Should You Take Collagen? | with Laura Bond

Collagen powder is something I recommend to men, women, children and pregnant woman.

Collagen is a natural form of protein which can be consumed in a myriad of ways. In addition, it benefits our gastro-intestinal health– and since 80 per cent of our immune system resides in our gut it can also improve our overall health.[1]

Youthful Benefits

We lose collagen as we age, so supplementing with a powder can certainly support healthy ageing. Studies have shown that taking collagen peptides will support skin elasticity and hydration levels[2] and decrease wrinkle depth. Getting enough protein in general can also help reduce the risk of age-related conditions like sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass and strength) and collagen powder is a simple way to get more on a daily basis.

Gut Benefits

Numerous studies attest to collagen’s benefits for our gut. More specifically, collagen has been shown to support the ‘tight junctions’ in our intestinal lining. When these tight junctions are working well they prevent undigested food particles, bacteria and other toxins from entering our blood stream, something known as intestinal permeability of ‘leaky gut’[3]. Finally, collagen contains an amino acid called glycine which supports our body’s detox pathways. Glycine is also ‘conditional essential’ during pregnancy; meaning the body’s needs exceed the amount that can be naturally made and so glycine must be obtained from food (or supplements).

How To Take Collagen

For adults aim for 10-20g of collagen protein and for kids as a general guide start with 6g (the equivalent amount of protein in an egg). You might like to try adding the powder to a smoothie using the following recipe below. Additional benefits can be found from adding; berries as their vitamin C content further supports collagen production; greens powder, to support detoxification, and raw cacao which is rich in magnesium which helps balance hormones and calms the nervous system.

If you or your children don’t like smoothies you can also add a scoop of collagen to porridge, yoghurt, muffin or pancake recipes and to hot drinks – heat will not damage collagen.

What To Look For In A Supplement

You want to make sure it’s hydrolysed collagen or collagen peptides for optimum absorption. If you see the term Verisol, that is a form of hydrolysed collagen. I’m personally always on the look-out for everything organic, however thanks to the processes necessary to make collagen, you will be unlikely to find this. Instead, you want to look for companies that are using natural ways to extract the collagen, some of the best brands use unrefined acids, similar to lemon or lime, to create the collagen, rather than chemicals. When it’s something you’re going to be having daily, it’s worth doing that extra digging.

Glowing Skin Smoothie Recipe

Servings: 1

INGREDIENTS

Optional: 2 tsp Raw Amazonia Greens Powder (available at Floralia)

METHOD

Blitz everything in a blender and pour into a glass. Enjoy!

When I work one-on-one with clients I develop individualised meal plans, which can be a powerful tool to transform habits long term and prepare your body for a baby. I also suggest lab tests to look at hormone and nutrition status as part of your prenatal care.

Looking for one-on-one guidance and support? You can book a one-on-one consultation with Laura here. As well as offering functional medical tests, Laura provides meal plans and recipes as part of her consultation.

Laura is a qualified Nutritional Therapist who is passionate about pre and post-natal nutrition as well as children’s health. She also loves helping mum’s create meal plans or weaning programmes for fussy eaters as well as tailored diets for those dealing with chronic digestive issues or who are living with or beyond cancer.