Will collagen make you gain weight?
No, collagen does not directly make you gain weight, unless you are taking enough to get your body into a caloric surplus. It actually may help you lose weight because of the protein, metabolism boosting effects and how it makes you feel full.
Taking a collagen supplement will not cause you to gain weight. In fact, it can help support you on your weight loss journey along with proper diet and exercise. Collagen is beneficial to your bones, muscles, hair, skin, and nails. It also helps to improve your heart health.
As a result, people take collagen supplements or add collagen additives to their diet to increase their collagen intake. However, there is a common misconception that adding more collagen to your diet can cause weight gain. This is not the case, and in fact, it may indirectly help you lose weight.
Some studies show that taking collagen supplements for several months can improve skin elasticity, (i.e., wrinkles and roughness) as well as signs of aging. Others have shown that consuming collagen can increase density in bones weakened with age and can improve joint, back and knee pain.
Unlike many other supplements on the market, collagen has actually been proven to help with weight loss and reducing body fat. Collagen can help with not only weight loss, but improving skin texture, reducing inflammation, and improving GI health as well.
Increasing your collagen intake may help increase your metabolism by adding lean muscle mass to your frame and helping with the conversion of essential nutrients. Remember that retaining muscle mass is crucial as you age, since it helps support posture and bone health, and burns more calories.
If you take too much collagen, it can throw off the balance of amino acids in your body and lead to side effects such as headaches, digestive issues, and fatigue. Additionally, some people may be allergic to collagen or have an intolerance to it.
Collagen could possibly reverse sagging skin, as research studies have shown that taking collagen—especially marine collagen—improves skin elasticity, hydration, and firmness.
Try to get 20 g of total collagen per day for weight loss. This includes all the foods you eat and any supplements you are taking. Many foods like steak, chicken wings and fish contain some collagen, so you can use this in your total. See how you look and feel after a few weeks of regular use.
The best type of collagen for weight loss is Type III collagen. This type of collagen is found mostly in blood vessels and muscles, and it helps to promote weight loss by increasing metabolism.
How do you know if collagen is working?
After daily collagen supplementation for a few weeks, you will typically start to notice a few things: hair growth, skin hydration and skin moisture, improvement in joint health and skin health, lessening of fine lines, and other possible anti-aging improvements.
As such, no matter your goal for using collagen, it will take at least 8 weeks to experience noticeable results ( 6 ). Most studies use a minimum of 8 weeks to assess collagen's effects on skin health and joint pain relief, but other studies use longer periods, such as 12 months, for bone health ( 9 , 14 , 22 ).

According to Pam Hartnett, MPH, RDN, “Collagen is generally considered a safe supplement to day daily. In fact, most studies that found a benefit to collagen supplementation looked at consistent daily intake and none of these studies found significant side effects.”
Low levels of serotonin can leave you feeling unhappy and depressed. Consequently, when you increase your levels of serotonin with a collagen supplement, you may experience elevations in mood and a more positive outlook. Collagen contains glycine, which has been linked to relaxation and good sleep.
Collagen's role in the body
"Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look," says dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz. Your body naturally makes collagen, but this production decreases with age.
According to a 2021 review published in the International Journal of Dermatology, compared with those who do not supplement with collagen, taking collagen every day for 90 days is linked to better hydration and elasticity. Additionally, collagen takers may experience fewer wrinkles on their skin.
Collagen is considered to be well tolerated with no major side-effects. Minor side-effects include: a feeling of heaviness in your stomach. mild diarrhoea.
A standard recommendation is to take it in the morning, first thing. The main reason for this is that you take the supplement on an empty stomach.
If you stop taking collagen for a couple of days there will not be any significant effects. However, research shows that if you stop taking the supplement completely the benefits will slowly disappear and your skin will return to its original state.
It is better to take collagen at night if you are having trouble sleeping. Glycine, an amino acid that makes up about 1/3 of collagen, helps you relax, lowers your body temperature and prepares you to sleep.
Does collagen cause water weight?
Collagen may cause you to retain water in your skin and its cells because of its role in supporting capillary walls. It helps keep the walls strong and prevents them from leaking, which can lead to increased water retention (2). You also may notice that your skin is retaining water.
As such, no matter your goal for using collagen, it will take at least 8 weeks to experience noticeable results ( 6 ). Most studies use a minimum of 8 weeks to assess collagen's effects on skin health and joint pain relief, but other studies use longer periods, such as 12 months, for bone health ( 9 , 14 , 22 ).
Collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. "Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look," says dermatologist Dr.
Collagen Might Make You Feel Bloated
Collagen might make you feel bloated, queasy or full as your body's stomach acids break it down to amino acids. This usually passes except for rare cases. You are likely feeling these symptoms because you body is not used to the amino acids found within it.
In fact, water is about 60 percent of collagen's total weight. Experiments that remove water from collagen have shown that it dramatically impacts the tensile force of the protein, which has serious implications for skin health. Drinking more water will keep your collagen hydrated, and wrinkles at bay.
Collagen can help you reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve your skin's elasticity, yet, it won't happen overnight. You should also note that it can't fully reverse cellulite, but it can make your skin look smoother and healthier.
- People with fish, shellfish, or egg allergies (collagen supplements may contain these allergens as ingredients)16.
- People with a Kosher or Halal diet.
- People with a vegetarian or vegan diet.
If you stop taking collagen for a couple of days there will not be any significant effects. However, research shows that if you stop taking the supplement completely the benefits will slowly disappear and your skin will return to its original state.
To reap the benefits for skin health, the research recommends that you take between 2.5 to 5 grams of collagen per day (2). This amount is shown to increase skin elasticity and hydration in elderly women while reducing the depth of existing skin wrinkles in middle-aged women.
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