Disclaimer: All content and media on our website Moatere is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Read full disclaimer
You may have heard the rumor that collagen causes weight gain, but you’re here to find out the truth! The good news is that while there are many factors contributing to weight gain, collagen definitely isn’t one of them. In fact, protein from collagen makes you feel full after eating it and supports muscle growth, so it can help with healthy weight management and maintaining your ideal body weight. And if you’re thinking about trying to lose weight with collagen supplements, keep reading to learn more about how collagen can help with your goals.
What is collagen?
So, what is collagen? It’s a combination of amino acids that make up our connective tissue; it’s responsible for elasticity in our skin, as well as muscle strength. And it comes from cows. That’s right: if you want to get more collagen in your diet, you have to eat cow products. That might be problematic for vegetarians/vegans or anyone who can’t consume dairy—so there are other options available. But what are those? Well, collagen peptides are a powdered form of protein derived from chicken breast tissue.
How does it work?
Collagen is a protein in your body that’s made from amino acids. It helps support hair, skin, bones, joints, muscles and tendons. Studies show it may help keep you feeling full for longer than other foods so it can help with weight loss. Since collagen isn’t absorbed by your body easily, you can eat lots of it without worrying about weight gain. Your body also tends to digest meat slowly so your hunger won’t return quickly either. As well as keeping you feeling fuller for longer though collagen may help you feel more energized after eating – which could lead to exercise being more appealing too!
Can you overdose on collagen?
Believe it or not, you can actually overdose on collagen. Because collagen is an animal-based product, as opposed to a plant-based one, there is a lot of animal protein in it. If you consume too much of it at once, or if you have any kind of allergic reaction to collagen (which occurs very rarely), your body could reject it. This could cause nausea, vomiting and other serious side effects that might send you to an emergency room if they’re severe enough. Even just consuming too much at once can cause indigestion in some people; taking too much over time isn’t going to help with weight loss either!
Will it help you lose weight?
As you age, your body naturally loses collagen. But does collagen cause weight gain? That’s a little more complicated. It can be true if you’re not eating right—eating too much of any one food can cause weight gain. The same goes for collagen: if you add too much of it to your diet, or take it as a supplement, you might start gaining pounds because of extra calories or sugar in these products (not to mention that many supplements are packed with harmful chemicals). That’s why consuming enough lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables is important when trying to lose weight. And don’t forget water!
Do companies add fillers to their products?
Fillers—like caffeine, binders, or artificial sweeteners—are added to food products to improve taste and texture. The problem is that fillers often have calories that companies don’t count. For example, while most protein bars contain around 100 calories, many have between 20 and 30 grams of sugar (which have 150 to 200 calories per teaspoon). That can turn a low-calorie bar into something with nearly 600 calories—basically an entire meal! Don’t be fooled by products claiming to be healthy; read labels carefully, and if you see a filler in any product you want to buy (or already do buy), ditch it ASAP.
Does your body make its own collagen?
Your body creates collagen by using amino acids to make a protein called procollagen. Once procollagen is made, it’s transformed into several different types of collagen. There are 26 types of collagen, but three main ones that form your tendons, bones, skin, blood vessels, ligaments and other tissues. Because your body naturally makes its own collagen—which means eating more collagen has no effect on your weight—there’s no reason to worry about it contributing to weight gain when you take supplements or eat foods high in collagen (such as bone broth). What actually could cause some extra pounds? The ingredients in some supplements like gelatin and hydrolyzed protein are processed foods that can add calories without increasing nutritional value.
Is your stomach acid the issue?
Does your stomach make enough acid to digest protein? You don’t really want to find out. But luckily, you can test it at home by drinking a teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) dissolved in water.
Does it matter what time of day you take it?
The time of day doesn’t seem to affect collagen supplements—but it might depend on what you’re taking. If you consume it with food, collagen is absorbed slowly by your body over a span of up to 6 hours. But if you take collagen without food, your stomach may not have time to produce hydrochloric acid, which breaks down protein. As a result, your body may absorb less collagen than intended.
How much should you take per day?
Find out how much you should be taking every day based on your weight, goals, and current nutrition. If you’re not sure whether you need to supplement with collagen, consult a doctor first. And stick to reputable brands—you don’t want any harmful additives or fillers going into your body.
How do you know if it’s working?
Because your body doesn’t produce collagen, you may wonder if taking a collagen supplement will lead to weight gain. According to one study published in 2000, people who took gelatin supplements daily did not experience weight gain over a period of eight weeks. However, they also didn’t experience significant increases in fat-free mass either. Experts say more research is needed before they can make definitive conclusions about whether collagen supplementation causes weight gain or loss.