How to Choose And Use the Best Collagen For Your Needs!

From improving joint health to fighting aging, this super supplement does it all. Here’s how to choose and use the best collagen for your needs

- Lisa Turner

It’s showing up in everything from drink mixes to eye creams, promising youthful skin, shiny hair, stronger nails, improved joint function, and healthy digestion. Now, many studies are showing the claims behind collagen are true.

Collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, is responsible for regenerating and forming new tissue, and is a critical part of skin, hair, nails, joints, and bones. As we age, the skin’s collagen matrix starts to decline; collagen fibers break down and the rate of regeneration slows dramatically. This process can start as early as age 25; by age 40, collagen production generally decreases by 25 percent. By age 60, it has decreased by more than 50 percent. The result: sagging skin, fine lines and wrinkles, aching joints, and signs of arthritis.

Supplementing with collagen has been shown in several studies to protect against bone and joint degenerative diseases and to fight skin aging. Studies show:

1 People who took 3 grams of a collagen extract significantly improved their recovery after exercise.

2 Collagen supplements reduced pain and decreased inflammation in people with osteoarthritis.

3 Athletes who took 10 grams of collagen a day significantly improved joint pain, mobility, and inflammation.

4 Skin elasticity was significantly higher in women who took 2.5 to 5 grams of collagen; skin moisture was also improved.