The Scoop on Collagen!

If you haven't heard about collagen by now or seen it on your socials then chances are you've been hiding under a rock because collagen has definitely been a hot topic, and for good reason! Collagen has many health benefits, which is exactly why it has become so popular!

---

Collagen makes up approximately 1/3 of the protein in our bodies and is found in our skin, hair, nails, bones, gut lining, vascular walls, veins and placenta when your pregnant. There is actually more collagen in bones than there is calcium, magnesium or phosphorus. Unfortunately, most people get 0 grams of collagen a day, unless they are eating collagen rich sources such as bone broth, collagen powder or leaving the skin on their cooked chicken. So why is it so important to include collagen in your diet? Collagen rich sources increase liver health, decrease joint pain, and increase gut health by helping to decrease leaky gut, gas, bloating, and autoimmune disease. For example, 90% of bone broth is collagen and the other 10% include hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, potassium and magnesium, also nutrients that are great for you and with 70% of our immune system in our guts we have to make sure to take care of that too!

---

Now if you have heard of collagen, you may have heard of the different types of collagen. There are 5 types of collagens: type 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10. Types 1 and 3 are best for skin, hair, nails and bones. Type 2 is best for ligament, tendon and joint health. Type 5 and 10 are most beneficial for heathy blood vessels and building a healthy placenta. So you may be wondering how collagen is different from a chicken breast in terms of protein, and yes, collagen is considered a source of protein. Chicken breast is a muscle, which supports muscle growth and repair whereas the different types of collagen support the other parts of our bodies, as I mentioned above. There are also ways to increase your collagen absorption when you do consume it! Eating foods rich in vitamin C (peppers, kiwi, citrus), berries, green vegetables, and adaptogenic mushrooms (reishi & ashwaganda) will get you more bang for your buck when including collagen into your diet.

---

So are you ready to start introducing collagen into your diet? If you are (which you totally should be!) you can start by using bone broth in your next pot of soup or adding collagen powder into your smoothie, coffee or favorite baked good. Another of my favorite ways to get collagen this time of year is a nice warm cup of bone broth! My favorite place to get ALL things collagen (and pretty much everything else in my pantry) is Thrive Market, an online grocery store with organic and delicious foods and household items that are delivered right to your door! See my favorite Thive collagen items below! By using the link you can save 25% off your first order too! So what are you waiting for? It's time to get on the collagen train and give your bodies the collagen that it needs!