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Collagen Peptides: Does it Work?


By now, you may have figured out that I’m going to try nearly every new or trendy supplement or trick to stave off aging and keep my body fit and feeling good. As mentioned before, I’m working on my doctorate in Health Psychology, so a portion of my studies focuses on natural and alternative medicine. I’m a realist. I know that when it comes to serious or chronic illnesses, natural medicine doesn’t always work—especially as a lone course of treatment. But when it comes to maintaining good health and fitness, natural supplements can be amazingly beneficial. The key is finding what works and what is just more trendy internet bullshit. At some point, I’ll post a list of garbage that hasn’t worked for me (doesn’t mean it won’t work for you, of course), but today I’m going to talk about something that seems to be working—so far!

I was working on an assignment a few weeks ago when I hit a blog on complementary and alternative medicines (CAM for short). Like we all do sometimes, I fell down the virtual rabbit hole and ended up reading about collagen peptides. Obviously, I’d heard good things about collagen for aesthetic benefits — moisturizers with added collagen are supposedly good for smoothing crows feet and cellulite. I’d tried some and really couldn’t tell much of a difference. Collagen peptides are basically the same amino acids found in bone broth (yes, another recent health trend). I don’t know about you, but I don’t have the time to make a batch of bone broth, let alone the desire to guzzle cups of it every day. According to the blog post, this supplement offers the same benefits — a boost to hair and nail growth, smoothing and firm of skin, and less achiness of the joints. Honestly, I could give two shits about nails—my toenails are either missing or chipped from all the running I do, and my fingernails are broken, bitten and chipped from chewing, surfing, etc. My nail maintenance begins and ends with keeping them clean and short. But the hair growth and better skin sounded great. As for the joint health—that’s where I was sold. So, I clicked over to Amazon and ordered a tub to see for myself.

This peptide powder comes in a tub like whey protein powder, with a little scoop included (between 40 and 75 calories a scoop, depending on the brand you choose). It dissolves into liquid without any grit or foul flavor. I use it in my coffee in the morning and some O.J. at night. Easy-peasy. I wouldn’t use it in ice-cold beverages, however, as it will get a little gelatinous. Now, if you research some of the scientific studies on collagen peptides you will know that your bodily collagen production peaks at about age 25. From then on, it begins to decline at about a rate of 1.5% per year. That’s why, by the age of forty, your skin may start to look a bit “loose” and your bones will become more brittle if you don’t do something to maintain that collagen balance. A collagen peptide supplement will slow or in some cases, counteract those unfortunate effects. In addition to staving off some of those already lame-assed aging side effects, collagen peptides can support your digestive system as well as your joints. Plus, it can help improve strength and flexibility, which is a good thing. Who wants to walk around like an old fart if you don’t have to? So, to sum things up — better appearance of hair, skin, nails, flexibility, and strength. You’ll begin to notice improvements in about a month if used at least once a day. Well-worth the $20-$30 per tub (about a 2 months supply for me). I suggest Pure Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides found at Amazon or Purely Inspired Collagen Peptides located at Walmart. Tasteless, inexpensive for a 1-pound tub, and effective.


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