Collagen for Men
It’s no secret that collagen has developed a reputation as a means to preserve our youthful appearance. However, because of this reputation, the multitude of benefits this health powerhouse has to offer are commonly overlooked.
Men, listen up, this one’s for you. Although collagen is more commonly sought out by women, it’s just as much of a necessity for men!
Many aren’t aware that aside from being a big deal in the cosmetic world, collagen is so much more than just a beauty-hack for women. In fact, it’s a vital nutrient that our bodies naturally produce, and absolutely need to maintain our health. Simply put- it’s the glue that holds your body together and keeps you looking and feeling your very best.
We all know that feeling - you know, the feeling of getting older - and it shows not only in our appearance but in our mobility as well. This is the result of our bodies natural collagen production depleting over time. So, whether you’re an athlete, you want to preserve your youth, or you’re simply trying to be healthier - collagen is key no matter the gender.
Collagen doesn’t work differently for men or women, but it is sought out for different reasons. Let’s get into it...
Appearance
Again, not just for women, you know what they say - “look good, feel good” right?! As mentioned, our bodies naturally produce collagen on their own, but around our mid-twenties, this production starts to diminish more and more each year, which is why we start to see signs of ageing. Our hair loses colour, our skin loses elasticity and begins to wrinkle, and we suddenly find ourselves doing everything we can to preserve our youthful appearance.
Men and women’s skin are significantly different in terms of collagen levels and thickness, but this doesn’t mean that men shouldn’t be making an effort to nurture their skin. For all the guys out there whose hair might be thinning and turning grey, or don’t know where to begin with skincare - collagen is a great place to start. It’s not only the best natural skin care substance on the planet, keeping you looking healthy and youthful, but it also promotes healthier, thicker, and faster-growing hair!
Now that we know what low collagen levels look like, let's talk about what it feels like? Achey joints, lower energy levels, mobility pain, the list goes on - and these symptoms can have an outlasting effect on our physical health.
Improved Performance
Finding ways to stay active grows more and more important as we continue to age. When our natural collagen production diminishes, we start to notice that being active isn’t quite as easy as it used to be. We have a harder time getting to the gym, completing workouts, recovering from injuries, and even things as simple as bouncing back from leg day seem to take twice as long as they once did. But when we start supplementing our bodies with collagen, we can see improvements in our athletic performance, recovery time, and even injury prevention.
Joint Pain
Collagen is an important component of cartilage, the tissue in your body that supports healthy movement of joints. Over time, (and more rapidly in athletes) this cartilage begins to wear down and our joints begin to swell and stiffen due to inability to move as easily or freely. This is what causes that not-so-great feeling of aches and pains which hinder our mobility and physical stamina, and can lead to the development of osteoarthritis.
Collagen has been shown to improve this pain in athletes by aiding cartridge production in the joints, which helps them move more smoothly while reducing pain as well as the risk of deterioration. It also supports strong flexible tendons and ligaments, which allow you to complete higher-intensity workouts and bounce back quickly.
Building Muscle
Collagen plays a vital role in the production of muscle mass due to its abundance of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein which boost metabolism and energy levels. And while collagen doesn’t directly contribute to the synthesis of muscle mass, it’s nutrient-rich components provide fuel to the body that allows you to get more out of your workouts, ultimately aiding proper muscle development and growth.
In addition to helping you get the most of your workouts, collagen also helps you recover faster too!
Faster Recovery
Recovery time is a pretty big determinant of athletic performance. Nothing is worse than not being able to stick to a workout schedule because you’re still sore from last week.
The feeling of soreness is actually damage to muscle fibres that causes tightness and tenderness. Luckily, amino acids in collagen help repair these muscles post-workout, which means you can get back to the gym faster!
Heart Health
This one is short, but not to be overlooked! Collagen works to improve maintain a healthy heart.
The amino acid proline helps clear fat accumulation and repairs tissues within the joints and arteries, which helps regulate blood pressure. Arginine, also found in collagen, helps with the widening of arteries and relaxation of blood vessels for better circulation.
Gut Health
A healthy gut contributes to healthy sleep, an effective digestive system, and an all-around healthy immune system. Basically, prioritizing taking care of your gut is the most impactful difference you can make in your health.
Collagen helps break down proteins and aid better digestion, soothes gut lining, and heals damaged cell walls, all of which help treat leaky gut syndrome. Leaky gut is a digestive condition that happens when your intestinal barrier starts to have gaps, which causes undigested food and toxins to leak into your body and bloodstream. And get this – men typically have more leaky gut issues than women!
A leaky gut can cause all kinds of problems in the body including
- Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhoea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Seasonal allergies and asthma
- Headaches
- Skin issues such as acne, rosacea, or eczema
- Food allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances
- Poor immune system
- Arthritis or joint pain
Supplementing collagen can help prevent and counteract these issues by supporting your gut and building the tissues that seal and heal the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
How to Get Collagen Into Your Diet
Even though collagen is a vital nutrient that does wonders for our health, it should not be used as a cure-all to combat the issues above. That said, the best way to lay the base for a healthy lifestyle is to start with your diet. Like we always say at the Clean Living Company, “food first” - and once you’ve got that down, then you can come in and supplement collagen into your diet.
There are a number of ways you can source collagen.
Organic Bone Broth is the original and most natural source of collagen that exists. It comes ready to drink neat, and for all the chefs of the family - it’s super easy to cook with. Batch-made fresh weekly from locally sourced ingredients, the Clean Living Company has been providing the highest quality bone broth available in the UAE for years.
Supplemental Collagen is another easy way to get collagen into your diet. Our Collagen Keto Powder is comprised of just two simple ingredients: hydrolysed bovine collagen and MCT extracted from coconut. The combination of collagen and MCTs mean the proteins aid recovery rather than being misused when converted to glucose in your body. As a result, your body makes the most of the protein consumed.
Just one daily scoop of keto-friendly collagen powder mixed into your favourite beverage helps to make up for the body's inability to retain natural collagen levels. Clean Living Company’s Collagen Keto Powders come in the options of Chocolate or Unflavoured, and can easily be mixed into ANY beverage as well as a number of recipes. Pro tip: substitute protein powder with Keto Collagen Powder and put it in your protein shakes before you hit the gym for the ultimate pre-workout boost!
The Clean Living Company is the only health food and supplement company out there that sells collagen in the form of a supplement as well as its most bioavailable form, organic bone broth. We assure you that optimizing YOUR health is our top priority.
Don't waste another second feeling anything less than your absolute best. Start your journey to Clean Living today.
