps even impossible. This is not just about a lack of time, but also about a factor over which we have no control – the ever-decreasing quality of food products. This is where dietary supplements come to the rescue. Specially formulated preparations ensure an adequate supply of micronutrients, and some also supplement our need for key macronutrients. Most people remember to supplement with the most important vitamins and minerals for health, such as B vitamins, vitamin C, or magnesium. It is surprising, however, that collagen supplementation is often pushed to the background or completely marginalized. This is a serious mistake. Scientific research has shown that collagen supplements can bring many benefits to the body.
Is it worth using collagen as a dietary supplement? How does natural collagen work?
First, it is worth explaining what natural collagen actually is. Collagen is a fibrous protein, a key component of the extracellular matrix. As a building material, collagen is found in all tissues of the human body, giving specific characteristics to internal organs, blood vessels, skin, bones, teeth, cartilage, and tendons.
Science distinguishes about 30 types of this protein, differing in function and structure. For example, type I collagen is found in skin, tendons, and bones. Type II collagen is present in cartilage, and type III collagen in muscles and blood vessels. This specific protein performs a number of important functions in the body, the most important of which include:
- tissue integration,
- filling of spaces between cells,
- providing strength and resistance of tissues to stretching,
- involvement in the development and repair of organs and tissues,
- involvement in the wound healing process.
The human body can produce collagen on its own. So supplementation is not necessary, right? Not at all! It should be noted that collagen production in our body occurs only for a certain period. This process begins to slow down around the age of 25. Around the age of 50, the body produces only small amounts of low-quality collagen. Around the age of 60, the production of this protein ceases.
It is also important to mention here that while collagen is continuously produced for a certain period, it also undergoes degradation, and there are many factors that accelerate this process. This primarily includes physical activity that puts a strain on tissues and joints, but also frequent exposure to UV radiation and the effects of low or high temperatures, hormonal disorders, genetic factors, an unhealthy diet, and a lack of outdoor physical activity. Stress, alcohol abuse, and smoking also contribute to increased collagen degradation.
So, do we need collagen? Is it worth supplementing this protein? Of course, it is, and this applies not only to athletes and older people.
Choose collagen in supplements, cosmetics, or perhaps a special diet?
Collagen can be supplied to the body in several ways. Some recommend a special diet that includes jellies made with gelatin, chicken feet broth, and offal. The problem is that the content of this protein in such dishes is quite low. Another issue: the body does not store collagen "in reserve." This means that to achieve the desired results, it must be introduced into the diet for a long time.
So maybe creams, masks, and other cosmetics with collagen? This is not a very good idea. It should be noted that collagen is a large molecule that cannot penetrate the pores of the skin. This is confirmed by the fact that there are no scientific studies that would confirm the effectiveness of topical products containing collagen.
This does not apply to supplements in capsules and liquids. Numerous studies have proven the beneficial effect of such preparations. There is one condition, however – the collagen contained in them must be of high quality and the highest microbiological purity. Importantly, there is no way to direct collagen to a specific area. The body decides how it will use the supplemented protein. It is therefore worth choosing a product with a high content of this ingredient, and preferably its hydrolysate, which is characterized by better absorption.
How to take collagen? What not to combine collagen with? Collagen morning or evening? How long to use drinkable collagen to see beauty and joint effects?
It should be remembered that there are vitamins that increase collagen synthesis. Vitamin C is one such vitamin. Therefore, if it is not present in the composition of a given preparation, additional supplementation is advisable. It is also worth taking vitamins B3, B5, and B6 simultaneously, as they combine perfectly with collagen.
Collagen should not be combined with alcohol, caffeine, and products containing tannins (e.g., tea, cocoa, nuts). Combining them would hinder its absorption.
How to supplement collagen? How long to drink collagen? It should be used daily for at least several weeks to see results. There are no strict recommendations regarding the time of day or intake in relation to meals. It is best to drink collagen when it suits you best: morning or evening - there is complete freedom here.
Fish or bovine collagen? Types of collagen for joints, skin, wrinkles
Different forms of collagen are available in supplements - we will find 3: collagen type I, II, and III. Type I collagen is found in supplements with fish collagen (marine collagen), and its mixture with type III in bovine and porcine collagen. Chicken cartilage collagen mainly contains type II collagen. Type III collagen is found in porcine or bovine collagen. Remember that these proteins are denatured in the digestive tract anyway, which leads to the destruction of their spatial structure. Therefore, it seems that "the strongest collagen" does not exist and in practice it does not matter whether you choose type I, II, III collagen, or a mixture of them.
Collagen supplementation – what are the effects of drinking collagen? What is the best collagen?
Regular supplementation positively affects the condition of skin, hair, nails, and joints. It accelerates the body's regenerative processes (e.g., after strenuous exercise or during injury treatment), and aids wound healing.
Are you looking for a supplement with the highest quality hydrolyzed collagen? Then you will certainly be interested in our booster, which we developed specifically to increase collagen in the body, whose level decreases with age. eatyx HYPER COLLAGEN 20 000 MG BOOSTER is an innovative collagen shot, created using advanced technological processes. It contains as much as 20 thousand milligrams of the highest quality hydrolyzed bovine collagen. Regular use of collagen contributes to healthier joints and skin appearance.
Our next proposal is eatyx HYPER DETOX 360. We developed this supplement with body detoxification in mind, but also to improve appearance, so collagen is an essential ingredient. It additionally contains coenzyme Q10 and hyaluronic acid.
Remember that to take comprehensive care of your health, you should also supplement with essential vitamins and minerals. eatyx HYPER VITAMINS AND MINERALS + PROBIOTICS helps to supplement your daily diet with essential ingredients, as does the preparation eatyx HYPER 18 VITAMINS & MINERALS.
