Collagen supplements are a hot trend in the beauty, health, and wellness worlds, with mega-stars ranging from Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez to LeBron James and Dwayne Johnson touting the benefits. Although those celebrity endorsements may be enough to pique your interest, before you jump on the collagen bandwagon and dive headfirst into the trend, it’s important to understand what collagen is, why you need a supplement, and what to look for when choosing one.
What is collagen?
Board certified dermatologist Dr. Kemunto Mokaya, MD, MHS, FAAD, (a.k.a. Dr. Kemmy) shared with Pure Haven, “Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies. It provides the structure to our skin and joints.”
Collagen is also found in other connected tissues throughout your body, such as bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. It’s made up of amino acid chains that form flexible fibers for supporting cells and tissues.
Why do you need a collagen supplement?
You may wonder why you need a collagen supplement if your body already produces it. Dr. Kemmy said, “Because our bodies constantly need collagen and because, as we age, we’re making less and less collagen, it becomes important to provide our bodies the building blocks and to have collagen in our diet.”
As early as when you’re in our mid-20s, your natural collagen production slows, and natural stores decrease even quicker if you engage in unhealthy habits like smoking, excess sun exposure, and poor diet choices. Dr. Kemmy explains, “There are several studies that have proved that when people take good quality hydrolyzed collagen, it’s detected in the bloodstream, and it makes its way to the skin.” In the skin, Dr. Kemmy said, “We can say for sure that collagen will help boost skin firmness and elasticity. It will also help to increase the hydration of the skin so that the skin is not so dry and dull, and it reduces wrinkles.”
Five factors to consider when choosing a collagen supplement:
- Unnecessary ingredients: You want to be sure you’re getting the most for your collagen supplement dollar, with a solid serving of collagen, so skip any supplements that contain chemical preservatives, fillers, gmos, artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.
- Hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides: This form of collagen includes fragments of animal-derived collagen that are easier for the body to absorb in its entirety than collagen taken as a complete protein. You shouldn’t have any digestive issues at all when adding this form of collagen to your diet.
- Sourcing: You want a brand that is specific with its sourcing, using phrases like wild-caught or sustainably sourced and naming the region(s) in which they obtain the collagen.
- Derivation: True collagen supplements are derived from animal sources like marine, bovine, and poultry. “Vegan collagen” does not contain actual collagen. Instead, it contains nutrients needed to help the body maintain and produce collagen. Be sure to choose a supplement that fits your lifestyle.
- Trusted brand: Like the cosmetics and personal care industry, collagen isn’t regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and is susceptible to misleading marketing tactics. When shopping for a collagen supplement, be sure to choose one sold by a brand you can trust.
“Not all collagen is created equal,” said Dr. Kemmy. “Pure Haven is a high-quality brand. The collagen that they offer is a great quality collagen.”
Pure Haven’s non toxic pure skin collagen peptides checks all the boxes above, and then some. Made with only wild caught hydrolyzed fish collagen — no fillers or artificial flavors — it can help you achieve beautiful skin from within, as well as improve the appearance and wellbeing of your hair, nails, bones, and joints.* Like all our non toxic products, it comes with a 60-day empty bottle guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied, you can send the product back for a full refund of the purchase price (less delivery fees.). Ask your Pure Haven Consultant about pure skin collagen peptides today.
*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.