Collagen, the most abundant protein, is a supplement that is garnering a lot of attention recently! It appears to be of use to almost everyone you know. Collagen is undoubtedly making the rounds, as everyone's discussing it from your favorite influencers to your closest friends.
You may be ready to give it a try for yourself, but there is one little issue! And that is the possibility of gaining weight.
The question of whether or not collagen consumption will result in weight gain is one that comes up rather often. This is something that we constantly hear. After all, collagen is the protein that your body produces the most overall.
You have found the ideal resource if you have an interest in collagen but are worried about the potential for weight gain. We are going to discuss the function of collagen inside the body, the factors that contribute to weight increase, and the question of whether or not collagen itself causes weight gain.
Does Collagen Make You Gain Weight? What Experts Say
Not naturally! However, if you take enough collagen to put your body into a calorie excess, then, yes!
If taking collagen leads you to consume more calories than you burn in a normal day or if you are improving your bone mineral density over time, you may experience weight gain as a side effect of taking collagen.
However, this is not always the case. Because of the protein content, the impact that it has on metabolism, and the way that it causes you to feel full, it may actually help you lose weight.
It is essential to keep in mind that an increase in joint cartilage and bone mass does not in any way contribute to the development of fat tissue or the outward manifestations of obesity.
What Do Collagen Supplements Do For You?
Collagen is a protein that, despite its size, plays a significant part in the structure and function of our bodies. It plays an important role in the function of every major organ in the body and contributes to our sensation (and appearance) of young.
Collagen is an essential structural protein that may be found throughout the human body, including in our ligaments, bones, tendons, and skin, amongst other critical components. These are some of the benefits that your body may experience from using collagen supplements.
Helps Build Muscle Mass
Collagen accounts for up to ten percent of your total muscle tissue, making it an essential component in the endeavor to increase one's muscular mass. It is also thought that taking collagen supplements has a role in the synthesis of creatine, which is another muscle protein that is essential for achieving more robust increases.
Developing muscle is crucial not just for your short-term objectives, such as looking fantastic at the beach, but also for your long-term goals, such as preserving your bones, keeping you strong, and helping you prevent injury. Growing muscle takes time and effort.
In terms of your weight, the lean muscle mass you carry, the more efficiently your body burns calories and fat. This indicates that having more lean muscle mass may help you keep a healthy body weight under control and maintain good body composition. So, the amount of muscle that you have is the most important factor in determining how quickly your metabolism works.
Collagen Peptides Strengthen Bones
Bone health may not be at the forefront of your mind right now. However, as you get older, your bone density decreases! Hence, this can be a real issue that puts you at risk of fractures and injuries that could be life-threatening.
Considering that collagen makes up the majority of your bones, collagen supplementation may help maintain them! Hence, you may keep them strong and healthy, and prevent age-related bone degradation.
Better Joint Health
As we become older, the cartilage that cushions and protects our joints starts to deteriorate. Collagen is the primary component of this cartilage. Hence, taking a collagen supplement may be able to assist in maintaining joint health. Thus, reducing joint pain, and fostering sustained mobility.
Young Skin Health
Collagen is the substance in your skin that is responsible for keeping it appearing young and firm. Collagen is responsible for the "plumping up" of your skin and the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles. It further provides assistance with hydration and the maintenance of your skin's appearance as well as its firmness.
The natural collagen production in our bodies slows down as we get older. Hence, they may cause our skin to become thinner and saggier. This makes us seem older than we really are.
It is possible for your skin to restore its young look, decrease the appearance of cellulite, and keep its texture and tone intact with the aid of collagen supplements and topical collagen treatments that enhance the flexibility of your skin and your body's natural synthesis of collagen.
Collagen is important for maintaining the condition of your hair and nails in addition to the health of your skin. Collagen with a healthy diet helps a lot of people to encourage hair development and maintain strong, healthy nails.
Heart Health
Collagen is an essential component in maintaining the health and functionality of your cardiovascular system and heart.
The walls of your arteries are made of collagen, which is what gives them their structure. It's possible that a lack of collagen in your body might cause your arteries to become brittle. This could have substantial negative effects on your health.
What Causes Weight Gain?
Collagen has a plethora of health benefits for the body! However, uncontrolled consumption can make you gain weight, which is a reasonable worry to have. Everyone is susceptible to putting on extra pounds at some point in their lives. And there are a few different ways that this may happen.
Excess Calories
We have the propensity to overcomplicate matters that are, on the surface, very straightforward. We have made a complete hash of something that should have been very basic, and that is our weight increase.
The basic truth is that an excessive number of calories in our diet is the primary cause of weight gain. Hence, for weight loss, we need to decrease the calories.
When you eat more calories than your body needs, those extra calories become stored as fat. It doesn't make much of a difference whether the additional calories you consume come from fat, carbs, or protein. When your body does not have a need for certain substances, it will store them as fat.
Sedentary Lifestyle
The way we live our lives is another important component that plays a role in determining our weight. There are many of us who have occupations that require us to spend the bulk of our day seated at a desk or in front of a computer screen.
If we don't get enough exercise outside of work, we put ourselves in danger of gaining weight and causing a loss in our general health. If we don't get enough exercise outside of work, we put ourselves at risk of not getting enough activity at work.
It is vital to obtain enough cardiovascular exercise to support heart health, while weight-bearing activities enhance our musculoskeletal system and assist support bone health. It is also necessary to get enough aerobic exercise to support heart health.
Hormone Imbalances
In other instances, you may not be able to lose weight because an underlying disease is preventing you from doing so. You can be carrying extra weight for no apparent reason if you have a hormonal imbalance, problems with your thyroid, or one of many autoimmune conditions.
It is also possible for weight gain to be caused by pharmaceuticals; however, in the vast majority of cases, the weight increase caused by medications is a temporary side effect that goes away as treatment continues.
How to Have Collagen Peptide Supplementation
You may improve the health of your skin and your general well-being by including in your routine the usage of collagen supplements and skincare products that stimulate and support the body's natural synthesis of collagen.
It is critical to choose a collagen supplement that is bioavailable, meaning it can be readily absorbed by your body, and that has also been scientifically confirmed to be effective.
While there are meals high in collagen, such as bone broth, and foods that promote the synthesis of collagen by providing vitamin C, these foods are not the most efficient approach to boost the grams of collagen that your body absorbs.
The collagen that is often present in supplements originates from the connective tissue of animals. But, because of the advances in science and technology, there are now vegan solutions that may be chosen.
Collagen derived from different animals may not always have the same properties. For example, bovine collagen powder may include genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and artificial hormones, and the cows that produce it are often confined in harsh conditions rather than being grass-fed or pasture-raised.
They may also include artificial flavorings and sweeteners, both of which are detrimental to your general health and should be avoided.
Since there are so many fillers and binders around the collagen peptides in these animal supplements, it might be difficult for your body to absorb the collagen that is included inside these supplements.
On the other hand, marine collagen is produced from the scales of deep-sea fish and is composed of more human-friendly, smaller amino acids. It is created from marine fish scales. These supplements help prevent dark patches of hyperpigmentation, stimulate your skin's natural collagen synthesis, and promote overall skin renewal.
Top 3 Collagen Supplements
Vital Vitamins Multi Collagen Complex
The All-In-One Collagen Vital Supplement appears to be a promising option for those looking to improve their skin, hair, nails, bones, tendons, joints, and gut health. The blend of hydrolyzed collagen peptides from various sources provides all five types of collagen hydrolysate in a convenient capsule form.
The addition of Digeseb enhances collagen absorption, making it a strong alternative to powder or liquid collagen supplements. The product is also non-GMO, hormone-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free, which may make it a good choice for those with specific dietary restrictions.
DR EMIL NUTRITION Multi Collagen Plus Pills
Dr. Emil Nutrition's collagen supplement in capsule form is an excellent option for individuals following a paleo or keto diet, or those with gluten sensitivities. This product is designed to provide benefits such as hair growth, anti-aging, skin hydration, and bone and joint support.
The 90-count bottle is perfect for adult use and is made with non-GMO materials, making it an ideal choice for health-conscious consumers. However, individuals with egg or fish allergies should be aware that these allergens are present in the supplement.
One of the most significant benefits of purchasing this product is the partnership with Vitamin Angels, which helps provide essential vitamins to children in need with every bottle sold.
Youtheory Collagen with Vitamin C
Youtheory Collagen Advanced with Vitamin C appears to be a promising collagen supplement for individuals looking to improve the health of their skin, hair, nails, tendons, and ligaments.
The product contains hydrolyzed collagen protein, which is highly bioavailable and can be easily absorbed by the body. The addition of Vitamin C may further enhance the absorption and utilization of collagen. Y
Youtheory emphasizes that beauty begins from within, and their collagen capsules may help support overall wellness and vitality. The product is also dairy-free, soy-free, and contains no gluten ingredients, making it a good choice for individuals with specific dietary restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I gaining weight on collagen?
Collagen itself does not directly cause weight gain. In fact, collagen supplements are typically very low in calories and do not contain any fat, so they should not contribute to weight gain.
If you are gaining weight while taking collagen supplements, it may be due to other factors such as consuming more calories than you are burning through physical activity, having an underlying medical condition, or changes in hormone levels.
Does collagen make you gain water weight?
No, collagen itself should not cause you to gain water weight. However, if you are consuming collagen supplements that are mixed with other ingredients or additives, these could potentially cause water retention and lead to temporary weight gain.
Does collagen help with belly fat?
There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that collagen specifically helps with belly fat reduction. However, taking collagen supplements may contribute to an overall healthy diet and lifestyle, which could help with weight management and potentially lead to a reduction in belly fat over time.
What happens if you take collagen everyday?
Taking collagen supplements daily may help to improve skin health, joint function, and overall well-being, according to some studies.
However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of collagen supplements can vary depending on factors such as the type of collagen, the dosage, and individual differences in absorption and metabolism.
Does collagen provide amino acids?
Yes, collagen is a rich source of essential amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and collagen is a type of protein that is composed of amino acids such as glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine.
When we consume collagen, our bodies break it down into its component amino acids, which can then be used to support a variety of bodily functions. So, consuming collagen can be a good way to ensure that you are getting a sufficient intake of certain important amino acids.
Conclusion
It's true that some individuals report experiencing weight gain as a direct result of collagen's ability to produce bloating, bone development, and water retention. In order for you to really put on weight, you would have to consume a significant quantity of collagen protein each day (equivalent to between 200 and 400 calories). Try out a balanced meal to avoid any unwanted weight gain.