A Prize For Your Health

Collagen is being added to everything from protein bars to coffee creamer, and with good reason. It can help you build strength, burn fat, and beat stress. Here’s the best way to tap into its powers.

- Mirel Ketchief

Collagen is taking the wellness world by storm. Once seen strictly as a skin plumper and smoother, it may have a whole range of health and fitness benefits, new research shows.

For one, collagen seems to improve joint health. Athletes with exercise-related joint pain, who took 10g of collagen daily had a reduction of their symptoms, a Pennsylvania State University study found.

The protein, found naturally in your skin, tendons, cartilage, and connective tissue, may also help make you stronger and calmer. “Collagen contains the amino acids glycine and arginine, which help the production of creatine, a substance that enhances muscle strength,” says Dr Mark Moyad, author of The Supplement Handbook: A Trusted Expert’s Guide to What Works & What’s Worthless for More Than 100 Conditions.

Glycine appears to have a calming effect on the nervous system, which can improve sleep, Dr Moyad says. And it blunts the body’s inflammatory response to stress, protecting the stomach lining from anxiety-induced damage.

Since production of collagen slows in your 30s, bumping up your levels could be a smart move. But where you get it and how much you take are important. Try this four-point plan to determine the best sources and amounts for you.