How Long Does It Take For Collagen Supplements To Work?

When Do Supplements Start Working?

We all would like to know how long a supplement takes to work, am I right? This would be the part where we explain how a supplement breaks down inside your body and the exact minute you will feel the experience, and exactly when you will see the difference! Right?

The truth is a little more complicated. What we can do is tell you the general process of how this happens. below, we'll discuss the different types of collagen and how your body uses them.

Have you ever heard the term bio individuality? One person’s food is another’s poison? Simply put, our bodies are all uniquely different, because of many different factors starting with your genes and including everything from your blood to your bones. Everything about you contributes to how your body will process everything from food to movement. There are general studies and ideas that produce timeframes on when you might see results from the supplement and those are not wrong. The point is, your body will ultimately determine that.

So how can you tell when your supplements will start working? It is trial and error. Take it as directed, check in with your body periodically, and if you never feel a “feeling” that’s ok. We would recommend sticking with the directions on the supplement. Once you begin feeling a change, note the time you started feeling it because that is likely what’s true for your body.

How Your Body Breaks Down Collagen

Let’s discuss how a supplement breaks down inside your body. We will use collagen for our example. First when you take a collagen supplement (or any supplement) your body begins breaking it down in your gastrointestinal tract where your stomach acid does it’s thing. From here it enters your liver for the final stop before it enters the bloodstream.

It’s important to note that different forms delivery (pills or powders), and doses will vary depending on the time this takes to enter your blood, but one thing is for sure, once it’s in your bloodstream you are cooking with the collagen!

What Is Collagen?

While we are talking about collagen let's understand it a little better. Collagen has become more and more popular these days but do you ever wonder what the heck collagen is? Collagen is the most pronounced protein found in our bodies, and helps make up our eyes, hair, nails and organs. It’s important to understand when you take any supplement why you are taking it and what for.

Collagen has five different types that can affect different things, so if you take a collagen supplement that is mainly type 1 and your intention is to help with your gut health, it could be possible that you would be better served with a supplement that had more type 2 collagen.

Types Of Collagen

Let’s take a look at the different forms of collagen and their possible benefits.

Type 1 Collagen

Type 1 Collagen makes up around 90% of your body's collagen and can help your blood work more efficiently to heal, help your eye health, skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, and organs all could benefit from a type one collagen supplement. You can also obtain type one collagen by consuming lean cuts of beef (preferably organic), fish, eggs, and bone broths.

Type 2 Collagen

Type 2 Collagen will typically benefit gut health mainly while still aiding your connective tissue and joints. Type 2 Collagen is also naturally found in bone broths and poultry.

Type 3 Collagen

Type 3 Collagen helps the musculoskeletal system, organs, and blood vessels. Natural sources, like Type 1, include lean cuts of beef, fish, eggs, and bone broths.

Type 4 Collagen

Type 4 Collagen helps with kidney function, and skin care. Type 4 collagen is not as common as the first 3 types so a supplement for this type may be in order. Otherwise you can get a natural source by eating a lot of eggs.

Type 5 Collagen

Type 5 Collagen is great for expectant mother’s placenta, and eye health. Like Type 4, it’s not as common so a collagen supplement may be in order.

What Type Of Collagen Should I Take?

So which types do you need? That depends on what you want. Our best advice to someone who is wanting to buy a supplement is to stick with type one and two for no other reason than these types of collagen help the majority of your needs. If you are someone who doesn’t want to supplement, then eat a diverse group of fresh whole foods and include the foods listed above each week.

In closing, when taking any supplement you should consider the lifestyle athlete concept of bio individuality which understands how your specific body processes different things. Consider why you are taking the supplement so that you may have a gauge on whether it’s working or not (can’t change what you don’t assess). Eat a diet of fresh whole foods, and limit refined sugars.

The Lifestyle Athlete Team
-Mdrive Nutrition Coaches

"Train like an athlete, heal like a hippie, always trust your gut"