Let's take a look at some of the most common questions that come up when you start thinking about adding Collagen powder to your diet.
Below we've answered questions that we get asked the most often by our customers. While we've provided quick and easy answers, note that the complete answer might be more nuanced, depending on your specific situation and goals.
If you seek deeper knowledge regarding a specific question, we've included links to articles for further reading at the end of each question.
Alright, let's get into it!
How Much Collagen Should You Take Per Day?
It’s best to aim for a daily dosage of 2.5 to 15 grams of collagen. Keeping within this range lets you maximize the benefits without triggering unwanted symptoms of too much collagen.
It’s also recommended to follow the dosage guidelines on the supplement’s packaging as brands and manufacturers use different amounts of collagen in their products. Even within the same brand, the collagen content may vary per serving for specific products. Case in point: We recommend a daily serving of two scoops for Zen Principle’s Beef Collagen Peptides Powder and Marine Collagen Peptides Powder. Meanwhile, our Beef Gelatin Powder only requires 1.5 scoops every day.
If you're wondering how much Collagen you should be taking to achieve specific benefits - we've got you covered.
What Are the Symptoms of Taking Too Much Collagen?
While collagen is relatively safe for human consumption with little to no adverse effects, it’s possible to overdo collagen supplementation. Here are three common symptoms of too much collagen in your diet:
- Gastrointestinal Discomfort
- Increased Risk of Kidney Stone Formation
- Dangerously High Calcium Levels
It's extremely rare that people actually consume so much collagen that I actually start seeing these symptoms. As long as you stick to the above dosage recommendation that we've outlined, you'll be fine. For more details, read this article.
Where Does Collagen Come From?
The collagen that you purchase as a supplement comes largely from the parts of cows that are generally not used in regular meat cuts. Their hides and connective tissue are processed to make collagen products rather than going to waste.
Read on if you're interested in learning more about the production process.
Do Collagen Supplements Actually Work?
Yes, collagen supplements do work. High-quality collagen powders and pills aren’t scams and hoaxes masquerading as overpromised marketing ads (provided that you buy from a reputable brand, of course).
If you want to dig into the science behind this claim, click here.
Collagen Powder vs. Pills: Is There a Right Answer?
The answer to this question largely depends on personal preference, so we recommend reading the full article in order to decide whether you should take Collagen powder or pills.
How Long Does It Take for Collagen Supplements to Work?
It really depends on what benefit you're trying to achieve. We've listed some common benefits and how long it would take to start reaping the rewards after you've started supplementing:
- Improved joint health: 1-6 months
- Improved bone health: at least 1 year
- Improved skin health: 3 weeks to 6 months
- Stronger hair and improved growth: 2-6 months
- Stronger nails: at least 6 months
- Muscle growth: 2 days to 3 months
As you can see, some of these benefits take time, but they're worth it in the end. Hang in there!
If you'd like to know more about what influences these time ranges, this article is for you.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Collagen?
The short answer is that most of the benefits we've outlined above will slowly start rolling back. Read the full article to get all the details.
Is Collagen Safe During Pregnancy?
Not only is it safe, but consuming Collagen can help with meeting the increased protein needs during pregnancy. However, we always recommend consulting with your doctor before making any dietary changes during pregnancy. For the full scoop, please refer to the full article.
Have we missed anything?
If you're still left with doubts or have any burning questions regarding Collagen supplementation, let us know in the comments below and we'll get the answers you seek!
If you're all set and ready to give Collagen supplements a try, check out Zen Principle's high quality Collagen.
