When Should I Take Collagen?
There’s tons of confusing and often contradictory info out there about collagen supplementation in your diet, especially in regards to when to take it. So when is the best time to consume collagen? Before a workout? Or after? Or in the morning? Or before bed? We will keep this short and sweet: it doesn’t really matter.
Lucky for you, it seems like there is no bad time to consume collagen, which means your favorite ELAVI bar makes a great on-the-go breakfast, mid-day snack, or late night dessert. Depending on your specific goals, there might be a more attractive time for you to intake your collagen, so here are a few of them:
Collagen in the morning:
There are no real scientific studies out there that suggest taking collagen in the morning time has any additional benefits to taking it at any other point throughout the day. The most common argument made is that it is best absorbed on an empty stomach. These claims often cite the morning as the time when the body has the most stomach acid available to breakdown and absorb collagen, since nothing else is yet to be digested. However, in reality, the majority of nutrient breakdown occurs in the small intestine, making this claim a myth. But....there is evidence to suggest that the first thing we put in our bodies in the morning has a significant impact on mood throughout the day thereafter. So, if you’re eating Lucky Charms and a Frappachino for breakfast and wondering why you’re not feeling so great later on, switching it up with a well balanced, high-collagen breakfast might do the trick.
Collagen after a workout (post-workout):
Many people know that protein is an excellent post-workout fuel, to aid in muscle recovery and synthesis in the body, making collagen seem like an obviously good choice post-workout. However, you have to be a little careful. Collagen is NOT a complete protein on its own, so unless it is coupled with a complete protein source, it is not the best option to repair and rebuild. Our ELAVI protein snacks combine sustainably sourced marine collagen + organic pea protein, which IS a complete protein, giving you everything you need and want for recovering and re-nourishing.
Collagen before bed:
Glycine is the most abundant amino acid in collagen, comprising roughly ⅓ of the total amino acid content in collagen. In addition to being a building block of muscle and protein synthesis throughout the body, studies have shown that increased glycine consumption before bed can improve sleep quality. Glycine has been proven to both lower core body temperature, which naturally heightens as you wake. By lowering the core body temperature, glycine decreases the likelihood that you wake, keeping you in a state of high quality sleep. Plus, consuming protein before bed helps keep you full through the night, so you don’t wake up at 3am craving a chocolate cake.
The best time is whatever you can be consistent with.
Truthfully, it doesn’t really matter when you take collagen, as long as you take it. Not sure exactly what kind of collagen is best for you? Check out our other blogpost on marine collagen HERE.
*Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278207/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328957/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2017.01.003
About the Author: Nikki Kearney
Nikki is a senior at Boston College, studying Management for Social Impact, Marketing, and Psychology. She is in the process of becoming a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and has taken multiple nutrition courses, taught by registered dietitians and nurse practitioners. Nikki is passionate about ensuring marketing is used for good, to spread true and valuable information to consumers.