When is the Best Time to Take Collagen? Here's What You Need to Know
Benefits of Taking Collagen Supplements
You’ve heard of collagen supplements becoming all the rage, but when should you start taking them and how much should you be consuming? The short answer is that in addition to already having collagen in our bodies, monitoring adding extra collagen to your diet is also essential. You can think of collagen is the power protein that keeps our bodies functioning smoothly. It makes up over 25% of all the protein in the tissues of your body.
As we get older, we don’t produce as much and that’s why many people have turned to supplements. Taking collagen supplements comes with many potential benefits that can help you hit your health and fitness goals. Here are the benefits at a glance you could expect to see from taking collagen supplements:
- Stronger bones
- Quicker muscle recovery
- Reduced joint pain/inflammation
- Facilitates lean muscle development
- Reinforces heart health
- Prevent cartilage breakdown
But as always it's important to keep in mind that you won’t see results overnight. In fact, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to really start seeing the difference. So how long does it take collagen supplements to work? You can expect to start to see a difference in your skin, nails, and muscles/tendons within some approximate time frames, according to studies and self-reported observations:
- Skin: 4 - 12 weeks
- Nails: 24 weeks
- Muscles: 3 months
- Joints: 4 - 6 months
Collagen Timing: Morning vs. Night
Many people wonder if there’s an ideal time of day to take collagen. Like other vitamins, consuming collagen first thing in the morning means that your stomach acid doesn’t have to digest any other food. On the contrary, all of the stomach acid would be devoted to promoting collagen absorption. This means that you are [potentially] maximizing the benefits of how your body uses collagen.
Other preliminary studies have suggested that a well-time nighttime dose of collagen is better used by the body. During REM sleep, our bodies go into overtime to repair and restore energy and rebuild broken down muscle mass. Some studies have suggested that taking collagen at night means your body can use it more efficiently when it’s timed with REM sleep cycles. However, it can be nearly impossible to predict when these cycles happen.
Ultimately, it’s not so much about when you take collagen, it’s more about staying consistent with it!
Get the High-Quality Collagen Supplements You Need to Look & Feel Your Best
Collagen peptides supplements are the #1 choice of experts because they’re composed mainly of type I and II collagen. Targeting all the body functions plus your hair and skin, which types I & III support will help get results faster when taken daily. In addition to increasing your collagen intake, you should make sure you’re getting the right vitamins and minerals in your diet. You need adequate levels of vitamin C, zinc, and copper to process and carry collagen throughout the body. Consult with your practitioner to make sure that your levels are balanced and healthy so that you can get the most out of your collagen supplement. If needed, add in a multivitamin or other supplements to help boost your natural levels.