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Collagen powder: why celebrities love it and how it can help you look younger

Collagen why celebrities love it and how it can help you look younger MAIN

Collagen powder – is this super supplement the answer to youthful skin and gorgeous hair? These celebs certainly think so. Nutritionist Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart reveals the facts 

In the quest for optimal health and ageless beauty, we are often searching for a ‘wonder pill’ that’ll do the job for us.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last few years, then you’ll have no doubt heard of collagen. This is in part thanks to the countless celebrities who hail collagen as their ultimate beauty secret.

From radiant, youthful skin to stronger hair and nails

From radiant, youthful skin to stronger hair and nails, collagen’s supposed benefits are very appealing, particularly for anti-ageing.

So, should this wonder ingredient be our new daily supplement? If it’s good enough for top celebrities, it’s certainly worth investigating.

Which celebrities use collagen?

Collagen first jumped onto the scene thanks to mega star, and all-round babe, Jennifer Aniston, who revealed her morning smoothies were boosted with collagen to keep her skin youthful and glowing.

Jennifer Aniston

Since then, she’s continued to advocate for its health and beauty benefits, reportedly having it every day in her coffee.

She has even been appointed Chief Creative Officer of American collagen brand Vital Proteins.

Seeing as Jen looks just as amazing as she did in Friends (over a decade ago!), we can’t help but think daily collagen may be the way forward.

Another celebrity who’s been seen promoting a collagen drink a day, is presenter, fashion model and podcaster Lisa Snowdon.

Screenshot 2021-10-28 at 13.44.15
Lisa Snowdon

Lisa is very vocal about holistic approaches and products that have helped in her perimenopausal journey,  one of which is her daily ritual of adding a Correxiko Wild Marine Collagen powder to her morning tea each day, which she attributes to less achy joints and plumper, hydrated skin.

One celebrity who really propelled collagen to global audiences is Khloe Kardashian – after she co-launched Dose & Co to the UK earlier this year.

Khloe Kardashian

It doesn’t get much bigger than the Kardashians, right?

Healthista asked nutritionist and specialist in health psychology, Dr. Naomi Newman-Beinart to delve into the research and state the collagen facts for us.

Using the latest research, here’s Dr Naomi’s guide to collagen…

So, what is collagen and why do you need it?

Since ancient times humans have consumed more collagen than we currently do, but modern food processing has removed it from our diets.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and is made up of amino acids which are your body’s essential building materials.

These amino acids (including keratin) are needed to renew your cells and will promote healthy skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth, cartilage, muscles, joints and bones – so pretty much everything that keeps our body running smoothly.

From around the age of 18 our collagen levels start to drop, and this accelerates by 1.5 per cent, per year from the age of 30. This drop further accelerates for women with the onset of the menopause.

From around the age of 18 our collagen levels start to drop

Things like UV light, excess sugar consumption, smoking, high intensity exercise and pollution can all contribute to collagen breakdown which can be seen in our skin, causing visible lines, wrinkles, and sagging.

Over the past five to ten years there has been an abundance of research investigating the benefits of taking collagen. That’s why supplementing with quality collagen can be important to regenerate our bodies.

This research has found that daily collagen intake can improve skin elasticity, skin hydration and reduce some visible signs of aging. It has also been shown to encourage strong bones and joint repair.

Who can say no to all of those benefits when they come from just one source?

collagen why celebrities love it and how it can help you look younger beautiful looking woman with healthy hair and skin
Daily collagen intake can improve skin elasticity, skin hydration and reduce some visible signs of aging.

How much collagen do you need to take to see results?

Nearly all the research studies examining the effectiveness of taking oral collagen recommend taking collagen daily.

Science tells us that we need to take around 10grams of collagen peptides per day to gain maximum benefits. But the big question is, if you start to take a collagen supplement, how long will it take to see results?

This can depend on several lifestyle factors and where your body needs the collagen most. Nails will show results the fastest in two to three weeks, skin typically four to six weeks, hair two to four months and bone/joint health will come from everyday use for two to six months.

What to look out for in collagen products?

The collagen molecule size is very important for effectiveness – we don’t directly consume collagen, as collagen is a big molecule that is quite difficult to digest.

So, it must be broken down into ‘collagen peptides’ through a hydrolysation process, which is why you’ll see many collagens called ‘hydrolysed collagen’.

collagen molecule size is very important for effectiveness

Even better are products that are double-hydrolysed for maximum absorption. Studies show this smaller molecule can be absorbed through the gut and into the blood stream.

Is there an optimal form to take a collagen supplement?

Many people ask if liquid formulas work better than capsules. It is a myth that liquid formulas work better, especially when they have added ingredients like artificial sweeteners, which can actually damage collagen production.

Collagen drinks tend to have sub-optimal doses of collagen (5-8grams per serving) whereas the therapeutic dose of collagen, and what the research uses, is 10-15grams.

The active ingredient (collagen peptide) is the same in both, the difference is that one is in a pure, dry form that you can add to coffees, smoothies and cooking, and the other is dissolved in flavoured, sweetened water.

collagen why celebrities love it and how it can help you look younger capsule on collagen powder
It is a myth that liquid formulas work better.

Are collagen products suitable for everyone?

As collagen is simply a protein and hypoallergenic, it is suitable for anyone to take. However, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, as with anything, check with your healthcare advisor before using collagen.

It is really important to use a high-quality product that has been tested for toxins and is deemed safe.

The best Collagen brands to try:

In recent years there has been an explosion of collagen powders, pills, and drinks on the market, as studies have shown the huge benefits of collagen as nature’s magic secret for anti-ageing.

Not all collagens are created equal, that’s why it’s important to look into the sourcing and processing to ensure optimal results. Here are our top three collagen brands to try:

#1 CORREXIKO Marine & Bovine Collagen

I use Correxiko Wild Marine Collagen daily as part of my health regime.

Correxiko is a highly ethical company that was founded by a medical doctor. Their marine collagen is sourced from wild-caught deep-sea fish from Canada. They only use the fish skin, and not the cheaper fish scales like many other brands on the market.

Screenshot 2021-10-28 at 13.41.02

They also only source deep sea fish from pristine Canadian waters that have strict regulations and all batches are independently tested for heavy metals and other contaminants.

CORREXIKO Collagen has been double hydrolysed to create an industry leading micro-particle peptide size. This leads to enhanced absorption with more effective, extensive results.

Plus, it contains important amino acids, such as glutamine, which has been shown to strengthen gut lining and help with digestive issues, such as ‘leaky gut’.

Unlike many collagen products, CORREXIKO Collagen has no added flavours, sweeteners or additives and is unflavoured, so you can add to coffees, teas, smoothies etc – it won’t lose effectiveness when heated up or cooked with.

Available in Marine and Bovine, prices start from £19.95, also available from Amazon.

Follow CORREXIKO on Instagram.

#2 Your Zooki Marine Collagen sachets

CollagenZookisachets

These individual lime flavoured collagen sachets are a blend of marine collagen and vitamin C.

The USP for Your Zooki is their unique liposomal absorption- which in basic terms means it makes the ingredients easier to be digested and absorbed by the body.

By wrapping collagen peptides in phospholipids, it creates a barrier around the collagen that protects it from the harsh environment of the digestive system.

The phospholipids come from non-GMO sunflower oil high in phosphatidylcholine use hydrolyse collagen peptides that are easier for your body to absorb and transport around the body.

Prices from £27.99 for 2 weeks supply.

#3 Great Lakes Collagen

Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate’s beneficial amino acid combination helps repair and renew your natural collagen stores and may help rebuild your body’s vital internal tissues.

Great lakes collagen

This provides a multitude of health benefits including supporting a healthy musculoskeletal system, aiding restful sleep and increased sense of well-being.

Made of ONE simple ingredient, Great Lakes is a pure protein food supplement that contains over 90 per cent protein.

Plus, the distinctive amino acid group which make it rapidly absorbed and easily assimilated by the body.

You will also reap beauty benefits by adding Great Lakes to your daily routine since Hydrolysed Collagen promotes rapid cell growth to strengthen your hair and improve skin tissue strength, elasticity and smoothness.

A serving of Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate contains 11g of unflavoured, odourless protein which can be added to any fluid, hot or cold, as well as mixed into your favourite recipes.

Prices from £29.99 for 454g approx. 40 Servings, also available on Amazon UK.

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