Collagen is the current darling of the wellness industry. It can benefit a lot of women, but not all supplements work the same.
More women (and men for that matter) are interested in collagen supplements than ever before. Weightlifters believe they can enhance muscle mass. Athletes want them to protect their joints. Many women I talk to add collagen to their coffee or morning oatmeal in hopes of maintaining strong hair, elastic skin and to prevent wrinkling. But does it work?
The answer, as is so often the case, is it depends. First let’s define what collagen is. Collagen is your most abundant protein, making up one-third of your body. Its main role is to provide structure and framework for your tissues, especially bone, connective tissues, cartilage, muscles, and skin. Your body produces collagen naturally and you can also get collagen through food, especially meat, fish, bone broth, and egg whites (there are no vegan food sources of collagen) and/or supplements.
