Collagen supplements are common especially when it comes to sports nutrition. Does collagen increase muscle mass? What exactly is it? It is important to have the correct facts - what is contained in these supplements, whether they work, and the risks associated with them. Collagens are beneficial for your skin and hair, and if you would like to get yourself great marine collagen, please visit nuviline.com. In this article, you will find out the truth about using collagen supplements for fitness.
What is a Collagen Supplement, Collagen Hydrolysate, and Collagen Peptide?
When looking for supplements for collagen, you will discover several terms that you may not understand what they mean.
- Collagen. This is the most abundant type of protein in the human body. It offers elasticity and structure to the skin, muscles, blood vessels, and other body parts. As a person ages, the levels of collagen begin to drop which results in signs of aging such as saggy skin and wrinkles, stiffer ligaments and joints, weaker muscles, and joint pains.
- Collagen hydrolysate. You will notice that most supplements are labelled as collagen hydrolysate or collagen peptides. Hydrolysate means that the collagen has been broken down or hydrolysed to form peptides. The collagen is hydrolysed to form peptides that are easier to digest and absorb.
- Collagen peptide. Peptides are smaller chains of the building blocks of proteins, amino acids. Protein consists of very large molecules, and when it is broken down, it forms collagen peptides.
- Collagen supplements. These are dietary supplements that offer this specific protein type. They are not a necessity because if you eat a balanced diet, your body will manufacture collagen. Supplements of collagen are designed as a powder with no taste and it dissolves into liquids.
Advantages of Using Collagen
Collagen products are widely marketed for enhancing a person's skin condition and the strength of their bones. However, if collagen is used as sports nutrition, it can enhance your athletic performance. So how does it work? Here are some of the advantages of using collagen:
1. Collagen alleviates joint pains
Collagen is a critical part of cartilage, the tissue that supports and cushions joints. It wears down as a person gets older. More so, this process is faster in athletes. This results in arthritis and joint pains. Multiple studies indicate the use of supplements of collagen significantly decreases joint pain as well as osteoarthritis.
If you have joint pain and it affects how you exercise, using supplements can be quite handy. If you reduce these pains, it will allow more mobility for you which in turn will enhance your athletic performance.
2. Collagen increases muscle mass
Collagen is also a component of muscles and it reduces with age too. Using supplements of collagen can reverse this trend in people with age-related muscles loss or sarcopenia. In younger, healthier people, supplements improve their lifting workouts significantly and play an active role in building muscles. Furthermore, the amino acids, glycine and arginine, that are present in collagen, are used to make creatine.
3. Collagen reduces the risk of sports-related injuries
Supplements of collagen increase the tendons' diameter which in turn lowers the rates of injuries. With fewer injuries, it means that you will have more time to train. This in turn increases your athletic performance.
4. Collagen speeds up the recovery process
Recovery often hinders attaining athletic goals and improving fitness levels. Collagen speeds up the process of recovery because it helps in the regeneration of muscle fibres and scar tissue.