Do Your Joints Need Collagen?

There is a long list of benefits, to the body, should you decide to begin taking collagen supplements regularly. Collagen powders and supplements can be taken to help with a whole manner of health-related instances. Daily collagen can help improve skin elasticity, improve bone strength and even support the healthy joint movement. If you believe that you are not in the stage of life where your joints need support then you are wrong; if you are over the age of thirty then chances are your natural collagen product has already started to decline significantly; the less collagen you have, the higher your risk of developing joint related issues. If your joints are not healthy and supported properly, you might suffer from severe pain and mobility issues. This in itself answers the question: Do your joints need collagen? The short answer is yes, your joints need support to ensure that they stay healthy, lubricated and strong; suitable collagen powders can help!

Do your joints need collagen supplements?

Again, the short answer here is yes. You might not be worried about collagen production in your early twenties when you are likely to still be naturally producing internal collagen. However, the same cannot be said for those who are around or past the age of thirty where natural collagen begins to decline. Not only will natural collagen production slow down, but eventually it will diminish altogether leaving the protein absent from the body. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that you can retain that vital protein inside the body for as long as possible; collagen supplements are one of the best methods. A suitable collagen supplement can ensure that you are not without the protein even if your body's natural collagen production begins to slow down. The amino acids inside collagen are what help keep the bones, muscles and even joints healthy and strong therefore the best defence against ageing and other mobility issues that we are at higher risk of facing, in older age, can be lessened if we stay on top of our collagen levels. 

At what age should I begin taking collagen for joints?

The last thing you will want to do is to wait until you need a supplement, like a collagen powder, before you begin taking it! If we know that our natural collagen production will likely decline at around thirty years of age then it would be sensible to stay on top of that by starting collagen supplements before those levels begin to drop. As we said before, joint health and mobility might not be something that concerns you in your early twenties but it makes sense to be on top of your health to lower your chances of risks, related to your joints, later down the line! Therefore, you can begin taking collagen supplements and powders, for your joints, in your mid-twenties to allow the body to continuously get used to a regular supply of collagen and not suffer from a significant drop when you age past thirty. There is no harm in taking a safe dosage of collagen each day to help support your joint health even before your natural collagen begins to decline. It's better to keep a stable amount of the amino acids and protein present in the body to limit your risks of collagen deficiency later in life. 

What kind of collagen is best for joints?

There are many different kinds of collagen that our body can find useful for many different reasons as well as benefits. For instance, Type I and Type III collagen (1 + 3) are best for supporting our hair, nails, skin, teeth, bones and muscles. These types of collagen can keep these body parts healthy and strong and support them as they grow or develop. You can find Type I and III collagen sources from Pure Bovine Collagen, making it the most popular collagen source from a beauty-related supplement. Marine collagen, made from fish, is also a popular source of Type I collagen and is a pescetarian-friendly alternative to bovine collagen that can still provide similar benefits. However, when it comes to what kind of collagen is best for the joints, that would typically be either a combination of Type I and II or just Type II (2) collagen. 

Concerning joint health, Type II collagen can help in the following ways: 

• It can help rebuild cartilage 
• Support healthy joints 

A combination of collagen (types) can offer the body all-around support, but if you want to focus more on your joint health, Type II collagen is the best kind. You can typically source this type of collagen from various animal-derived sources like chicken. Although, Bovine and Marine are still the two main types of collagen sources as they contain a combination of Type I, II or III that can be the most beneficial. 

Can I increase collagen naturally in my joints?

Once we get past the point where our bodies no longer produce a regular amount of natural collagen we can begin to feel the decline in the vital protein and amino acids! Whilst the only true way to increase collagen inside the body is to supplement regular collagen supplements, there are a few dietary options you can consider to help you get the most out of the collagen inside your body (natural or supplemented). Eating foods rich in Vitamin C and essential amino acids can increase your levels of hyaluronic acid and support collagen. However, it is important to remember that eating more collagen-rich foods and taking collagen supplements does not mean that your collagen production is naturally regrowing again; once it begins to diminish (naturally), you’ll need to rely on supplementing collagen into the body! For joint health specifically, you’ll want to ensure you keep your collagen intake regular if you are beginning to notice or feel the protein diminish.