Proof I’m still sexy.
I’m obsessed with collagen. It is a very important protein and it is very abundant in our bodies up until our 30s. Once we hit 30, collagen production begins to wane it is recommended that we begin to get it from nutritional sources.
Leaving skins on meats when cooking them helps because that’s basically where all the collagen is. In the skin of the fat of meat products. So I try to keep the skins on the chicken drumsticks when cooking. I eat the fatty part of pork chops. The fatty parts of meat are where the collagen is at.
If you’re wanting the collagen without the calories, collagen supplements are also very helpful. I’ve been reading that we need 30g of collagen per day. I get 20gs in my morning coffee, and then in the afternoon I have a hot chocolate where I put my final 10g scoop in.
Collagen needs help to synthesize. Requiring a few different things. I’ve read copper is crucial for collagen synthesis to begin the building blocks, so I take my collagen with a copper supplement. I’ve also read that l-lysine helps with collagen synthesis, alongside vitamin C, so I try and eat at least 1 citrus fruit per day. Grapefruit is supreme, but an orange will do fine. If not that then some lemon water but through a straw to keep my tooth enamel strong.
What to expect from collagen?
Taste-wise, collagen adds a delicious and creamy texture to all teas, coffees and beverages without adding any dairy. I kind of miss the way milk changes the texture of coffee, sort of rounding it out and making it less aggressive to the palette. Collagen adds that texture without any lactose.
Collagen is a hormone booster so, you might feel a little more hormonal than usual. Expect to feel sexy. Expect to get a little more hungry than usual also. You might be a bit temperamental. All the things expected from a hormonal boost.
Maybe if you see your hormones getting too big of a hormone boost on 30gs, start at 10gs and eventually work your way up. Expect an energy boost for sure. Oh and less aching in your joints after 6 weeks of consistent daily use. Reducing fine lines is a vain bonus, but the biggest blessing is the ability for collagen to heal the gut lining.
What collagen to get?
When shopping for a collagen supplement I look for 2 things: as many different collagen types as possible. I also look for whether the collagen supplement has Vitamin C or not.
You want as many different collagen types as possible, yes. Here’s a chart for reference:
You want to make sure you get something that has as many different types of collagen as possible. I like Dr. Axe’s multi-collagen supplement because it has all 10 collagen strains. This to me is the best product on the market in terms of collagen supplements. Dr. Axe is almost a hero of mine. I mean have you seen his YouTube channel? He looks like the picture of perfect health. I trust what he says and I find him very inspiring.
Also be sure to look out for Vitamin C in your collagen supplement. They sneak that in there because Vitamin C is used to help synthesize the collagen, but if you’re putting it into something that’s already acidic like coffee, it might be a double whammy and burn away the collagen altogether. So just be weary of Vitamin C in collagen supplements and if it’s in there use it accordingly for things like tea, or a yogurt + granola snack, or throw a couple scoops into a smoothie, something like that.
If you’re balling on a budget, this Horbaach brand is also really great:
It’s not quite as good as Dr. Axe’s but it is a little cheaper and you get double the amount for a lower price point, and fundamentally it gets the job done.
So there you have it! The collagen supplement supreme, and then their respective dupe. Feel the boost and know that we are on our way to getting our bodies super fit and strong for anything that life has to throw at us!!!