Is collagen good for gut health? Since ancient times, bone broth and gelatin have long been used to heal digestive problems. However, it was only until recently that scientists uncovered the science behind the nutritional power of these foods: collagen! The unique structural properties and amino acid profile of collagen allows this special protein to offer you many amazing health benefits, especially when it comes to your gut health. This includes reducing gut inflammation, heal stomach ulcers, aid in digestion, and regulate stomach acid secretion. Read below to learn more about how collagen for gut health may be the way to go.
5 Benefits of Collagen for Gut Health
Collagen is a special type of structural protein that is full of helpful amino acids. In fact, it's the most abundant protein in the body; it makes up 90% of your connective tissue and organic bone mass, and 70% of our skin. It practically holds the body together. By the time we hit our 20s, however, our body actually begins to produce less collagen, leading to what we consider signs of aging: wrinkles, saggy skin, weaker joints and bones.
While many people think of collagen for its beauty benefits, like its amazing impact on hair, skin, and nails, there is so much collagen can do for your gut health! Collagen's amino acid profile allows it to provide major help with digestive health and more. Here are five of the biggest gut health benefits of collagen peptides:
1. Collagen Regulates Stomach Acid Secretion
Collagen has been found to regulate the secretion of gastric juices by ensuring enough acid for proper digestion. Collagen also prevents an excess of gastric juices, which can lead to heartburn, stomach ulcers, and other painful digestive problems caused from an overly acidic environment1.
2. Helps to Heal Stomach Ulcers
Is collagen good for gut health? Glycine and Proline, the two main amino acids in Further Food Collagen Peptides, may help heal the stomach lining and prevent stress-induced ulcers through their positive impact on the central nervous system. Studies have identified glycine as an effective inhibitor of stomach ulcers due to its ability to prevent harmful gastric secretions in the stomach lining2.
3. Aids in Digestion
Another collagen and gut health benefit is that collagen helps digestion. Because collagen is a hydrophilic molecule, it has an attraction to water and acidic molecules, which aids the digestive process. Ingested collagen surrounds itself with water and stomach acid as it moves through the GI tract, which assists the breakdown of other proteins and carbohydrates in the intestines. Additionally, by holding water in the intestine, collagen helps move food through the GI tract more smoothly.
4. Helps Repair the Intestinal and Stomach Lining
Want to know how you can heal the intestinal and stomach lining? Try supplementing with collagen peptides! Science has identified collagen synthesis as an important component in the process of repairing and healing the intestinal lining. When there is damage or inflammation to the intestinal lining, new smooth muscle cells are made to heal the stomach lining and the intestinal wall. Scientists have found that collagen production in the intestine is greatest when smooth muscle cells are being generated during healing. Thus, collagen is a key component to healing the intestinal wall. Supplementing with collagen may help to repair and heal the stomach lining. 3
5. Heals Leaky Gut and IBS
Have you considered supplementing with collagen for leaky gut? Glutamine, one of the amino acids in collagen, has been identified as the key amino acid for preventing inflammation of the gut wall and healing leaky gut syndrome. It has been linked to inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress associated with the opening of tight junctions in the connective tissue of the intestinal lining4. Studies have found decreased collagen levels in individuals with digestive imbalances. Specifically, there is an association between inflammatory bowel disease and decreased serum collagen levels5. Supplementation with collagen is key to providing relief for digestive diseases.
What Are Collagen Peptides?
We've mentioned that collagen peptides in particular are super helpful when it comes to providing your gut with the aforementioned benefits, so you may be wondering what "peptides" are. Collagen peptides are a specific form of collagen in which the protein has been hydrolyzed and therefore is able to dissolve into virtually any liquid, hot or cold. Collagen peptides are broken down to a low molecular weight, meaning they are much smaller and thus much easier to digest and absorb!
Of course, you can reap the gut health benefits from other forms of collagen, but peptides have becomes so popular due to its versatility — you can slip it into almost any recipe!
How to Take Collagen Further
The benefits of collagen for gut health don't stop at the stomach; taking collagen further is actually incredibly easy to do. If you want to take control over your gut health, it may be time to start implementing collagen into your diet. Thank goodness it's super simple! Supplementing with collagen peptides on a daily basis can help your body replenish its collagen levels and support your gut. Try
Further Food Collagen Peptides, which are tasteless and can be incorporated into a variety of recipes. From baked desserts to sweet smoothies to savory casseroles, you can add your daily collagen supplement into a wide variety of delicious dishes, all the while giving your gut that nutritional boost it may need.
So, now you know that collagen peptides are rich sources of amino acids glycine, glutamine, and proline, and they can help heal your stomach lining, support digestion, and prevent stress-induced ulcers. In other words, collagen is the key ingredient to a healthy, strong digestive system. It's time to heal your gut with collagen peptides!
FAQs
What is collagen?
Collagen is a unique structural protein that makes up over 70% of your connective tissue, bone mass, and skin. Collagen is full of important amino acids that help keep your body together. While collagen is naturally produced in the body, once we reach our 20s, our collagen production begins to decrease, and that's where signs of aging come in.
What's the difference between collagen and collagen peptides?
Collagen peptides are a special form of collagen in which the protein has already been hydrolyzed. Because peptides are in a fully broken down state, they are able to dissolve easily into most hot or cold liquids. They're also much easier to digest and absorb into the body, meaning peptides may be the best and fastest way to reap the gut benefits of collagen.
How can collagen improve gut health?
Collagen has two key amino acids, glycine and proline, which have been shown to help heal the stomach lining and the intestinal wall. Additionally, collagen can regulate gastric juice secretion and prevent the excess of those juices. Collagen makes for a great digestive aid as well. Supplementing with collagen can prevent and/or provide relief a variety of gut complications, including ulcers, leaky gut syndrome, and inflammation of the gut wall.
How can I add collagen to my diet?
You can get collagen from specific types of foods, such as bone broth. However, an easier way to add collagen into your daily routine is to to take a collagen peptide supplement, like
Further Food Collagen Peptides. Add one or two scoops to virtually any recipe and you'll be able to get those collagen levels up.
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Citations:
1. The Important Role of Collagen in Digestive Health.” LQ Liquid Health, 29 Jan. 2018,
www.lqliquidhealth.com/the-important-role-of-collagen-in-digestive-health/.
2. Tariq, M. Studies on the Antisecretory, Gastric Anti-ulcer and Cytoprotective Properties of Glycine.National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9344231>.
3. Graham, MF. Collagen Synthesis by Human Intestinal Smooth Muscle Cells in Culture. National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3792777>.
4. Lin, M. L-Glutamate Supplementation Improves Small Intestinal Architecture and Enhances the Expressions of Jejunal Mucosa Amino Acid Receptors and Transporters in Weaning Piglets.National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25368996>.
5. Koutroubakis, IE. Serum Laminin and Collagen IV in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine .
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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