Collagen Benefits For Men

Dr. Drew Jamieson, ND

February 2, 2021

Today, interest in dietary collagen is growing at a rapid rate, and for good reason. I started taking collagen three years ago, and some pretty remarkable things have happened. The benefits of a collagen-rich diet are incredible, ranging from better weight control, improved digestion, clearer skin, reduced inflammation, and improved immune function.¹

In my practice, collagen has become a game changer for injury recovery. I recommend it daily to patients dealing with ligament, tendon, cartilage, or joint problems.² It works that well.

Collagen based products provide a unique blend of amino acids that are critical for everyone, regardless of age. If you don’t get enough collagen in your diet you can experience an increase in injuries, digestive issues, and other symptoms associated with aging (decreased bone mineral density, wrinkles, and arthritis).³

Is collagen good for men?

Absolutely - Collagen is a protein your body produces naturally and is a major component of skin, bone, and connective tissue.² Let’s examine why this is not only a safe, but critical supplement to consider.

5 Surprising Benefits of Collagen for men

1. Bulletproof bones and joints

The cartilage and space between your joints acts like a cushion to absorb shock and force. But aging, arthritis, sports injuries, and collagen deficiency can compromise this cushioning effect.² The breakdown of this system can lead to pain and debility.

The good news is that collagen has a protective effect on cartilage and provides pain relief.³ It is highly effective for those that live an active life and push their bodies to the limit. For the last three years collagen has been a staple in my post workout shake. As a result, I feel better now at age 35 than I did at 27.

2. Helps you grow strong and thick hair

Your hair, skin, and nails are made up primarily of the protein keratin.⁴ Increasing your collagen intake provides your body with the raw materials needed to build keratin leading to stronger hair and nails. Other nutrients to consider for hair loss are Vitamin A, Vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and thyroid hormone levels.⁵ Along with collagen, these micronutrients are key to growing thick, strong hair.

3. Boosts muscle recovery

If you love working out, building muscle, and want to improve your recovery time between sessions - collagen can help.⁶ Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage are all stressed during workouts. Since collagen makes up 30% of the proteins in our body, we can directly supports our recovery and repair process by making sure we get lots of it in our diet and through supplementation.⁷

4. Promotes gut health

Collagen is essential to heal and seal your gut.⁸ The lining of our intestines acts like a screen door that filters out large particles and absorbs small molecules like simple sugars, amino acids, and fats. If the intestinal lining is compromised or leaky, you open yourself up to a wide array of health concerns and digestive distress. When undigested food and toxins creep in, it leads to inflammation, immune system dysregulation, sleep problems, and chronic digestive complaints. Collagen provides your intestinal cells with the amino acids glycine and proline which are essential in rebuilding the lining of your digestive tract.⁸ Glycine also helps reduce inflammation which is common in those that suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

5. Improves heart health

Collagen provides structural support to the cardiovascular and circulatory system. Without sufficient collagen, the vessels that carry blood around your body become weak and fragile.⁹ Collagen supplementation has been shown to lead to a significant reduction in arterial stiffness.¹⁰

Collagen powder and peptides for men

When choosing the right collagen product there are a few things to keep in mind. Look for free range and antibiotic free animals as the collagen source. Check for third party certifications that indicate proper quality and purity. Avoid products that blend in other ingredients with collagen such as probiotics or fiber because we don’t have enough data to see how they interact. On the label, look for either collagen hydrolysate, hydrolyzed collagen, or collagen peptides - this indicates the collagen has been broken down into small enough particles that are easily absorbed.

Collagen supplements for men

Restore and rebuild collagen with Organika’s Enhanced Collagen flavourless hydrolyzed collagen powder. Peptides are short chain amino acids naturally derived from collagen protein. These natural peptides are highly bio-available, digestible and soluble. Sourced from grass-fed cows, Enhanced Collagen is rBGH & BSE-free (no antibiotics or hormones), with no artificial sweeteners or GMO ingredients. Amino acids glycine, lysine & proline revitalize, firm and smooth skin.

Shop Enhanced Collagen

References

Dr. Drew Jamieson is a Naturopathic Doctor from Vancouver, BC. He maintains a full time practice with a clinical focus in sports medicine, regenerative injection therapies, nutrition, digestion, and men’s health. He is a lifelong athlete and weight lifter with a background in strength and conditioning.

Dr. Drew is a professional instructor and adjunct faculty member at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in the Physical Medicine Department. His hobbies include traveling, hiking, reading, and creating high end content related to health and wellness.

Follow along with him on Instagram @drew.jamieson