Is taking collagen a waste of time?

Are collagen supplements a waste of money? Unfortunately, according to Dr Louise Reiche, president of the NZ Dermatological Society, they may not be the best use of our time and cash. Collagen is the good stuff, but taking it in pill or powder form is not the way of the future, she says.

stuff.co.nz - Are collagen supplements a waste of money? - Stuff.co.nz

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You know how it happens – you see a headline or two about how some supplement is going to add years to your life, or give you a whole new face, or completely eliminate the threat of heart disease. Ten years ago it was fish oil and, now, it's collagen, which is a protein that occurs naturally in the body and does everything from keeping our joints bouncy and our skin elastic to supporting our muscles. It's key, in short, but it does decline as we get older, and this is where collagen supplements come in. The question is whether ingesting collagen from an outside source can have any effect on our own supplies. istock Eating healthy foods like citrus fruit will do more for your skin and collagen than taking supplements.

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Most of us are susceptible to a trendy dietary supplement – adding one to your routine is easier than completely changing your life, but it still feels like you're doing something. However. Enquiring minds want to know. Are collagen supplements a waste of money?

Unfortunately, according to Dr Louise Reiche, president of the NZ Dermatological Society, they may not be the best use of our time and cash. Collagen is the good stuff, but taking it in pill or powder form is not the way of the future, she says. "Collagen supplements aren't as well-utilised [by the body] as natural whole foods that we have evolved [with]," Reiche says, adding that "sun damage, smoking, impaired sleep, poor diet, hydration, and inactivity" are all factors to address first. istock Collagen is the good stuff, but taking it in pill or powder form is not the way of the future, believes NZ Dermatological Society president Dr Louise Reiche. In fact, some of the ageing process is completely out of our hands, she says: "There are genetic contributions that we as individuals can't alter." Diet is important, particularly as we get older, and not just from a skin point-of-view, Reiche adds. "As we age, it is important to get adequate protein in our diet spread through the day too to minimise muscle mass decline," she says, explaining that the body uses protein to rebuild its own stores of collagen. Reiche's advice is focus on getting good quality sleep, protecting yourself from the sun and to eat a varied, nutritionally sound diet with a focus on plants and lean protein. Exercise is also crucial, she says, and can help your skin as well as your muscles and immune system.

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istock Ensuring against sun damage is a great way to keep your collagen levels intact. It's nothing new, really, but maybe that's the point. Each new fad supplement promises a lot, but until the science is more conclusive, they're best taken with a figurative grain of salt. "Ten years ago, there was a fish oil boom. In preliminary studies, there was a signal with fish oil and cardiovascular health, that it could lower risks of heart attacks. Early studies showed a trend, but when they did larger scale studies, they found there was no benefit," dermatologist Dr Adrian Lim told Australian site Mama Mia. "So I think right now, there's a lot of excitement around collagen drinks, but the data is just not quite there." GoopGenes Marine Collagen Superpowder is made with collagen from wild Alaskan pollock and freshwater microalgae. Of course, that won't stop companies from selling them. Beauty Chef Collagen Inner Beauty Boost (AU$42), is a regular sight on the Instagram pages of anyone with an interest in wellness, but a close read of its ingredients shows it doesn't contain any actual collagen. Instead, it claims to support the body's natural collagen synthesis process. If you want to go full Gwyneth Paltrow, you can spend US$95 on a month's supply of GoopGenes Marine Collagen Superpowder, made with collagen from wild Alaskan pollock and freshwater microalgae. When even Lyra Heller, who formulated the Goop product, admits that the science is "still evolving", it's clear that collagen supplements are not yet a must-have in terms of healthy skin. In fact, Heller concludes that her supplement is not going to work on its own. "Eating healthfully has an undeniable effect on skin," she told Goop. "I can't say enough about lifestyle and its effects on skin – using sun protection; eating whole, unprocessed foods; exercising – all contribute to the health and vibrancy of skin."

stuff.co.nz - Are collagen supplements a waste of money? - Stuff.co.nz

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