Collagen is a major buzzword these days and can be found in countless products. The benefits you may have heard about include hair, skin, and nails, but it goes much deeper than that. 

As we get older, starting in our twenties, our body produces less collagen at a declining rate of 1.5% per year. This leads to signs of aging such as wrinkles, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, weaker joints and muscles, and digestive issues. 

Think of collagen like glue – it holds our body together by giving structure to our connective cells and tissue. 

Collagen is a vital protein that makes up 30% of the total protein in our bodies, 80% of our skin, hair, muscles, joints, and 90% of our bone mass. In other terms, it’s pretty important. 

Science shows that by taking collagen supplements, we can replenish collagen levels to combat the aging process and gain health and beauty benefits. Our bodies depend on collagen to do things like keep skin hydrated and plump, hair and nails strong, joints robust, and digestive system working properly, to name a few. 

This article reviews the benefits of taking collagen supplements, backed by science and research.

Science shows that when taken consistently, collagen has positive benefits on the skin. 

Collagen helps repair and replace damaged skin tissue by creating new cells and replenishing connective tissue. This restoring of skin cells occurs in the dermis layer of skin and improves skin health, including improving elasticity. 

Here are skin benefits from taking collagen supplements.

Much like skin, our hair also undergoes chronological aging. The older we get, the more susceptive we are to hair damage, brittle hair, and hair loss.

Our nails undergo changes as we age, including brittleness, discoloration, and weaker, thinner nails. 

One of the most vital amino acids for nail growth, arginine, is found in collagen. Studies show that taking collagen helps to increase nail growth, reduce the brittleness of nails, and decrease the frequency of nails breaking.

Have you ever felt stiffness or pain when you move? That’s likely due to the loss of collagen. When it comes to our joints and bones, collagen is crucial in keeping them strong and healthy. 

Think of ingesting collagen like lubricating a creaky door hinge. Collagen helps "lubricate" our joints and bones – it helps hold our bones together to make our joints move smoothly. 

Studies have found that collagen helps reduce joint pain and the risk of joint deterioration. 

Collagen is a major component of your muscle tissue. 

Studies show that the body’s process for healing torn or ruptured muscles involves the regeneration of muscle fibers and connective scar tissue. Taking collagen helps with this healing process since collagen helps restore connective tissue throughout the body. 

Other studies have found that taking collagen supplements helps increase lean muscle mass and may increase muscle strength, especially when paired with working out.

About one-third of protein found in collagen is glycine. Glycine (an amino acid) helps form another amino acid called creatine, which is known to promote healthy muscles. 

Did you that our immune health is linked to our gut health?

Taking collagen supplements help line our gut, keeping it happy and healthy. This, in turn, prevents bacteria and toxins from leaking into our gut that cause sickness and diseases. Thus, supporting our immune system to keep it healthy and strong.

Now that you know the benefits of taking collagen, it’s crucial to recognize that collagen is not a cure-all. There are many factors that coincide with the benefits. Aside from aging, other factors that decrease collagen levels and can accelerate the aging process include: