One quick scroll through social media these days and it’s not hard to see that collagen has become the wellness “it” girl. Kardashian, influencers and your bestie who is trying to grow her hair longer are obsessed. So today we’re going to do a deep dive into all things collagen. What is it? How to use it? Which kind is actually worth shelling out your cash for and of course, I’m sharing my go to recipe for making it super easy to incorporate into your every day life. Let’s get glowing friends!
WHAT IS COLLAGEN?
Collagen is a protein that determines our skin’s physiology and helps it to function. Essentially it one of the critical building blocks to how we age and also how we LOOK like we’re aging (aka our faces without botox & fillers). It is something we naturally produce. However, after the age of 30, our collagen production starts to decline.
WHERE CAN I BUY IT?
You can pretty much get collagen at any supermarket or online these days. The collagen supplement market is estimated to be at over 6 billion by 2025 so the options are only going to increase.
SHOULD I TAKE A SUPPLEMENT OR A POWDER?
I have tried both over the years. Personally, I’ve found that a powder ends up working better for me.
IS COLLAGEN HEALTHY?
As far as supplements go, this is going to depend on your body. We naturally produce collagen. But we also have the ability to aid our bodies in the production of collagen. Can it be a great addition to your supplement routine? Yes. However, loss of collagen is also caused by poor diet and too much sun. So adding one in without a consideration of lifestyle habits may be a waste.
Which collagen supplement is best?
I’m a big fan of marine collagen for plain collagen. Both Vital Proteins & Kalumi are regular purchases in the WSS household. I’ve found bovine collagen can break me out.
However, there are some collagen protein powders that work great as well. We use the Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel in Vanilla for tons of recipes in our house & on the blog. It’s a favorite because it tends to be less powdery.
But if you’ve been around the blog a bit, you’ll know that one of my all-time fave ways to enjoy collagen is in my matcha latte. I’m obsessed with Vital Protein’s matcha collagen. The after-taste is smooth and it’s great at keeping me fueled & balanced.
Benefits Of Collagen
There are quite a few benefits that have been cited with regards to collagen. Less joint pain – MS will 100% attest to this as she takes a collagen pill daily. Long hair and stronger nails. Better skin. Increase muscle mass.
Best recipes for using collagen
collagen chia seed parfait Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make your soon to be newest obsession:
chia seeds
almond milk
vanilla extract
maple syrup
granola
berries
How To Store & Reheat
The collagen chia seed parfait will keep in the fridge for several days. I would recommend leaving the ingredients separate until you’re ready to serve. You could also swap out the granola and berries for the apple chia seed filling in my mini pies for a cozy morning brekkie.
When you make these, be sure to tag me on Instagram and let me know! Words of affirmation is my love language and I love seeing what you babes are making. Until next time. Xoxo, Savvy
Collagen Chia Seed Parfait
Easy beauty packed breakfast recipe that's perfect for a meal prep breakfast.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp collagen
- 1/4 cup berries
- 1/4 cup granola
Instructions
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To a small mason jar, add almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup + collagen. Whisk together until collagen is smooth.
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Add your chia seeds to the almond milk mixture. Place the lid on your mason jar and to combine.
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Place the chia seed mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the lid to get the mixture a stir. This will help make sure everything gets properly absorbed.
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Return to the fridge and leave overnight or until you're ready to eat it the next day.
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To serve, layer your chia seed pudding parfait by alternating layers of collagen chia seed pudding + granola with collagen chia seed pudding + berries. Drizzle honey on top for added sweetness if needed.
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Enjoy!
Sources:
Avila Rodríguez, M. I., Rodríguez Barroso, L. G., & Sánchez, M. L. (2018). Collagen: A review on its sources and potential cosmetic applications. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 17(1), 20–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12450
Bolke, L., Schlippe, G., Gerß, J., & Voss, W. (2019). A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients, 11(10), 2494. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102494
