Collagen protein powder and whey protein powder — two protein supplements taking the beauty, fitness, and health industries by storm.
If you aren't already taking these supplements, you're probably curious to know what all the hype is about. Is it really worth it to take these supplements? And what are the different benefits they provide?
Or maybe you've tried both separately and are eager to know if taking the two supplements together is overkill or will actually help boost your health more effectively.
Whatever the case may be, you've come to the right place. In this article, we're going to talk about collagen and whey protein, the benefits of the two, and whether or not it's safe to take them together.
Is it safe to take collagen and whey together?
The biggest question people have about these two supplements is whether or not they're safe to take together. We're here to let you know that there are no medical concerns when combining the two supplements. So it's completely safe to mix collagen protein and whey protein — and it's extremely beneficial too!
Collagen peptides and whey protein are both very effective proteins, even when taken individually. They each serve their own purpose and thus have their own benefits. Just imagine how much more effective it would be to take them together.
Before we talk about the benefits of collagen and whey protein together, let's dig a little deeper into the individual benefits of the two, so we can understand what makes combining them so much better!
What exactly is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and is responsible for keeping our skin, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and organs together. It makes up 25% to 35% of our body's entire protein content. If it wasn't for collagen we wouldn't have the structure in our bodies and we'd all pretty much be goo.
Sadly, our natural collagen can only last for so long. By the time we reach 20 years old our collagen levels decrease by 1% each year. As such, you'll experience decreases in hair, skin, nail, and joint health over time.
So, people take collagen supplements to restore their lost collagen and even boost their existing natural collagen production.
What are collagen peptides?
When collagen undergoes the process of hydrolysis, you get collagen peptides. Collagen must undergo the process of hydrolysis because, without it, collagen would be indigestible and useless as a supplement.
Collagen peptides are basically collagen with smaller molecules, making them much easier to be absorbed into the body and making the benefits of collagen much more effective.
So when we mention collagen in this article we really mean collagen peptides (since it's really the one doing most of the work).
What are the benefits of collagen?
Some of the benefits of collagen include:
Boosting skin elasticity
As we age, our natural collagen levels decline, this is why we start losing the moisture of our skin and begin to develop more wrinkles and fine lines 1.
Type 1 collagen is the most common type of collagen found in our bodies. Its main purpose is to give us radiant and youthful-looking skin by boosting our skin's elasticity.
Studies have confirmed that taking certain amounts of collagen can help reduce wrinkles and bring back moisture into our skin2 Â
In 2013, a placebo-controlled study was conducted on a group of women who took 2.5 to 5 grams of collagen supplements every day for 8 weeks. They showed a significant increase in skin elasticity and skin hydration as compared to women who didn't take collagen3.
In 2015, another similar study was also conducted on a group of women who mixed collagen powder into their drinks for 12 weeks straight. Just like the previous study, women who took the collagen supplements were found to have significantly fewer wrinkles and healthier skin as compared to women that didn't4.
Growing healthier hair and nails
If you care about healthy hair, you're probably familiar with keratin. Keratin is another protein in our bodies responsible for keeping our hair strong and beautiful.
Collagen plays a big part in the production of keratin in our bodies, and it's also a rich source of antioxidants that help protect the hair follicles on your scalp. These antioxidants fight the free radicals on your scalp that are responsible for damaging your hair cells.
In turn, it helps slow down the rate of hair loss5 and even helps prevent the premature graying of your hair6.
Scientific evidence also shows that collagen has an impact on making our nails stronger. One study surrounding 25 participants who took 2.5 grams of collagen for 24 weeks showed an increase in nail strength and growth.
Taking collagen not only decreased the frequency of cracked and chipped nails by 42%, but it also helped increase the nail growth rate by 12%7.
Reducing joint and bone disorders
Collagen is considered a major building block for our joints and bones. Several studies have shown that taking collagen helps to relieve joint pain as well as increase the density of our bones8. It even showed signs of alleviating symptoms of joint disorders such as osteoarthritis.
There was a study conducted in 2008 focusing on athletes who reported experiencing joint pain during their resting periods after training. They took 10 grams of collagen every day for 24 weeks. The study showed that these collagen-supplementing athletes experienced little to no joint pain and inflammation after training. They were even shown to perform better than athletes who didn't take collagen9.
Another study in 2018, conducted on a group of women showed that those who took at least 5 grams of collagen a day for one year had increased their bone density by 7% as compared to women that didn't take collagen 10.
Strengthening muscles
Collagen is not only important to our skin, hair, nails, and bones. It is an important component of our muscles as well and is responsible for building and repairing muscle 11.
This is why plenty of gym supplements contain collagen, because of its natural ability to build muscle. Bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts alike love collagen.
Studies have shown that people with sarcopenia were able to increase their muscle mass after taking collagen supplements 12. Another study showed that men with less muscle mass were able to boost their muscle growth after taking 15 grams of collagen a day in combination with a strength training program 13.
Helping wounds heal faster
Type 1 collagen is not only responsible for getting rid of wrinkles and fine lines, it also helps wounds heal faster.
Did you know that burn victims that suffer from severe third-degree burns are now being treated with fish skin? It may sound silly but doctors have been using this method for a while now and it has proven to be an effective xenograft 14.
The doctors explain that it's due to the high levels of Type 1 collagen found in fish skin (marine collagen), that are helping these severe wounds heal much faster 15.
What is whey protein?
Like collagen, whey is also a great source of protein. The main difference is, while collagen can be naturally found in our bodies and certain animals, whey is derived from milk.
Milk contains two main types of protein: casein and whey. During cheese production, liquid parts of milk start to separate from the cheese and the part of the milk that gets separated is whey.
At this point the whey is still liquid, it has to undergo various processes to become the whey that we know and love — whey protein powder.
Both collagen peptides and whey protein are in powder form, making them easy to consume because you can mix them into different meals and beverages or even use them as baking ingredients.
What are the benefits of whey protein?
Whey protein powder may not be naturally found in our bodies like collagen but it has just as important benefits, such as:
It contains all of the essential amino acids
Whey protein is considered a high-quality protein because it contains all nine of the essential amino acids our body needs.
The nine essential amino acids are Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine.
The irony is, our body isn't able to produce a single one of these essential amino acids. We have to rely on food or supplements such as whey to provide us with these nine essential amino acids.
Whey is one of the few supplements that provide us with all nine essential amino acids. These amino acids are essential because they're responsible for keeping our body functioning properly. It particularly helps in boosting athletic performance and improving our overall health.
Building more muscle mass
Collagen is great for building muscle mass. But studies show that whey protein is just a bit better at building muscle mass than collagen peptides. This is especially true while exercising, due to a higher increase in markers of protein syntehsis16.
Similar to collagen protein, whey protein is also effective in boosting muscle growth for people with sarcopenia17. This is because whey protein has a high content of leucine. As you now know, this is one of the nine essential amino acids, that is responsible for promoting muscle growth18.
Aiding weight loss
Whey is said to be highly satiating19, this means it makes you feel fuller even in small amounts. Thus helping you curb unhealthy cravings and avoid overeating.
Compared to soy protein and casein protein, whey still does a better job at getting rid of cravings and fulfilling your appetite20.
Aside from inducing satiety, it has also been proven to boost one's metabolism21, helping you burn more calories and shed weight faster.
Plus you don't have to worry about losing muscle mass as you lose weight because whey helps you burn fat and maintain muscle at the same time22.
Regulating blood and heart health
Dairy consumption has been associated with lowering blood pressure, as discussed in several studies (23, 24, 25, 26). This is attributed to the ACE-inhibitors 27 found in dairy products, including whey which have shown several benefits in lowering one's blood pressure28.
Whey is also known to moderate a person's blood sugar, both preventing and treating type 2 diabetes 29. When compared to other sources of protein such as egg or fish, whey is superior30.
When it comes to cholesterol, one study showed that overweight individuals who took 54 grams of whey protein a day were found to have a significant reduction in the level of bad cholesterol in their system31.
The best of both worlds - collagen whey protein powder
Both collagen protein and whey protein have amazing benefits. Each protein has its significant contributions to our overall health and wellbeing. They play separate roles in our body, some functions may be similar, and some proteins may perform some functions better than the other.
But why take them separately when there is an option to take them both? Collagen protein powder is a combination of collagen peptides and whey protein powders allowing you to reap the benefits of both!
Where can I find a supplement with both collagen and whey protein?
Collagen protein powders are the next big thing in the beauty and fitness industries. Fortunately, we provide one of the best collagen whey protein powders online!
Obvi Collagen Whey Protein Powder - The Best of Both Worlds!
Getting the best of both worlds doesn't have to be a hassle. Obvi Collagen Whey Protein Powder is the #1 all-in-1 solution for your beauty and weight loss goals!
It comes in two delicious flavors: Chocolate Birthday Cupcakes and Unicorn Milk. Although they may sound extremely sweet, our collagen whey protein is 100% guilt-free! One serving is only 120 calories but it's enough to leave you satisfied.
Obvi's Collagen Whey Protein is perfect for people who are always busy and on the go. Haven't got time to prepare a meal? Just mix one scoop of our Collagen Whey Protein with water, put it in a shaker, and gain the benefits of both collagen and whey in one tasty drink.
It's a quick and easy fix that helps curb your appetite, making it a great meal replacement for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Stay fit and enhance your beauty with Obvi's Collagen Whey — grab a tub today! Or, check out our collagen protein bars - a great meal replacement option for on-the-go supplementation.
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