Does Collagen Help to Increase Muscle Mass?
Overview
One unexpected way to increase your muscle mass is through taking collagen supplements. Many people don't know that one of the benefits of collagen is increasing your muscle mass. Collagen is found in our skin, connective tissues, bones, ligaments, joints, and other parts of the body. It is a protein created through chains of amino acids (specifically glycine and proline). It works to support skin elasticity and is a muscle-building protein. It also helps to improve joint pain that stems from a range of health issues such as osteoarthritis, as well as activity-related joint pain. It can strengthen connective tissues and bones. Collagen supplements come in the form of collagen peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, liquid collagen, collagen pills, bars, and powders. You can also find collagen in many foods, such as bone broth, chicken, fish, and foods that support collagen production with certain vitamins and amino acids. Collagen peptide supplementation (which is also known as collagen hydrolysate) can help to improve your body composition because it will increase your protein intake. Increasing your protein intake helps to lessen the amount of fat on your body. There are a lot of things that can help increase your muscle mass, such as resistance training, lifting weights, and eating high-protein foods. Taking a dietary supplement is a great way to enhance your other protein-boosting efforts. As we age, we can encounter issues such as sarcopenia, which causes a decline in muscle mass. The signs of aging are countless (and totally normal), but there are things you can do to slow this process down or improve symptoms. Read more to find out how collagen can help to increase muscle mass and its other health benefits.
Does collagen increase weight?
No, collagen does not increase your weight. It can actually help with weight loss. When your goal is weight loss, you want to build your muscle mass by increasing your protein intake. The best and easiest way to do this? Eating more protein. It's always good to get most of your nutrients and protein through real, clean food, but when that isn't enough, it's also smart to add a supplement. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, making it essential for multiple functions. More protein means more fullness throughout the day, which means you won’t need to eat as much as you normally would in order to stay full. Hydration is also important, because your body needs water to function and keep up with the increased protein intake. Taking a collagen supplement helps promote satiety because protein keeps us full for longer periods of time. Therefore, you won’t need to eat as many calories throughout the day (let’s be clear- it’s still important to eat enough calories to feel full, satisfied, and healthy regardless of whether or not you’re trying to lose weight). Of course, if you're trying to lose weight you should always seek medical advice from your nutritionist or doctor before you make any drastic changes. With collagen protein you get so many additional benefits besides building muscle and losing weight, making it a worthwhile option for a supplement. One of the most convenient options for using collagen as a protein source is eating one of our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars. Each bar contains 15 grams of protein and 12 grams of premium marine collagen. Our bars are packed with things like sweet potato, cocoa, and yacon syrup, which are all foods that help your skin to glow. There's way less hassle with eating a bar than with making a smoothie and it's perfect when you're pressed for time.
Does collagen help with muscle growth?
Yes, collagen can help with muscle growth. It composes roughly 1-10% of muscle tissue, so it is definitely worth trying a collagen supplement if you are looking for something that increases muscle strength through growing the muscle. The effects of collagen will depend on how regularly you take collagen, which kind you take, and how your body responds to the supplement. Marine collagen is the cleanest and best type of collagen for your overall health. It is great for skin-related issues as well as strengthening muscles and joints. Some of the positive effects of collagen include stronger joints, a healthier gut, and glowing skin. If you do not choose marine collagen for whatever reason, try to ensure you are getting the cleanest supplement you can. This means choosing grass-fed bovine collagen, or organic chicken collagen. In order for your muscles to grow, muscle protein synthesis must occur. This is the process for the formation of new protein, which requires amino acids and additional protein. Feeding your body these things through food and supplements is how your body continues this process. Besides taking collagen, there are plenty of protein-packed foods that will help you increase muscle mass. In order to have a lean body mass composed primarily of muscle, your diet is key. You cannot increase your muscle mass solely by taking collagen. It will certainly help, but you need a variety of protein sources both to be healthy and to create muscle growth.
Which collagen is best for muscles?
There are many different types of collagen that may help you achieve your health goals. These are not to be confused with gelatin supplements, which have significantly less benefits than collagen, but are nonetheless similar in composition. If your collagen levels are depleted, you will have a harder time improving muscle growth. Increasing your collagen intake can help with a large variety of issues, muscle growth being one of them. There’s bovine, porcine, chicken, and marine collagen. People often assume they should consume whey protein or a land-animal protein source when trying to build muscle. Land-animal protein sources (including whey) often have a higher risk of contamination than plant-based sources or marine collagen. One of the cleanest and best choices for your protein supplement is marine collagen. Not only can it help with your muscles, it has numerous other benefits for your entire body. There are some similarities between whey protein powder and collagen protein, making either one a decent option for protein supplementation. For example, they are both animal-based, contain essential amino acids that are used as building blocks in our bodies, can be blended in smoothies and protein shakes, both are non-vegan options, both are used for muscle growth and to build muscle, and they have overall similar health benefits relating to protein. There are also a few differences, which is helpful when deciding which protein supplement you want to take. Whey protein is a by-product of milk, contains all the necessary amino acids, and is specifically used for protein supplementation (i.e. there aren't other benefits). Collagen is a structural protein, a direct animal product, contains all the essential amino acids except for tryptophan, and it is used as more than a protein supplement because it can help with bone health, joint health, hair and nail health, and skin health. With any supplement, it's important you read the labels on whichever product you choose. Those with sweeteners, additives, and excess ingredients are ones you should stay away from. Whey protein is typically used more for building muscle and is used before or after workouts. Collagen protein (specifically marine collagen) is better for overall health and wellness because it offers so many more benefits than just protein supplementation. From glowing skin to helping joint pain and strengthening your hair and nails, collagen is the way to go if you're looking to get more out of your supplements. When it comes to choosing a supplement, you have several options, which we discussed above. One great thing is that there are no known side effects of taking a collagen supplement, making it a safe supplement to try.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Sources:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/food-junkie/201803/can-collagen-really-help-you-lose-weight
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881.php#preventing-collagen-loss
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846778/
https://portlandpress.com/biochemj/article/473/8/1001/49397/Collagen-structure-new-tricks-from-a-very-old-dog
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/20-delicious-high-protein-foods
