With age comes wisdom and experience, and as we get older, it is natural for us to develop fine lines, wrinkles, and saggy skin. That’s when we turn to collagen in skincare, but what is collagen? According to Byrdie, it is “the most abundant protein in our body and is essentially responsible for giving skin its structure and support.” Our body produces less collagen as we age, and our skin loses its “firmness.” Aesthetician Melanie Grant told Byrdie, “Skincare formulated with collagen plumps, hydrates, and conditions the skin,” so it might not be a bad idea to add skincare products with collagen in your routine because the collagen production starts to “decline at about age 25,” per The HuffPost. It is not just necessary for skin health but also found in the “connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage,” so you need it in the body to stay healthy (via Healthline). As the production declines in your body, you can also get it from your diet by eating collagen-rich foods like “chicken skin and fish skin” or taking supplements. Collagen is vital to your body because it also helps “protect your heart and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease” (via Better Nutrition). Many of you might already be taking collagen supplements readily available in the market. You probably think you are all good on collagen because you take supplements, but it is also important to take it correctly to get all the benefits.
How to take collagen correctly, so it actually works
Collagen supplements are all the rage right now. When Jennifer Aniston shared she takes collagen supplements in her morning coffee (via Vital Proteins, where she is Chief Creative Officer), everyone jumped on the bandwagon. However, to get collagen to work for your body, you need to keep a few things in mind. For one, the temperature you take your collagen supplement at is crucial for it to be effective. Assistant professor of microbiology at Texas A&M University, Brooke Russell, pointed out that drinking it hot might not be helpful because “collagen powder falls apart at temperatures above body temperature,” (via Well+Good). Basically, you are just consuming gelatin with zero collagen benefits. For it to work, Brigitte Zeitlin, RD, shared with the outlet that you can mix it with iced lattes or water. Another thing to remember is to take it with vitamin C. Board-certified dermatologist, Keira Barr, told Mindbodygreen, “Vitamin C is a key cofactor in the synthesis of collagen and elastin, [which help] give your skin that plump and youthful appearance.” If you are vitamin C-deficient, the supplements won’t do their job, so choose a collagen supplement with vitamin C or take the two together. You can take all the collagen supplements in the world, but if you don’t protect yourself from the sun, the supplements won’t help much. The sun’s ultraviolet rays causes the skin to thin, by breaking down collagen fibers, according to Shape. Always wear sunscreen!
Originally published at https://www.thelist.com on March 23, 2022.