Have you been wondering if you should start taking collagen or not? Or are you already taking it and are not too sure if it’s working? This brilliant article is written by our favourite Naturopath and Medical Herbalist, Lisa Fitzgibbon from Oomph Health.

Just for the record I do not take collagen supplements but have been thinking about it. I found this article very enlightening.

“In the last year or so, I’ve noticed a definite increase in the number of new clients who take collagen supplements for their hair, skin, and nails.

TRENDS, HYPE, AND COLLAGEN — IT’S THE GLUE THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER.

Because I consider everything about them when I’m forming a treatment plan, I give them my advice on collagen supplementation, which many are grateful to hear because it’s not exactly a cheap ‘habit’. (Other clients, of course, just think I’m a big ‘party pooper’.)

I tell them what I’ve always told my clients — I’m not a fan of ‘taking’ collagen. And that based on what they’ve told me about their general health, it’s not something I would have prescribed them.

I tell them, that if they want ‘nice’ hair, skin, and nails then we have to improve their overall health. (Which I’ll explain in detail below.)

BUT BEFORE I GET INTO MY SPIEL…
Have you read some of the blog-posts, and articles on this stuff?

They all bang-on about exactly they same things (in pretty much the same order):

They tell us what collagen is;

that while it’s the most abundant protein in the body – that we’re seemingly deficient in it from our 20s (however, that isn’t necessary true – more on this below);

that there are many types of collagen that make up the different structures in our body;

that it’s the glue that holds our bodily bits & pieces together;

that the collagen they’re selling comes from either a marine source or from moo-cows;

that their collagen is hydrolysed into peptides;

and (some may even say) they have “research” or a “clinical study” that proves that collagen is truly ‘magical’.

They’re all just copying each other with this collagen spiel. This concerns me, as this is how misinformation is spread.

And, more than this, it greatly worries me that any Tom, Dick, or Harry can easily source this stuff, repackage it, and promote it to the masses.

Note: Are we really expected to believe that collagen supplements work based on some website & instagram photos? Show me the “research” or “clinical study” that you refer to, not some well lit, photoshopped photos of the genetically gifted!  Although they probably won’t specify this information because the experts (medical specialists, and doctors) are saying there isn’t enough good evidence, at this stage (2019), to support taking collagen supplements1.

These collagen-pushers are all just trying to quickly leverage this current trend, by 1) preying on ‘younger’ women in order to create fear and dissatisfaction – thus creating a new target audience, and 2) by taking the stuff, and adding something different to their ‘marketing formula’ so that you’re more likely to purchase their product rather than the competition. By tweaking the packaging and the product; by promoting and pricing it differently, they’re able to appeal to different people. And, by making it seem more special, they can charge you a premium. (Because we all know that foo-foo ‘beauty products’ must be better, right?)

The thing is though, most people (unless they’re vegetarian or vegan) aren’t interested in what it is, and how it works. They just want to know one thing:

WILL IT MAKE ME MORE BEAUTIFUL?!

To this end, many proponents of collagen supplements tell you that they have proof that it works, because this stuff “makes its way into your blood”.

But, I’ll just come straight out with it:

IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE.

When you take a collagen supplement, your aesthetics are the last thing your body will be worried about enhancing.

They’ve only given you half the story.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU READ AND WHO YOU CHOOSE TO BELIEVE…

If you just want to hear positive stuff about collagen then read what the sellers of it have to say.

But, if you want to hear the ‘non-fluffy’ stuff then read what the scientists and health professionals have to say.

(Just make sure the latter group aren’t selling the stuff either! As it hardly makes them objective.)”

FOR THE REST OF THIS FANTASTIC VERY INFORMATIVE ARTICLE CLICK HERE