Athletes and people who enjoy an active lifestyle usually rely on a mix of protein supplements such as powders, drinks, or pills to keep themselves well-nourished. Protein supplements help athletes and fitness enthusiasts build muscle, strengthen joints, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments so that their bodies are healthier and they can go on to achieve the various fitness and athletic goals they’ve set for themselves by a combination of good nutrition and exercise.
Collagen is one of the prominent protein supplements that are currently popular and used by athletes and fitness enthusiasts all over the world. Both male and female athletes consume collagen and experience its various benefits beyond healthy hair, skin, and nails as it is a great source of protein and essential amino acids (i.e. in the form of fortified amino acids).
Regular consumption of collagen coupled with exercise could prove to be beneficial for the management of degenerative bone and joint disorders. Several studies have shown that collagen peptide supplementation may help with reducing joint pain and improving its functionality. Studies show that collagen may play a major role in muscle recovery of athletes making it an essential post routine or exercise supplement. Let’s explore the details of how athletes and fitness enthusiasts benefit from consuming collagen.
Benefits of Regular Collagen Consumption for Athletes
Regular collagen consumption can help athletes improve joint health, reduce muscle soreness, and support faster recovery after workouts. Collagen strengthens connective tissues, which lowers injury risk and enhances flexibility. By supporting muscle repair, it may help athletes maintain peak performance. Take a look at some of the benefits of regular collagen consumption for athletes and fitness lovers.
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Muscle Recovery
Muscle soreness after exercise varies with intensity, type, and duration, as well as an individual’s fitness level. Immediate soreness stems from muscle fatigue due to depleted energy, making contractions difficult. Delayed soreness, occurring hours later, is caused by inflammation from muscle and connective tissue damage during intense movements. Reducing soreness and fatigue is crucial to supporting recovery and sustaining exercise routines for overall health benefit.
Studies show that collagen consumption aids in faster muscle recovery and reduces the symptoms of delayed muscle soreness. Collagen may help to reduce joint and muscle pain in recreational athletes and aid recovery in active persons.
One study showed that consuming collagen peptides could alleviate exercise-induced muscle soreness, improve muscle strength, and help a person exercise with greater ease. Collagen appears to be a safe and effective sports nutritional supplement.
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Supports Joint Health
There exist several studies that indicate that collagen consumption plays a positive role in alleviating joint pain and recovery from any joint injuries. Collagen may help to reduce joint discomfort and knee pain. It may help to improve and strengthen the ligaments and cartilage supporting the ankles, knees, and other joints in the body. It may also help to speed up recovery from Achilles tendinopathy.
Regular consumption of collagen seems to have some benefits on joint health. It helps in reducing joint pain, improves joint function, may go on to increase the length of pain-free exertion, and may even reduce the requirement for alternative therapies. When collagen is consumed in conjunction with an exercise rehabilitation programme with a fitness or professional medical practitioner, it may prove to be quite useful for joint health.
Some studies have shown that with the regular consumption of collagen, young athletes reported an improvement in ankle functioning and strength, especially reporting that there was a reduced feeling of the ankle “giving away”. Since collagen levels decrease as a person grows older, athletes older than 30 are at a greater risk of knee injuries, lower back pain, and shoulder problems. Consuming collagen fortifies the muscles, ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues, and may help an athlete or a fitness enthusiast enjoy superior performance and more enjoyment from physical exercise.
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Helps In Faster Recovery From Injuries
Collagen is known to help with wound healing. Collagen is an essential part of the skin and helps in wound healing by using immune cells and fibroblasts to begin the process of wound healing.
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Helps In Muscle Protein Synthesis
Exercise combined with vitamin C intake supports collagen synthesis, a key factor in muscle repair and strength. Research shows that a dose of 10 g/day of collagen is significantly more effective than 5 g/day in boosting collagen synthesis, making it an optimal dose for muscle recovery. Consuming Collagen around 60 minutes before exercise further enhances its effectiveness. Some studies have also shown the Collagen synthesis levels remained elevated for up to 72 hours with a daily intake of 10 g of Collagen enriched with vitamin C, emphasising its sustained benefits for muscle protein synthesis.
The Powerhouse Combination Of Collagen and Vitamin C
Vitamin C is crucial for the production, absorption, and formation of collagen Since this vitamin plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen, having normal levels of collagen can help enhance the production of collagen. Vitamin C can be taken in supplemental form in case you are having lower than normal levels. Around 50 mg of vitamin C is required alongside collagen to promote healthy collagen synthesis.
Plant-based Collagen for Vegan Athletes
Vegan athletes may consume plant-based collagen formation supplements with emphasis on Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid which may be made from various plant-based natural products. We offer a specialised vegan collagen product that can help athletes leading a plant-based diet enjoy the benefits of vegan collagen. This is a supplement rich in superfoods and natural sources high in Vitamin C and other supporting vitamins and minerals to help the body naturally produce Collagen.
