Collagen peptides have been popular with women for a long time now, but the idea that collagen only benefits women is outdated. More and more people are asking: “Can men take collagen peptides, too?” And the answer is a resounding YES.
The reason why is clear: This powerhouse protein has a wide range of benefits to the body and is a great supplement to take not only for body image, but overall health and wellbeing.
Collagen for women has been a bestseller for decades, as consumers quickly locked onto collagen’s benefits for the skin. But this do-it-all protein is much more than just a women’s only, anti-aging measure.
Can men take collagen peptides to help slow the effects of aging? Yes. Can men take collagen peptides for a variety of other muscle, tendon, and ligament-based benefits? Also, yes.
Collagen supplements have a range of benefits that everyone can take advantage of. Nevertheless, some men are sleeping on the power of collagen protein supplements and truly missing out.
Absolutely, men can take collagen peptides. Collagen peptides for men are a great choice for a variety of individuals. Let’s jump into the science behind this protein to discover why.
What is collagen?
Perhaps you’ve heard of collagen before but you’re not sure what it is – or what it can do.
Collagen is a wide-ranging protein that has a whole host of applications throughout the body. Its strengthening characteristics make it a vital part of connective tissue not only in our muscles, ligaments, and tendons, but also in cartilage, skin, blood vessels, organs, and even bone.
Every part of our body needs structure, and more often than not it’s collagen protein that does the heavy lifting.
In fact, it’s the most abundant protein found in the human body. When thousands of cells are weaved together, the tensile strength of collagen protein allows it to create the form of tissue itself. Without it, our body wouldn’t hold together properly.
Thankfully, collagen isn’t hard to find, and we can get its building blocks (called amino acids) from our food. Similarly, collagen peptides for men are available for a quick and efficient uptake of the collagen we need.
Collagen is by no means the only protein in the human body, and it isn’t the only protein available as a supplement. Take whey for example, touted as being able to help athletes to bulk up.
In the history of collagen protein vs whey protein, whey used to be considered a more “masculine” protein, while collagen caught a more “feminine” market appeal. A quick check of the science reveals that should never have been the case.
Collagen peptides for men can provide far more benefits than whey protein – and with none of the digestive side effects. So let’s look at why men can take collagen peptides in place of their everyday protein supplements, and how that would benefit them:
Collagen benefits for men
There are a wealth of collagen benefits for men that more people need to be taking advantage of. Given that collagen is present in so many areas of the body, and the whole body needs strength and form in order to do its job properly, a healthy stockpile of collagen is in constant demand.
Let’s take a look at what collagen can do.
Collagen can increase muscle mass
Can men take collagen peptides to improve their workouts? Absolutely.
Given its strength, collagen supplements are a great weapon to have in your arsenal. As a multi-functional protein, collagen can help you get more out of your workout in a variety of ways.
First, as a protein, collagen can contribute to overall muscle mass. That’s because collagen contains glycine, which plays its part in creatine synthesis. Creatine is the compound that builds strength by increasing muscle mass.
If men are looking to bulk up, they should absolutely look into collagen peptides for muscle growth.
Collagen may help prevent joint injuries
Men can take collagen peptides for more than just their muscles. In fact, collagen is even more beneficial for tendons and ligaments.
The tensile strength of collagen protein is on full display in our tendons and ligaments, the connection points between our bones and muscles. In fact, 80% of the dry weight of ligaments is collagen, displaying clearly just how useful this protein is.
Joint health is vital for all ages and intensities of workouts, as injury prevention is a priority for us all.
Can men take collagen peptides to reduce the risk of injury when working out?
Research has shown that healthy, collagen-rich tendons and ligaments are less prone to injury, as the collagen protein builds resistance to withstand the physical demands of our workouts.
Although men can take collagen peptides to help reduce the risk of injury, there is always the chance of an injury occurring. Luckily, if you are injured, collagen can help there too.
Collagen may speed recovery times
Collagen plays a big role in recovering from injuries. That’s because our bodies use collagen protein to create new tissues and repair torn tendons, muscles, and other wounds.
In moments of injury, your body is in particular need of collagen to restore strength in the area that was affected. Without clear access to collagen, a wound may not heal effectively.
The faster you’re able to recover, the faster you’re able to resume activities at the gym and continue building and reinforcing muscle. Men can take collagen peptides to shorten their recovery time after injury or surgery.
So, as we can see, collagen has a whole range of practical applications to help boost your workout, and help you recover faster if you hit a setback in your training. This is of particular support to men who want to build muscle and reach exercise milestones.
Collagen can rejuvenate skin
Traditionally, the skin benefits of collagen were what made collagen supplements so popular with women. But nowadays we’re much better at understanding that skin health applies to everyone. If you’re a man reading this, take a moment for this to sink in: Skin health is worth paying attention to.
Being exposed to sunlight damages our skin over time. Can men take collagen peptides to rejuvenate skin? Absolutely, there’s nothing barring men from reaping the benefits of collagen for skin.
Supplementing with collagen can help to improve the health and appearance of the skin, granting a more youthful, rejuvenated complexion.
Having skin cells that are fuelled with strong levels of collagen provides structure and elasticity to the skin, which keeps it looking firm and youthful. Our natural collagen production slows as we age, which leads to skin cells that are prone to wrinkles, sagging, and other signs of aging.
Skin that is supplemented with collagen will have boosted elasticity and moisture-retention. In turn, this reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Collagen-rich skin is smoother, because the skin’s texture has been improved.
Going one step further, being well-stocked with collagen will promote skin healing from damage caused by acne or sunburns. So even if the appearance of your skin isn’t of huge concern to you, it’s important to remember that men can take collagen peptides to improve the health of their skin, too.
Of course, your skin, muscles, ligaments, and tendons aren’t the only things that can benefit from collagen supplementation. After all, collagen is also found in your internal organs and even your blood vessels. Let’s take a look at some other ways collagen can promote the overall health of men.
Collagen may support heart health
Can men take collagen peptides to support heart health? Signs point to yes!
Collagen is beneficial for the heart and the health of the circulatory system because of its role in structuring blood vessels.
Collagen is a key component of the arterial walls, so supplementing with collagen can help to improve the structure and elasticity of the arteries, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, collagen may help to manage and lower blood pressure. This is of particular importance as we get older. Our blood pressure is something to be mindful of because it is a major risk factor connected to heart disease.
Men can take collagen peptides if they are concerned about their blood pressure or have a history of heart issues in their family. Of course, a supplement should never be seen as a “cure” for these issues.
If you have heart conditions or other health problems you are concerned about, you should absolutely speak to a doctor about finding the right treatment, medication, and lifestyle habits. Collagen supplements should only be used to help your health plan move in the right direction.
Collagen may help you lose weight
Research points to the fact that collagen supplements can support a low-calorie diet, and potentially even help us to lose weight.
So can men take collagen peptides to lose weight?
Although collagen is not considered a weight loss supplement, it does promote weight loss by creating a feeling of satiety (feeling full) after taking it. In many ways it’s the opposite to sugar (which often encourages us to eat more).
Collagen may also help to boost the body’s metabolism since it helps increase muscle mass. This means you will be able to burn more calories at rest, which may help with weight loss as well.
It is important to remember that a balanced diet and regular exercise are the most important considerations that medical professionals recommend to anyone hoping to lose weight, but knowing that collagen can help support a weight loss program is another reason why men may profit from taking it.
Collagen may help prevent hair loss
Hair loss is a common concern for men as they enter middle-age. Can men take collagen peptides to prevent hair loss?
It may be a comfort for men to hear that the collagen they are taking to support their workout, or to protect their joints, may also be providing health benefits to their hair.
Collagen provides several amino acids that are important for hair growth, including proline, glycine, and lysine. These amino acids support the production of keratin, a protein that provides strength and promotes hair growth.
You can certainly build a case for the benefits of collagen preventing hair loss, although the support does little more than provide healthy circulation and nutrition to the hair you have.
Men who are especially concerned about hair loss should look to address any underlying health conditions or deficiencies that their bodies may have.
Collagen is not a cure for hair loss, but it may help to prevent further or future hair loss by strengthening your hair roots and providing much-needed nutrients to your hair.
Of course, now that you know men can take collagen peptides, and a lot of reasons why they should, let’s talk about how to choose the right supplement.
Choosing the right collagen supplement
Let’s make choosing a collagen supplement simple. What do men need to know when choosing a collagen supplement?
Firstly, men can take collagen peptides for any of the reasons listed above. But there are so many collagen peptide supplements out there to choose from. In fact, collagen peptides are often referred to as hydrolyzed collagen.
Hydrolyzed collagen has gone through the process of hydrolysis to break the protein molecules down into an easier to digest size. The protein absorption rate of hydrolyzed collagen is far higher than non-hydrolyzed collagen.
So men can’t take just any collagen supplement product and expect the same results.
Further, most supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA, and many contain excess sugars or harmful additives. If men take collagen peptides that contain additives like that, there’s little or no overall upside to be gained from the supplement as a whole – even with all the benefits of collagen.
Any claim that a company makes about their supplement brand should be backed up by sound, independent research, so that’s something to pay close attention to when you choose a collagen brand.
Customer reviews are a handy tool too, as they give you a personal take on the supplement experience.
Can men take collagen peptides? Absolutely, but do your research first before just picking up the first collagen product you come across.
We believe that the most practical and most effective way to add a collagen peptide supplement to your daily routine is a Frog Fuel liquid collagen shot. Available in single-serve pouches, the supplement requires no mixing and it is ready to go whenever you are. It can be conveniently carried in a gym bag if you want to fuel up on protein before or after a workout.
Adding hydrolyzed collagen protein to your daily routine may improve your workout, your joint, heart, and gut health, your recovery times, and much, much more. With so many benefits of collagen for men, it’s a no-brainer to make the switch for your daily protein supplement.
