8 Best Uses of Collagen (Some May Surprise You)

Collagen peptides are the hero ingredient in our Beauty Gen Collagen products, thanks to their impressive beauty-enhancing power. But their broad range of health benefits help them climb the ranks as a no-brainer daily supplement too. Here is a list of the best uses of collagen in no particular order – backed by science and diverse in their offerings. Some of you will know by heart thanks to beauty industry buzz, but we bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised by some other benefits of collagen peptides:

Anti-ageing effects for skin
Renowned as one of the best uses of collagen, supplementing with these power peptides for anti-ageing skin benefits has been well-researched. Amongst many findings, studies have shown that collagen can increase skin elasticity and skin hydration 1 reduce the appearance of wrinkles 2 and promote the production of other proteins that help structure the skin, including elastin and fibrillin 3 .
This is fairly unsurprising since, as the most abundant component of the skin, collagen determines skin physiology. Collagen levels in the body decline both naturally from age and from environmental factors such as smoking and exposure, with skin becoming increasingly thinner and drier over time. Studies have shown that this age-related reduction in collagen synthesis can be reversed by supplementing with collagen peptides, contributing to a reduction in wrinkling as well as improved skin texture and density 4,5 .

Healthier hair and nails
If you’ve considered collagen as a beauty supplement, you likely already know one of the best uses of collagen is for hair and nail health. Hair is primarily made up of the protekeratin, and keratin consists mainly of proline, an amino acid. Consuming proline-rich collagen helps build hair, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help optimise the hair bed as well as slow greying 6.

Supplementing with collagen has also been shown to improve nail growth while
strengthening brittle nails – with a notable decrease in the frequency of nail breakages 7.
Support for a healthier heart Arteries are essential blood vessels that distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Collagen provides structure to these blood vessels, helping keep them flexible and elastic. Without enough collagen, arteries could lose some of this elasticity, putting you at more risk of heart attacks and strokes. Studies show that supplementing with collagen may reduce artery stiffness while increasing levels of HDL (good) cholesterol 8, adding heart health to the benefits of collagen peptides.

 Feeling fuller for longer
Taking in more protein in general is considered a universal strategy for weight management, helping to reduce body fat and boost muscle mass 9 . When we eat more protein, we boost our metabolism, reduce hunger and positively adjust several weight-regulating hormones.
Collagen on average has a protein content of over 95%, contributing to its status as a weight loss aid. In support of this, studies have found collagen to keep people feeling fuller and more satiated for longer, helping to reduce individuals’ appetites 10.

Better quality sleep
Thanks to its high glycine content, collagen is also thought to support better sleep, as glycine helps the body make serotonin – a hormone and neurotransmitter that has significant effects on sleep and mood 11 . Research shows that supplementing with glycine can reduce symptoms of insomnia and improve sleep quality 12 as well as help you to bounce back to healthy sleep cycles after a period of disrupted sleep 13 .

Stronger joints, cartilage, muscles and bones
One of the best uses of collagen is to support joint, cartilage, muscle and bone health.
Research shows that collagen has an anabolic effect on cartilage, where individuals with osteoarthritis or other arthritic conditions have reported less pain and improved function after supplementation 14 . Athletes supplementing with collagen peptides have also been found to reduce factors such as pain that have a negative impact on their performance 15.
With its almost 100% protein content, collagen provides important building blocks for muscles in the “tear and repair” process of strength training and recovery, making it a useful addition to your exercise regime. And in the case of age-related reduction of bone mineral density, supplementing with collagen has been found to help increase bone formation and reduce bone degradation too 16 .

Healthier hair and nails
If you’ve considered collagen as a beauty supplement, you likely already know one of the best uses of collagen is for hair and nail health. Hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin, and keratin consists mainly of proline, an amino acid. Consuming proline-rich collagen helps build hair, while its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help optimise the hair bed as well as slow greying 6 .

Supplementing with collagen has also been shown to improve nail growth while
strengthening brittle nails – with a notable decrease in the frequency of nail breakages 7 .

Support for a healthier heart
Arteries are essential blood vessels that distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Collagen provides structure to these blood vessels, helping keep them flexible and elastic. Without enough collagen, arteries could lose some of this elasticity, putting you at more risk of heart attacks and strokes. Studies show that supplementing with collagen may reduce artery stiffness while increasing levels of HDL (good) cholesterol 8 , adding heart health to the benefits of collagen peptides.

Feeling fuller for longer
Taking in more protein in general is considered a universal strategy for weight management, helping to reduce body fat and boost muscle mass 9 . When we eat more protein, we boost our metabolism, reduce hunger and positively adjust several weight-regulating hormones. Collagen on average has a protein content of over 95%, contributing to its status as a weight loss aid. In support of this, studies have found collagen to keep people feeling fuller and more satiated for longer, helping to reduce individuals’ appetites 10. Better quality sleep Thanks to its high glycine content, collagen is also thought to support better sleep, as glycine helps the body make serotonin – a hormone and neurotransmitter that has
significant effects on sleep and mood 11. Research shows that supplementing with glycine can reduce symptoms of insomnia and improve sleep quality 12 as well as help you to bounce back to healthy sleep cycles after a period of disrupted sleep 13.

Stronger joints, cartilage, muscles and bones
One of the best uses of collagen is to support joint, cartilage, muscle and bone health.
Research shows that collagen has an anabolic effect on cartilage, where individuals with osteoarthritis or other arthritic conditions have reported less pain and improved function after supplementation 14. Athletes supplementing with collagen peptides have also been found to reduce factors such as pain that have a negative impact on their performance 15.
With its almost 100% protein content, collagen provides important building blocks for muscles in the “tear and repair” process of strength training and recovery, making it a useful addition to your exercise regime. And in the case of age-related reduction of bone mineral density, supplementing with collagen has been found to help increase bone formation and reduce bone degradation too 16.

Improved gut health
This multi-tasker has also proven to be of benefit to your gut too, potentially helping to rebuild and strengthen the lining of the digestive tract. Studies have found that daily supplementation may reduce bloating and improve mild digestive symptoms 17 , while also exhibiting positive effects on leaky gut syndrome (gut permeability) 18 .

Reduced appearance of cellulite
Since the benefits of collagen peptides for skin have been well-documented, it may be unsurprising that this protein has a positive effect on cellulite. Improving strength and elasticity of the skin is necessary to target cellulite, both of which have been achieved through supplementing with collagen peptides in as little as six months 19 . Of course, it’s important to remember that a healthy supplement is only as effective as its ingredients. The key ingredients in our Beauty Gen collagen products are of the highest quality, haven’t been damaged by heat and are free from harmful extras like sugar, thickeners and fillers. Our collagen is a natural, high-purity, bioactive product, classified as type I with an impressive protein content of over 97%. It is sourced from grass-fed cattle hides, making it both safe for pregnant and breastfeeding woman and completely neutral in taste – unlike marine collagen products.

The diversity of our Beauty Gen Collagen products also means that, in addition to quality ingredients, you can find the product/products that best match your lifestyle. Stir our Collagen Coffee Creamer into your coffee, add Beauty Greens to smoothies or stir Naked Collagen into sweet or savoury food and drinks. You could also indulge in a Collagen Hot Chocolate or sip on a sparkling Collagen Beauty Drink. However you add Beauty Gen Collagen into your daily routine, you’ll be harnessing the benefits of pure collagen peptides for whole body health.

Belle Blog readers, this is for you! The first 20 individuals to join the Beauty Gen Mailing List will receive two FREE Beauty Gen samples, delivered to your door.

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25660807/
2. https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681787/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6835901/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
6. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-for-hair#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28786550/
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5429168/
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25926512/
10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03327784
11.https://welliam.co.za/blogs/studies/a-real-sleeping-beauty-story-peptan%C2%AE-collagen-sleep
12. Bannai, M., et al. (2011). Oral administration of glycine increases extracellular
serotonin but not dopamine in the prefrontal cortex of rats. Psychiatry and Clinical
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13. Pharmacokinetics and cerebral distribution of glycine administered to rats. Amino Acids, vol. 42, iss. 6, pp 2129 – 2137
14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17076983/
15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18416885/
16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793325/
17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35639457/
18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28174772/
19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4685482/