You may have heard that taking collagen for joint pain is one of the most effective natural supplements, and it’s true! In fact, depending on the cause of your joint pain, using collagen for joint pain management might even be prescribed by your doctor.
Joint pain arises for many reasons far beyond simply aging. People of all ages need effective and convenient ways to manage their joint pain, and a collagen supplement can provide you with just that.
Now, that doesn’t mean you should just run out and buy any old collagen supplement if you have joint pain. Like anything, there are quality, mediocre, and just plain bad supplements on the market. Collagen is not immune to this trend.
If you have joint pain and want to address the root cause of your symptoms, then you want to look for the best collagen powder for joints.
Managing joint pain requires a culmination of a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, natural supplements, and potentially other medical intervention. While collagen on it’s own won’t cut it, it can certainly go a long way towards managing your joint pain.
But why is collagen for joints so effective? Let’s take a look at some of the amazing benefits of collagen for your joints.
Why is collagen good for managing joint pain?
Collagen protein molecules are the building blocks of your body’s connective tissues, and that includes your joint structure. Protein is essential for healthy joint function, and that’s no surprise since 65-80% of the human body is made up of collagen protein.
Using a supplement like collagen for joints then seemingly makes sense, but what about the fact that your body naturally produces collagen?
It’s true that our bodies can naturally synthesize collagen. But, by the time we reach our mid-twenties, our natural ability to produce collagen molecules decreases with each passing year.
That’s why by the time you reach your late twenties or early thirties you start waking up sore from a run the day before (when in your early twenties you felt invincible).
As your natural collagen production decreases with age, the majority of the collagen that you do make is directed towards your vital organs like your heart and brain.
On top of that, any area of your body that is injured needs more collagen to heal. That’s part of the reason why joints, skin, and hair often bear the brunt of the collagen loss– they’re not necessarily vital to your survival.
Joint pain can arise at any age, and for most of us, getting ahead of it should be a priority. With modern science, collagen for joints has become more and more understood, and it is widely accepted that collagen can improve tissue regeneration, repair, and strength.
Since collagen is composed of amino acids, it is an optimal joint support. Essentially, when you supplement collagen for joint repair, you are proving your body with the amino acids it needs to construct new collagen protein molecules.
The best collagen for joints
Collagen is found in animal products many people eat on a daily basis, but the difference is that collagen in its whole form like this is not as bioavailable.
When you are looking at collagen for joints, you need something that your body can easily digest, break down, and then synthesize new collagen molecules from.
So, what is the best collagen for joints?
Knowing the way in which you are most likely to actually use the collagen supplement is the first step. Then, after that, you can start to narrow down which supplements are going to be the best choice for you.
Decide on how you want to take your collagen supplement. Do you want something you can easily mix into foods like yoghurt, smoothies, or even pancakes?
In that case, a powder collagen supplement may be the best collagen for joints. To find the best collagen powder for joints, you want to find collagen that has an appropriate absorption rate.
Most collagen powders, other than ProT Powder, are going to have collagen molecules in the whole form, which is essentially the same rate of absorption as eating it from bone broth, fish, or eggs.
You don’t need to be set on a collagen powder either, you can also consider liquid collagen for ease of use, flavor, and absorption. The good news is that ProT Gold liquid collagen and powder collagen both have the same absorption rate.
The absorption rate is perhaps one of the most important things (other than ingredients) you should look at when deciding which is the best collagen for joints to add to your diet.
The reason absorption rate is so important is because if you have a supplement that is hard for your body to break down, it can give you more than just uncomfortable stomach distress. If your collagen for joints isn’t easily absorbable, you won’t receive much, if any, of the amino acids your body is seeking.
When collagen is in the whole form, the typical molecular weight is 300,000 daltons. A dalton is a unit of measurement used to express the weight of proteins, and is equivalent to an atomic mass unit.
Hydrolyzed collagen, on the other hand, has a molecular weight of around 10,000 daltons because it has gone through the chemical process of hydrolysis.
While hydrolysis does break down the collagen molecules into smaller, more digestible molecules, they are still larger than your stomach pores.
Your stomach pores really are only large enough to allow molecules up to 4,000 daltons to pass. That’s why we recommend a nano-hydrolyzed collagen, like ProT Powder, that is around 2,000 daltons. The best collagen for joints is going to be nano-hydrolyzed collagen of some kind.
Since the molecular weight of the collagen protein is smaller than your stomach pores, it is exceptionally easy for your body to process and absorb, making it far more effective.
If you are looking for a complete protein supplement, then you need to know that collagen is not naturally a complete protein. A complete protein contains all nine of the essential amino acids, and while collagen does contain 19 amino acids, only eight of those are essential.
Luckily for you, ProT Powder and ProT Gold liquid collagen are both fortified with the missing essential amino acid, tryptophan, making them complete protein supplements.
There are a variety of medical benefits of collagen, and using collagen for joint pain can help your body in numerous other ways. But, collagen for joints isn’t the only thing that can help your joint pain.
If you want to kick your joint pain to the curb, you can combine your collagen supplement with other natural supplements to really help your joints out.
Other natural supplements that help with joint pain
Collagen is not the only natural supplement that is good for joint pain. In fact, taking collagen alone can only do so much. It is advised to work closely with your doctor to get to the root cause of your joint pain so you can start treating more than just the symptoms.
Consider doing medical nutrition therapy in order to narrow in on the best joint pain management practices for you.
As you work with a nutritional expert, you will learn that while natural supplements are helpful in managing joint pain, the food you eat and the activities you do also play a role in pain levels.
For example, there are several anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, or foods high in antioxidants like berries, that naturally curb some joint inflammation. Finding a way to construct a well-balanced diet is essential, along with taking collagen for joints and leading an active lifestyle.
Not only should you consider the foods to include in your diet, but you should also consider the foods to eat in limited quantities. Processed foods and foods high in sugars all can increase inflammation. Fried food from fast food restaurants and most junk food would fit into this category.
When you eat these types of foods, especially on a regular basis, you are making it harder for your body to regulate the amount of inflammation around the joints. And most of the time, inflamed joints are the primary cause of joint pain, even when it comes to things like arthritis.
Other foods that can lead to inflammation in your body include gluten and dairy.
Eating a well-balanced diet doesn’t necessarily mean you have to eliminate all of those inflammatory foods, but it does mean that they should not be eaten in excess. Listen to your body after you eat and notice if there are foods that trigger more inflammation than others.
Then, start to build a whole foods, plant-based diet filled with leafy greens, whole grains, vegetables, and healthy proteins like legumes.
Plant proteins in the whole form are more easily digestible than animal proteins, and certain plant proteins like soy and hemp are also complete proteins.
Combined with a complete protein supplement like ProT Powder or ProT Gold liquid collagen, a diet filled with whole foods is ideal.
A focus on a well-rounded diet is important, but sometimes your body needs a boost. Consider these other natural supplements that might help:
- Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory due to the fact that it contains curcumin.
- Glucosamine is a natural component in cartilage, and can help prevent cartilage breakdown.
- Chondroitin is another building block of cartilage that may prevent breakdown. Glucosamine and chondroitin are often combined in joint supplements.
- Omega-3s found in algae, flax, and fish contain docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids that have anti-inflammatory effects.
- Boswellia is most often used to treat pain related to arthritis due to anti-inflammatory chemicals it contains.
- Harpagophytum, also known as Devil’s Claw, contains the chemical harpagoside which is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Adding even a natural supplement to your diet can pose some risks. Always consult with your doctor before introducing supplements to your diet, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Supplements are not regulated by the FDA in the same way that foods or pharmaceutical drugs are, and not all supplement companies are transparent about backing their health claims.
Choose the best collagen for joints by looking for clearly stated ingredients and claims backed by science.
ProT Gold is a collagen supplement company trusted by thousands of medical facilities and is considered a medical food. When you choose ProT Powder or ProT Gold liquid collagen, you know you’re getting a high-quality, easy-to-absorb supplement for your joint pain.
Adding a simple supplement to your daily routine can really make a difference in your quality of life. See if collagen for joints is the answer to your joint pain, and get back to doing the things that you love.
