Skincare has become a trend today more than ever before. From applications on the skin to ingestion of supplements, the fad over getting healthier skin is not dying anytime soon. To lots of research, one of the most in-demand supplements is marine collagen. With loads of benefits, it has become one of the most popular skincare proteins in no time.
As the name suggests, marine collagen is a Type 1 collagen derived solely from aquatic sources like fish skin, bones, scales, etc. This type of collagen is abundantly found in the skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, hair, nails and even in our teeth. It’s important to note that marine collagen is not only beneficial for our skin but also great for our joints.
Health benefits of Marine Collagen
Our bodies have 28 types of collagen and research has found that they start to gradually decrease with age. Since it is a key component in our bodies, it becomes important to supply our bodies with additional collagen that has been lost naturally. A lack of collagen in our bodies can cause weakened joints and saggy skin.
Regular intake of collagen can help us in the following ways:
- Improvement in skin health
Collagen supplies the skin with strength and hydration. With several studies, it has been proven that marine collagen can help in the anti-ageing of the skin by preventing wrinkles. Collagen also improves skin elasticity and promotes the production of more collagen and other proteins like elastin, fibrillin, etc.
- Prevention of bone loss due to age
Since collagen is the building block of our bones, lack of the same can lead to loss of bone mass. This is why the bones of older people tend to be more fragile. Intensive studies have shown long-term improvements in the bone mass of people who took collagen in their diets than those who did not.
- Relief from painful joints
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder in older people and is caused by the decline in collagen levels in the body. Collagen helps in strengthening the tendons, ligaments and cartilage in our bodies and hence, supplements of collagen can help make the joints stronger. Collagen in turn lowers the risks of inflammation and reduces pain.
- Synthesis of muscle proteins
Collagen does not only help in strengthening bones but also enhances muscle mass which otherwise naturally decreases with age. How it works is that collagen promotes the production of muscle proteins like creatine which in turn stimulates the growth of the muscles.
The health benefits of marine collagen do not just stop here. This protein may also improve the functioning of our circulatory system by providing strength and structure to the blood vessels. Narrowing of the blood vessels due to age is natural, but it should not be ignored as it increases the risks of heart attacks and strokes.
Other than that, collagen is also said to improve the health of our guts, hair, nails, and also our metabolism, which leads to excess weight loss.
Why Marine Collagen over Bovine Collagen?
Bovine collagen is obtained from cows while marine collagen is obtained from fish. Nowadays, people are trying not to rely on products made from or using animals. With marine collagen in the market now, consumers find fish products better than cow or pig products and they know that fish is much healthier.
There may not be much difference in the marine collagenobtained either way, but just for religious, cultural or moral reasons, people tend to rely on marine collagen more.
Things to consider before introducing marine collagen into your diet
You need to find out if you are allergic to fish or not before opting for marine collagen. If you find an allergic reaction then you should opt for other sources of collagen for its benefits.
It’s also important to note that collagen supplements are protein supplements. You should always consult with a doctor before taking any supplements so that it can be made sure that you can have protein additionally or not. If you have kidney disease and you are supposed to restrict your protein intake, then you will have to be very careful with how much collagen you ingest in a day.
How long does it take to see the results of Marine Collagen?
As much as one would want to see quick results, one should have patience with collagen supplements. With regular consumption, you may be able to see the improvement in your skin, bone and joint health in about 8 to 12 weeks. This much time is required for collagen to deeply repair the damages.
Results may also depend on the brand of collagen that you are ingesting. You need to make sure that it is a safe, tested and quality product to see better results. Always consult with your healthcare provider for the best advice.
When should you stop taking Marine Collagen?
While collagen supplements are a great relief for joint pain and poor skin health, one should be careful of the amount taken additionally as an excess of anything can be harmful. Since collagen is a protein, one of the most common causes of over use of collagen supplements can be a hike in the level of protein in the body. This happens when the person is also consuming great amounts of proteins, either medically or through meals.
Next, since collagen molecules are relatively large, they may be difficult to digest. This often leads to indigestion, bloating, etc.
Other than these, make sure that your collagen supplements are free from contamination by heavy metals and toxins.
Marine collagen is amazing in so many ways. Its health benefits are many while side effects are very less. This makes it a very popular supplement that people often need at some point. Marine collagen and eating fresh fish are not the same thing as the collagen is extracted from the skin, scales, fins and bones of the fish- parts not usually eaten as a whole.
Hence, despite collagen supplements being a bit pricey, their long-term benefits of them are much greater. They are safe and worth trying.
