Collagen is a protein that is essential for the human body. It is found in muscles, bones, skin, hair, nails, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, and organs. It is also known as the body's glue, as it holds the body together and gives it strength and integrity. The keto diet, on the other hand, is a high-fat, low-carb diet that promises weight loss, reduced inflammation, lower blood sugar, and insulin levels. While the keto diet restricts protein intake, collagen can be a good source of protein for those on the keto diet as it contains zero carbohydrates and 18 grams of protein per serving. Collagen also has numerous health benefits, including improving skin, nail, hair, joint, and gut health, as well as aiding in muscle recovery. It can be easily incorporated into the keto diet by adding it to coffee, tea, smoothies, or even keto pancakes.
Characteristics | Values |
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What is collagen used for in keto | Collagen is a protein that can be used to support healthy joints, skin, hair, nails, and gut health while following a ketogenic diet. |
What You'll Learn
Collagen is a protein that can be added to coffee, fat bombs, or keto-friendly foods
Collagen in Coffee
Adding collagen to coffee is a convenient way to incorporate it into your diet. It dissolves easily and can be mixed with other ingredients such as MCT oil, grass-fed ghee or butter, and sweetener to create a creamy and delicious beverage. Collagen coffee provides a boost of protein and fat, supporting weight loss and energy levels while also promoting gut health.
Collagen in Fat Bombs
Fat bombs are keto-friendly snacks or desserts that are high in healthy fats and low in carbs. Adding collagen to fat bombs, such as the Chocolate Almond Butter Collagen Fat Bombs or the Keto Coconut Collagen Fat Bombs, provides an extra boost of protein. These treats can help satisfy sugar cravings while supporting overall health.
Collagen in Keto-Friendly Foods
Collagen can also be added to various keto-friendly foods, such as keto chia seed pudding or keto blueberry muffins. It dissolves easily and can be found in both flavoured and unflavoured varieties, making it a versatile ingredient.
Overall, collagen is a valuable supplement for those following a keto diet. It supports joint, skin, hair, and nail health, gut health, and can contribute to increased muscle mass and bone health.
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It promotes skin, hair, and nail health
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and can be found in muscles, bones, skin, hair, nails, ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, and organs. It is often described as the "glue" that holds the body together, forming connective tissues and repairing wounds.
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, leading to wrinkles, droopy skin, brittle nails, and joint issues. Consuming collagen has been shown to relieve joint issues, support digestive health, and boost the appearance of skin, hair, and nails.
Skin Health
Collagen is a major component of skin and supplementing with it can improve skin elasticity, hydration, and strength. Research shows that taking collagen supplements can improve skin elasticity and hydration, prevent early signs of ageing, diminish the roughness of ageing facial skin, increase the amount of collagen present in the skin, and prevent the breakdown of collagen.
Hair Health
Collagen can strengthen hair proteins so they break less easily. A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that there is an "essential relationship between extracellular matrix (ECM) and hair follicle regeneration, suggesting that collagen VI could be a potential therapeutic target for hair loss and other skin-related diseases."
Nail Health
Oral collagen intake has been shown to increase nail growth rate and decrease the frequency of broken nails. A study found that it increased nail growth rate by 12% and decreased the frequency of broken nails by 42%.
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Collagen can help prevent bone loss
Collagen is a key component in bones, skin, muscles, and other body parts. It is the most abundant protein in the body and is essential for healthy joints, skin, bones, muscles, and more. As an individual ages, their body's ability to produce collagen decreases, and the collagen they have starts to break down. This breakdown can lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, which is characterised by low bone density and an increased risk of bone fractures.
In a 12-month study, postmenopausal women who took a calcium and vitamin D supplement with 5 grams of collagen experienced significantly lower blood levels of proteins that promote bone breakdown and less loss of mineral bone density than those who took only calcium and vitamin D. Another study found similar results in 66 postmenopausal women who took 5 grams of collagen daily for 12 months. Participants who took the collagen had an increase of up to 7% in their bone mineral density.
Collagen is an important component of bones, providing structure and helping to decrease the onset of brittle bones or decreased bone density. While calcium is often the go-to nutrient for bone health, collagen is a critical nutrient for anyone looking to support a healthy skeletal structure.
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Collagen is rich in amino acids
The triple helix structure of collagen is made possible by glycine, which is the smallest of all amino acids. This allows the chain to form a tight configuration and withstand stress. In fact, glycine is found at almost every third residue in the collagen sequence. Proline, meanwhile, makes up about 17% of collagen.
The amino acid composition of collagen is unusual for proteins, particularly due to its high hydroxyproline content. The most common motifs in the amino acid sequence of collagen are glycine-proline-X and glycine-X-hydroxyproline, where X can be any amino acid other than glycine, proline, or hydroxyproline.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, accounting for about 25% to 35% of a mammalian body's protein content. It is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of a body's various connective tissues. As the main component of connective tissue, collagen provides structure, support, and strength to skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.
Collagen is also important for joint health. Research has found that collagen supplementation can decrease joint pain and stiffness and increase the ability and desire to participate in exercise and other activities.
In addition, collagen is beneficial for gut health. Bone broth is rich in gelatin and collagen, but few other foods that we eat are potent sources. Smaller amounts of collagen can be found in foods like grass-fed beef and salmon.
Collagen is also good for hair, skin, and nail health. Supplementing with collagen can improve skin elasticity, hydration, and strength. It can also strengthen hair proteins so they break less easily and contribute to the growth of stronger, healthier nails.
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It can be sourced from bovine, pig, chicken, marine, or egg
Collagen is the body's most abundant protein, found in the skin, bones, cartilage, and connective tissue. It is responsible for repairing damaged cells and reducing inflammation. It can be sourced from bovine, pig, chicken, marine, or egg.
Bovine collagen is the best hydrolyzed option on the market since its benefits have been researched and proven. This option is also sourced from grass-fed cows only, which means you're not getting an unhealthy dose of added hormones and steroids. When choosing a collagen powder, look for ones sourcing bovine collagen and containing at least 10g of it per serving. You should see one of the following descriptions in the ingredient list: grass-fed bovine collagen peptides, grass-fed hydrolyzed collagen powder, or hydrolyzed bovine collagen.
Marine collagen is suitable for those following a pescatarian-friendly diet. Chicken sternal cartilage is another source of collagen. Collagen can also be sourced from eggs, which are a common food choice on the keto diet.
Collagen can also be sourced from pig skin, although this was not mentioned in relation to the keto diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Collagen is a protein that is rich in amino acids and has numerous benefits for the body, including supporting healthy joints, skin, hair, nails, and gut health. It is also beneficial for those on a keto diet as it can help with muscle recovery, skin and hair health, and promote a healthy gut.
Collagen provides the body with many benefits, including improved skin health and nail strength. It may also prevent premature hair loss and promote muscle growth and recovery. Collagen is also essential for optimal joint, tendon, and ligament health, and it strengthens bones and promotes overall tissue repair.
There are at least 16 types of collagen, but around 80-90% of the body's collagen consists of types I, II, and III. Type I collagen is the most abundant and can be found in tendons, skin, bones, cartilage, connective tissue, and teeth. Type II collagen is found mostly in cartilage and is important for joint health. Type III collagen is usually found alongside type I and is important for muscle and organ health.
The process of collagen production can be divided into three phases: procollagen, tropocollagen, and collagen fibril formation. Procollagen is the precursor of collagen and is formed by three chains of amino acids. Tropocollagen is formed when the procollagen chain is cut into the final collagen strand. Finally, tropocollagen strands bond together to form the fibrils that make up the collagen protein.
There are several ways to add collagen to a keto diet, including adding it to coffee, tea, smoothies, or keto-friendly meals and snacks. Collagen is odourless and tasteless, so it can be easily incorporated into a variety of foods and drinks.