The best collagen drinks

Are you a little collagen-curious? Maybe you’re a fully-fledged collagen convert looking for a new way to enjoy it.

Whatever your mission, you can find all you need to know about collagen drinks and discover some of our favourite collagen drinks right here.

What is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein found in our bodies.

It's an essential component of our skin, hair, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Our bodies already make collagen using amino acids, vitamins, and minerals we get from our diet. However, as we age, our collagen production can decline, which is why some people turn to collagen supplements…

What does collagen do?

If this is all new, it might be natural to ask: is collagen good for you?

Collagen helps us retain skin elasticity and hydration. That’s why we get wrinkles and sagging skin when our bodies start producing less.

After age 20, we produce about 1% less collagen in our skin year on year, which thins the skin and contributes to wrinkles.¹

As well as contributing to firm and smooth skin, collagen is good for keeping our joints and ligaments flexible and functional and supports normal muscle function.

What are collagen drinks?

Drinkable collagen products are a bioavailable (easy to absorb) and convenient way to supplement collagen.

You’ll find many different types of collagen liquid, from bovine, marine and even vegan-friendly formulas. You’ll even find collagen drinks in different formats, from pre-made collagen shakes to liquid collagen shots that you pop into your drink.

Collagen drinks claim to combat collagen loss by delivering this potent protein, in the form of peptides, straight to the stomach. The idea is that it’ll give you a glow which begins on the inside.

The best bit? Modern science suspects it works! After drinking collagen, the absorbed collagen peptides make their way into the skin, where they remain for around 14 days.²

What are the health benefits of drinking collagen?

It’s believed there are many benefits to taking collagen orally, including:

• reduced wrinkles: women who ingested collagen for 12 weeks had less visible wrinkle depth than a comparable group of women who hadn't³
  
• skin suppleness: one study found that a group of women enjoyed improved skin moisture quality and youthfulness after eight weeks of collagen use, in comparison with a group who didn’t⁴
• improved collagen production: one scientific study proposed links between ingesting collagen and increased collagen production within the body⁵
• better nail growth: researchers found that a group who took collagen supplements every day developed stronger, longer nails which were more resistant to damage⁶
  
• increases other proteins which benefit the skin: collagen is good for increasing other skin-friendly proteins in your body. Ingesting collagen has been connected to increased elastin and fibrillin production, too.⁵ Elastin and fibrillin are also essential for skin firmness and contribute to the youthful look of healthy skin

The best collagen drinks

Are there any collagen side effects?

So far, research hasn’t revealed very many side effects of collagen supplements. Since they’re a protein our body already makes, they’re considered to be a low risk for us.

Sometimes collagen drinks include animal products, like eggs and shellfish. Make sure to study the label before purchasing if you’re vegan or allergic to certain animal products as each collagen drink can be different.

Some takers have reported a sour taste in the mouth after taking collagen supplements, but the cause is unclear.⁸ A sour taste in the mouth is a known symptom of acid reflux, and collagen supplements have caused digestive discomfort among some takers (including heartburn), which may explain why.^9,

Some other minor reported side effects have included headaches, rashes, and bloating, but these are not considered to be dangerous and should go away on their own.

If you have any concerns about your symptoms, or they continue, talk to your GP.

The final say

We hope this guide has helped you find the best collagen drink for you and your needs.

If you want some more information about other ways you can take collagen, make sure you check out the full collection here at H&B – The best collagen supplements.