Who Needs Collagen: Types of People and Use Cases

Updated Aug 5, 2021

The use of collagen has gained popularity in recent years. And while using collagen for its nutritional values has been a thing for thousands of years, it has only been a common dietary supplement for a relatively short period of time. There are many reasons people take collagen, and most people have great success with the results they see. It can help to address a wide range of issues. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It is formed through chains of amino acids which act as building blocks. Two essential amino acids are glycine and proline; they are needed in the formation of collagen. Collagen synthesis occurs within our cells. Collagen is found in our skin, connective tissues, and bones. Aging is a part of life, but unfortunately aging takes a toll on our collagen production. Once we reach our 20's, we begin to produce around 1% less collagen per year. Eating foods rich in collagen and taking collagen supplements can help to repair and prevent issues that come with collagen depletion. Given this information, you may be wondering: who needs collagen supplements? Read on to find out the types of people who take collagen and the typical use cases for collagen supplements. 

What type of person is collagen best for?

The great thing about collagen is that it has benefits for all types of people. Even if you are "healthy" or have good skin, you can still get the benefits of collagen. Most commonly, people take collagen for its skin-boosting benefits. Things like improved skin elasticity, improvement of wrinkles and fine lines, and strengthening the skin are all reasons people take collagen as a dietary supplement. Collagen is best for people who want to improve their overall skin health and appearance. People also take it to get strong hair and nails. Collagen can help if you have brittle and weak hair and nails. Anyone who is looking to make a healthy change in their life will benefit from collagen. It can help you to increase your muscle mass and help with weight loss. Increasing your muscle mass helps to improve your muscle strength and lower the amount of fat in your body composition. Increasing your collagen intake through food will also help to better your health. Eating clean, real foods is the best way to increase your body's collagen. Things like leafy greens, fruits high in vitamin C, bone broth, seafood, meats, beans, and quinoa can all help to jumpstart collagen production. Collagen supplementation helps because your body is directly absorbing the collagen. A great thing about this supplement is that there are no known side effects. If you don't know how much collagen to take, or aren't sure if you should take it, you can always ask your healthcare professional.

What are the primary use cases for taking collagen supplements?

These are the primary use cases when it comes to taking collagen supplements: joint pain, overall nutritional supplements, bone health, and skin health. The decrease in our natural collagen is one of the causes of joint pain, inflammation, soreness, and more serious problems like rheumatoid arthritis. It's important to be proactive about these issues, and start to increase the amount of collagen-rich foods you consume. Taking a supplement can also help to boost your natural collagen production and alleviate symptoms caused by the depletion of collagen. Collagen plays an important role when it comes to your bones. Hydroxyproline is an amino acid found in collagen, which is used as a marker of bone turnover. Bone tissue is a connective tissue, which collagen has been shown to strengthen. Mineralized bone tissue contains mainly collagen (called ossein), as well as bone mineral that is made up of different salts. A large increase in collagen levels can help significantly with your bone health. Collagen can help to transform your skin. From acne to dryness to a lack of glow, there's a lot collagen can improve. Since healthy skin begins on the inside, collagen supplements help to heal internal issues that reflect in external issues. Collagen and elastin are the essential components of glowing, plump skin. Collagen has also been known to help heal your gut lining. Many skin issues are a result of having an unhealthy gut. This is why collagen can help to address issues like acne once the gut is healed. Also, because collagen is responsible for keeping skin plump and firm, taking it as a supplement can help once you start to see wrinkles and other signs of aging. People take it as an overall nutritional supplement for its other health benefits. These include improved gut health, stronger hair and nails, weight loss management, and increased protein intake. 

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What types of collagen supplements are available?

Different types of collagen may have different benefits or processes in which the collagen is made. These are the main types of collagen supplements available: hydrolyzed collagen, collagen protein, and collagen peptides. Hydrolyzed collagen (or collagen hydrolysate) is collagen that has been broken down into small particles. These particles are more easily absorbed. The same goes for collagen peptides, which is simply a different name for hydrolyzed collagen. With both types, the collagen molecules are smaller and therefore easier to digest and absorb into the body. Collagen protein is a collagen powder that oftentimes has other types of protein powder mixed into it, such as whey protein. Collagen supplements can be taken on all diets, except for those who eat a vegan diet. This is because collagen is derived from animals. Our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars contain 8 grams of hydrolyzed marine collagen. Marine collagen is great for skin hydration, wound healing, cellulite, anti-aging, and giving your skin an overall glow. The bars also contain 11-13 grams of protein, and ingredients that help stimulate collagen production. These ingredients include sweet potato (vitamin A and vitamin C) and cocoa (antioxidants). Marine collagen can be compared to bovine collagen (and other land animal collagen types). There is a higher risk for contamination with these supplements. This is because it is more common for land animals to have added hormones and other such contaminants. Also, pay attention to whether your supplement is a type I collagen or type II collagen. Type I collagen is a protein and helps form our bones, skin, blood vessel walls, cartilage, and other tissues. It’s also the most abundant type of collagen found in the human body. It’s the strongest type, meaning it works the most effectively to heal and rebuild in your body. Type II collagen is found in the body’s cartilage. This means that it is used to support joint and connective tissue health.

These statements have not been approved by the FDA.