What Is Collagen?

Collagen is a structural protein that is found in our skin and other connective tissues like cartilage, bones and tendons. It acts as the framework of our cells and tissues. Twenty-eight different types of collagens exist, with ninety percent of the collagen in our bodies being type I collagen. It’s composed of the amino acids praline, glycine and hydroxyproline. Our bodies rely on collagen for a variety of cellular processes, including tissue repair, immune response, communication between cells and maintenance of tissue.

The Importance of Collagen for Women

Our bodies have the ability to naturally produce collagen, but you should consider supplementing with it as you get older. After the age of thirty when our collagen production decreases, you may start to see a change in the quality of your skin. It may start to develop wrinkles or sag a bit. Your mobility may be compromised as you age as well. It may be hard for you to move your joints freely without pain. These issues aren’t something that you have to deal with. There are natural supplements like collagen that you can use to feel and look more youthful.

Collagen isn’t just for people who are aging. It has been used by medical professionals to speed up the healing of wounds, burns and even ulcers. Collagen can be purchased in the form of a powder, in a capsule or even as a liquid. It can be added to cold beverages and even holds its structure in hot beverages. You can even sprinkle it onto your cereal or oatmeal in the morning. It’s included in topical products that can be applied directly to the skin.

Benefits Women Could See From Taking Collagen

Let’s take a look at some of the more specific benefits of collagen for women. If you’re a woman that pays close attention to your health and wellbeing, you might find some of these benefits quite interesting.

May Strengthen Hair, Skin and Nails

Eating a healthy diet and paying close attention to the nutrients that we put into our body is a great way to boost overall health but also to strengthen hair, skin and nails. Collagen benefits the body from the inside out. You can apply products topically that contain collagen, but they tend to get washed off pretty quickly. Supplementing orally with collagen allows your body to full utilize this protein wherever it is needed. It’s absorbed quickly, providing your body with the tools that it needs to make your hair and nails look stronger and healthier and your skin look clearer and smoother.

May Help With Weight Loss and Muscle Gain

Collagen supplements can help to suppress your appetite. If you want to feel fuller longer in order to reduce your caloric intake each day, you can use a hydrolyzed collagen supplement to do so. Collagen will control the hormones in your body that stimulate hunger.

Taking collagen over an extended period of time supplies your body with glycine and arginine, which are amino acids that are needed by the body in order to build muscle. You can use this supplement to take your workout to a more efficient level.

Learn more on collagen powders for weight loss.

May Help With Arthritis

Collagen is one of the most important components of bone elasticity. It can also reduce the amount of inflammation that is present in your joints. Whether you’re looking to treat existing arthritis or prevent it from developing, regular use of collagen can improve arthritic symptoms such as pain, stiffness and lack of mobility.

What to Look for in a Women's Collagen Powder Supplement

It can be challenging to find a supplement that fits all of your criteria. Collagen powder supplements come in a number of varieties, made from different sources. A product can have different features and benefits as well.

Amount of Protein per Serving

Collagen is a complex protein that contains a large selection of amino acids. While you might not be taking collagen as a protein replacement, one dose of collagen can consist of approximately ten grams of protein. This is beneficial if you’re happy with the little boost of protein that this adds to your fitness routine.

You should watch out for collagen supplements that don’t contain a lot of protein in them. This could indicate that you’re not getting a pure product. Additional fillers and ingredients will decrease the protein content in one serving of the product.

Third-Party Tested Ingredients

If you can, look for a brand of collagen that uses third-party testing to confirm the safety, purity and potency of their product and the ingredients used in its manufacture. Only a reputable brand is going to invest in this type of confirmation and then share that information with their customers and potential customers.

Brand Transparency

A collagen brand shouldn’t have anything to hide if they’re producing a high-quality product that’s safe and effective. Take the time to look over their website and any other resources that are available. A brand is worth your time and money if it discloses what’s in their product, where those ingredients come from, how the product is made, how it’s tested, where it comes from, etc. If you have any additional questions, don’t be afraid to reach out to the manufacturer. Their prompt and thorough response should be expected.

Average Rating and Verified Customer Reviews

The internet is a great place to learn more about the experiences that other people have had with a specific product. A transparent company will share those reviews on their website. There are other websites that you can use for research purposes, such as TrustPilot. If you’re shopping on Amazon or another online retailer, you can usually find a large number of reviews on there as well.

The Best Collagen Powders for Women

To get your search started for a great collagen powder supplement, I have a list of some of the best products that I’d like to share with you. Feel free to do your own research as well so you feel comfortable about the product that you’re considering taking.

#1: 1st Phorm Collagen with Dermaval

1st Phorm Collagen with Dermaval is a low-temperature processed hydrolyzed collagen powder that is easily absorbed by the body. It is made using five different types of collagen from five different sources. This provides you with one of the most extensive amino acid profiles around. You can add this powder to your smoothie, juice, tea or plain water.

Each serving of the product contains 50 milligrams of Dermaval. This is a phytonutrient complex that helps to increase elastin in the body. An excellent compliment to collagen supplementation, you can improve the quality of your skin, how your joints feel and so much more.

Pros

• Made from multiple collagen sources. This is a feature that you don’t often find with supplements of this type.
• Comes in a tasty chocolate flavor; making the product very palatable.
• 1stPhorm is a reputable and transparent brand that is very forthcoming about what their products are made with.

Cons

• It’s an expensive product, but you get what you pay for when it comes to nutritional supplements.

Cost and Where to Buy

This product costs $44.99. You can also purchase it through the brand’s website.

#2: Primal Collagen Powder

Primal Collagen Powder is sourced from certified grass-fed, free range cows that are not treated with any added hormones. This is a hydrolyzed collagen product that has been broken down into shorter chain peptides. This results in a palatable product that is easy to consume and absorb. It contains essential amino acids histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Pros

• Improves the quality of your skin
• Contains a complete amino acid profile
• Improves gut health

Cons

• Contains only one source of collagen
• To save money, you must subscribe to receive product on a routine basis

Cost and Where to Buy

Primal Collagen Powder is available at their official website. It costs $29.56 for one bag of product. When you subscribe to routine deliveries you can save twenty percent on your order as well as receive free shipping.

#3: Ancient Nutrition Collagen

Ancient Nutrition has a premium collagen formula that is included in a variety of products to provide you with healthier hair, skin, nails, joints and even improved gut health. Their collagen is sourced from cows, chickens and even egg shells. Additional ingredients include vitamin C and probiotics to boost your immune system and provide support to your gut microbiome.

Pros

• Includes superfood formulas that provide targeted support for your joints, gut and more
• Contains multiple sources of collagen for a full-profile product
• Includes probiotics for immune and gut health

Cons

• Many of the Ancient Nutrition collagen products are marketed as collagen proteins. While collagen naturally provides protein, this shouldn’t be confused with a protein supplement that you would purchase for your fitness regimen.

Cost and Where to Buy

Visit their official website for more information on the different collagen products that this brand sells. Prices vary based on what you choose. For example, their Multi Collagen Protein Powder Pure costs $49.95 for 45 servings.

#4: LiveWell Collagen Peptides

LiveWell Collagen Peptides contains types I and III collagen peptides sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised Grade A cows. This product is considered hormone-free and 100% non-GMO. Free of additives, fillers and artificial ingredients, these collagen peptides promote healthier skin, joints and bone health. This is a hydrolyzed product that has been broken down into shorter chain peptides for easy consumption and absorption.

Pros

• Contains pure, hydrolyzed peptides
• Dissolves easily and is easily absorbed
• Unflavored product provides flexibility with how you use it
• Affordable, costing just $0.56 per day.

Cons

• The product is well received, but people have had bad experiences with their customer service team

Cost and Where to Buy

You can visit https://weliveconscious.com/ for more information or to purchase their LiveWell Collagen Peptides at the cost of $34.99 for a one-time purchase of one bag. You can save money by purchasing larger quantities or subscribing for regular deliveries.

#5: Further Foods Collagen

Further Foods Collagen powder comes from a grass-fed, pasture raised bovine source from South America that is designed to support healthy skin, hair and nails while also improving the function of your gut and reducing pain / inflammation in your joints. This product is made from high quality ingredients and does not contain any preservatives, artificial flavors or additives.

Pros

• Unflavored product dissolves easily in a variety of liquids
• Can make you feel full longer, which aids in weight loss
• Has the potential to reduce gut inflammation
• Contains 18 amino acids

Cons

• Experiences may vary. Some people have used this product with minimal results. It’s important to note that you need to take collagen regularly for a number of weeks before you’ll notice dramatic changes.

Cost and Where to Buy

Further Foods Collagen Powder can be purchased at https://shop.furtherfood.com/ for $21.24 for a twenty-eight serving container.

#6: Collagen for Her

This collagen powder has been specifically formulated with the female body in mind. Each serving contains ten grams of protein and collagen peptides that can promote glowing skin, healthy hair and strong nails. It can support healthy joints, a healthy gut and help improve heart and liver health. All of the collagen powders from this brand contain collagen types I and III except for the marine collagen blend that contains collagen type I. The collagen capsules from Collagen for Her contains all five types of collagen.

Pros

• Each product comes with a certificate of analysis to ensure purity and safety
• Sourced from high quality collagen sources in South America and manufactured in the U.S.A.
• Sugar free and gluten free
• Also available in single serving packets that you can take on the go with you

Cons

• It may take four to six weeks to see results from regular use of this product

Cost and Where to Buy

Collagen for Her can be found at https://collagenforher.com/. It costs $33.29 for sixteen ounces of product.

#7: Thorne Collagen Plus

Thorne’s Collagen Plus powder contains pure collagen along with nicotinamide riboside and other plant extracts such as black and red currant polyphenol blend and white peach extract to provide you with the most perfect beauty-boosting product possible. This is a very uniquely formulated product that provides results in as little as four weeks. Thorne’s Collagen Plus is made up of 13 grams of grass-fed and hormone-free collagen peptides that contain both type I and type III collagen.

Pros

• Provides fast results
• Improves the hydration, elasticity and strength of your skin
• Improves the texture of your skin
• Promotes cellular repair

Cons

• This product contains other botanical ingredients which you may find beneficial, but this is not solely a collagen product

Cost and Where to Buy

One 17.5 ounce container of Thorne Collagen Plus costs $58. This provides you with thirty scoops of product. You can visit https://www.thorne.com/ for more information or to purchase their product.

Is Collagen Good For Women?

Collagen has been studied quite extensively when it comes to women’s health and wellness. It can improve the quality of your skin, hair and nails, but it has deeper benefits that will benefit you for years to come when you take it regularly. While collagen is beneficial to both men and women, it is women who often pay close attention to their beauty routine so they look more youthful well into their senior years. It’s never too early to start paying attention to your skincare routine and focusing on the nutrients you’re ingesting.

Who Should Consider Taking It?

Now that you know a bit about the basics of collagen, you might be wondering if it’s really for you. It’s not a cheap product, but rightfully so. You can consume collagen through a diet that is rich in things like salmon, chicken and steak, but you usually can’t consume enough on a regular basis to see a difference in how you look or feel.

If you are over the age of thirty and are starting to focus on an anti-aging routine, collagen powder may be something you should add into your daily intake of nutrients. You can throw a scoop in your smoothie or hot morning beverage and not even notice you’re consuming it. However, everyone can benefit from a high-quality collagen supplement that contains multiple forms of collagen.

Who Shouldn’t?

Collagen supplements can cause allergic hypersensitivity. If you have a history of food allergies, try collagen supplements with caution. You might not be allergic to the collagen itself, but it may increase your risk of having a reaction to something else. You should also pay attention to where the collagen is sourced from. If you have an allergic to any of the ingredients in a product or are allergic to the source of the collagen, look for another product or skip the collagen completely.

The Bottom Line

It’s never too early to start focusing on living a healthy lifestyle. Eating right and exercising regularly are important, but supplements can often fill in those gaps that we all inevitably have. Collagen is so versatile and simple, you can drink it, cook with it, etc. Experiment with a flavor-free collagen powder to see how many different ways you can increase your collagen intake. Always make sure you’re using a pure product that provides you with safe supplementation.

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Tips for Success from the Nutritionist

Looking to maximize the potential of your collagen supplement? Here are three tips that can help you make the most of your investment.

Properly Mix Your Collagen

It takes a few stirs to properly mix your collagen powder into whatever liquid you’re using. Make sure you give it enough time to dissolve. This will boost the absorption of your product, so you see optimal results.

Experiment with Your Collagen Routine

Try to find a time of day that you can remain consistent with. A lot of people like to take their supplements first thing in the morning. Collagen doesn’t keep you up at night or cause any kind of unwanted side effects, so you can work it into your breakfast, lunch, dinner or anywhere in between.

Keep Consistent

Collagen works best when you’re consuming it on a consistent basis. It’s alright to skip a day or two, but try not to let too many days pass before you consume it again. Maintaining a routine is optimal.