Renowned for its anti-aging and anti-wrinkle actions and its beneficial effects onjointsand muscles, collagen is a protein that can be consumed in the form of a food supplement. Whether marine or animal, collagen has many benefits for the body and would help the body with weight loss. But is it of real interest as part of a high-calorie diet? Does collagen promote weight gain?

This article gives you all the information you need about collagen and your weight gain. Being a food supplement, it is recommended not to abuse it and to consult a doctor for advice before integrating any collagen into your routine.

The point on the different kinds of collagen

Types of collagen

Collagen is a naturalproteinin the form of fibers produced by the human body, as well as that of many animals, as well as certain fish and shellfish. It is found in virtually all tissues of the human body, particularly in the skin, muscles, a wide variety of connective tissues, and some organs of the digestive system.

There are a total of 28 known types of collagen, each of which is represented in greater or lesser quantity in the anatomical structure observed. Those most frequently encountered are types I, II, III, IV, V, and type X collagen. The other types of collagen are generally very specific and present in smaller proportions in the human body.

The various food supplements with collagen

To maintain beautiful skin, healthy joints and tissues that are as firm as they are functional, it is possible to consume collagen orally to supplement the body’s natural synthesis. It produces less and less of it over time, which explains the progressive aging of our body.

On the food supplement market, you will mainly find supplements of animal origin: bovine, porcine, or chicken collagen, marine collagen from fish and crustacean shells. So-called “vegan” collagen does not contain any trace of thisprotein, which is not synthesized by any plant. It consists only of ingredients that stimulate its production by our body.

What are the benefits of collagen on the human body?

Regardless of the type of collagen it is, it provides many benefits for the body.

Joint comfort

Marine collagen has the advantage of resolving most joint problems that you may encounter. Various studies have proven that the use of this type of collagen increases bone density. Indeed, by taking this collagen, you allow the body to synthesize the protein.

This will have the effect of strengthening your joints as well as your muscles. Bovine collagen can thus allow you to have convincing results and put an end to your joint problems.

Firmer skin

The use of marine or bovine collagen as a dietary supplement helps fight against skin aging. Indeed, this protein will allow you to reduce wrinkles by promoting better hydration of the skin as well as an increase in its elasticity. It is therefore a good anti-wrinkle treatment.

In addition, you have the option of using injectable bovine collagen to erase wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, and make your lips plump. However, the effects may wear off after a few months.

Faster healing

Another benefit of collagen for the human body is related to the healing of wounds. Indeed, with the consumption of protein as a dietary supplement, you can heal much faster from a wound, for example. Collagen asa food supplementcan also be used in the treatment of bedsores.

Better athletic performance

Collagen is a dietary supplement that allows you to have better sports performance. The latter allows you to have a perfectly healthy body. It also helps strengthen your bones and skin.

In addition, this protein is very rich in glycine and arginine, which allows it to stimulate the natural production of creatine by the body. However, you should know that creatine is the molecule responsible for muscle contraction during physical exercise.

Collagen and weight gain

Naturally present in the skin but also in muscles and joints, collagen is a protein whose mission is to make tissues resistant and promote theirflexibility. It is a fiber-like protein made up of a long chain of amino acids.

In order to strengthen the tissues to which they give their mechanical properties, it is possible to take collagen proteins as a supplement treatment using food supplements based on collagen peptides or a type of collagen assimilated by the body.

Although it is a protein, a nutrient, collagen does not make you fat. Proteins, whatever they are, are on the contrary very interesting to promote the reduction of fat mass while preserving the integrity of the muscle mass. Collagen is also often consumed by top athletes to support their muscle health.

In terms of calories, collagen provides 4 Kcal per gram like any protein. The recommended daily dose being 5 to 10 grams of collagen, the calorie intake during supplementation amounts to 20 to 40 Kcal per day, or the equivalent of 1 to 2 sugar cubes.

Collagen is more satiating than other forms of protein. This means it helps you feel full longer. In a clinical trial, marine collagen powder was compared to soy, casein, and whey. Of all the proteins, collagen has proven to be the most satiating. On average, it was found to be 40% more filling than other forms of protein. People who received collagen ate about 20% less food at the next meal than those who received another type of protein.

How can collagen promote weight gain?

Collagen is incredibly beneficial to the body, but if you’re worried about gaining weight, it’s a legitimate concern. Weight gain can happen to anyone, and the extra pounds can happen quickly.

Collagen and weight gain: excess calories

You tend to complicate things that are quite simple. When it comes to weight gain, you think too complicated.

The fact is, most of the time,weight gainis due to excess calories in your diet.

When you consume too many calories, your body stores them as fat. It doesn’t matter if the excess calories come from fat, carbohydrates or protein. If your body doesn’t need them, they are stored as extra weight.

It only takes consuming 500 extra calories a day to put on an extra pound of weight each week, so it’s easy to see how the weight can surprise you.

Collagen and weight gain: a sedentary life

Your lifestyle is also a key factor in determining your weight. Many of you have jobs that require you to be behind a computer screen or at a desk most of the day.

If you don’t exercise enough outside of work, you riskgaining weightand deteriorating your overall health.

Getting enough cardiovascular exercise is important to maintain heart health, and weight-bearing exercise improves your musculoskeletal system and contributes to bone health.

Collagen and weight gain: an underlying disease

In some cases, an underlying disease can prevent you fromlosing weight. Hormonal imbalances, thyroid problems, and certain autoimmune disorders can all cause unexplained weight gain.

Medications can also cause weight gain, but more often than not, medication-related weight gain is a side effect that wears off over time.

In summary: is collagen an ally for weight gain?

Several different types of collagen exist and are present within the human, animal, or marine organisms. Helping with better skin, better healing, and joint relief, collagen also plays a role inweight gain and loss. It is a protein food supplement, so it will help maintain muscle mass, but will not, strictly speaking, allow you to gain or lose weight.

However, collagen allows the formation of natural creatine in the body, so it is a real ally for the muscles. It promotes the contraction of the latter during your sessions and maintains their shape even when you start a diet. Be careful, however, to use it wisely and consume it in moderation!