Can Collagen Cause Weight Gain?

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Can collagen cause weight gain? The truth is; it depends. Collagen does not generally contribute to weight gain but that depends on how and when you take it.

The term ‘collagen’ is derived from “kola,” the Greek word, which means “glue.” It’s a type of protein that makes up 20%-30% of your body by supporting different tissues. It acts as an adhesive for your bones as well.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is built from amino acids that build protein. It’s a healthy nutrient that helps us stay youthful and healthy when we consume it. Collagen is naturally made in the body by cells known as fibroblasts.

Besides being a body adhesive, collagen supports healthy joints, improves digestion and fat burning. Sadly, our body’s collagen ratios decline rapidly due to aging.

The lack of collagen has obvious and irreversible signs, such as wrinkly skin, excess weight, and creaky joints. But,

There’s still a lot you need to know about how collagen affects your health. So, let’s get to it.

Where Is Collagen Found?

Cartilage
Skin
Bones
Blood vessels
Tendons
Muscles

So collagen has a strong role in building your muscles. Getting adequate lots of protein and Vit C in your meals is essential for proper collagen production. Collagen can also be attained by consuming foods or taking supplements.

Collagen supplement forms:

Tablets
Pills
Syrup
Gummies
Drinks

There are up to 10+ types of collagen found in our body but we mainly use type I, type II, and type III.

4 Types of Collagen:

Type I

Type I is made of densely packed fibers and is said to be as strong as steel. This type forms 90% of our body’s collagen. It works for teeth and jaw joints, bones, skin and cartilage. Type I collagen is stretchable.

Type II

Fibers in type II are comparatively looser than type I and it contributes to joint cushions. It’s mainly found in cartilage.

Type III

This type of collagen protein structures the body’s muscles, veins and organs.

Type IV

Collagen type IV is the underlying tissue that supports the skin.

As you know the four main types of collagen that have the power to influence your weight, let’s jump into the subject.

Can Collagen Cause Weight Gain? Actually, the Opposite!

You only gain weight when you consume more calories than you burn. The unburned calories or sugars turn to fat that sometimes leads to obesity. When you are consuming collagen supplements, there are fewer chances to gain fats. However, you can gain solid muscle.

Well, if anything, collagen does not promote weight gain. Most collagen supplements have a lower amount of calories which are easily digestible and help you get leaner muscles by promoting a healthy metabolism.

1. Fat Loss: Skate Collagen Found in Fish

Skate collagen plays a great role in human fat reduction, and it’s generally found in fish. There was an experiment that proved collagen hydrolysate (collagen peptides) decreased rats’ fat cell size and weight growth. But it suggests greater weight-loss advantages for humans.

2. Collagen is Satiating: You Feel Full For Longer

Collagen seems to be the most filling of all proteins. It was discovered to be 40% more satiating than all other types of protein. This surely helps you feel fuller for a prolonged period. In one clinical research, collagen powder was contrasted to soy, casein, and whey.

People who got collagen had around 20% less food for their next meal time than those who received another specific protein. This suggests individuals with collagen consumption probably consumed 20% percent fewer calories than the rest.

Collagen was also discovered to promote the release of hormones associated with satiation in a test with obese patients. Those who consumed collagen supplementation felt less hunger than those who did not.

As soon as you drop fat, one of the side effects is often a reduction of lean muscle. “Every time you diet, you lose muscle,” as the cliché says. This is doom and gloom for some reason.

The workout will be more challenging because you will feel weary faster if you have less muscle strength. You might even find it hard to lose weight because muscular tissue burns more calories than fat.

3. You Gain Lean Muscle Mass

You may maintain muscle mass by taking a collagen supplement while losing weight. Once you’ve transitioned from weight reduction to sustaining your ideal weight, that could be a huge help.

Collagen accounts for up to 10% of your muscular tissue, which makes it an essential ingredient in the pursuit of muscle gain. It’s also thought that collagen aids in synthesizing creatinine, another body protein necessary for fuller growth.

Muscle building is vital not just for your short-term ambitions of looking good at the beach but also for your long-term aims of defending your joints, staying strong, and staying healthy.

How To Add Collagen To Your Diet?

Including collagen in your everyday routine is effortless. Collagen supplements are now readily available and available in a multitude of options that we mentioned earlier. You can naturally consume collagen through bone broth.

However, many people prefer supplementation instead. Collagen peptides, which are hydrolyzed collagen molecules in powder form that can be easily absorbed into almost any beverage, hot or cold, are the most popular approach to incorporate collagen into one’s meals.

Takeaway:

Collagen does not add to your weight. It’s completely safe to consume. But it might be harmful to your kidneys if ingested in large concentrations.

One of several kidney adverse effects of collagen is the formation of kidney stones. Collagen peptides are generally not recommended by doctors for persons at risk of developing kidney stones. As a result, you should exercise caution when using collagen pills available on the market.

Please consult your doctor before you make collagen a part of your life.