How To Choose The Right Collagen For Menopause

Menopause is the time that marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It typically comes with a range of symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings, and joint pain, which are a result of a number of changes that happen within a woman’s body during this transitional period. There are various menopause supplements that you can find to help manage the symptoms of menopause, including specifically collagen supplements.

Here, we explain the changes to collagen production as a result of menopause, why collagen is important and what the benefits of collagen supplements are post menopause.

WHAT HAPPENS TO COLLAGEN DURING MENOPAUSE?

Collagen is a protein found naturally in the body and is a vital component of skin, bones and joints. Production of collagen slows down naturally as we age. Typically, collagen production slows further post menopause. You will still be able to produce collagen after menopause but it will have lower elasticity and so you will be able to see how this changes your skin and feel the impact in your body.

Lower collagen production can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms such as joint pain, skin dryness, and wrinkles. Therefore, by supplementing with collagen, the body is able to obtain the necessary building blocks to maintain healthy tissues and improve skin elasticity.

Benefits of using Collagen for Menopause

Improved skin health:

Collagen is important for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration. A decline in collagen production along with fluctuating hormone levels during the menopause can have a significant impact on skin health.

An increase in fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and dryness are all common indicators of a decline in collagen levels. An analysis of multiple studies found that oral collagen supplements are able to improve skin moisture, elasticity, and hydration, without any side effects.

Reduced joint pain:

Hydrolyzed collagen is the most studied collagen in relation to joint health. Collagen is a protein that is abundant in the tissues such as cartilage, skin, and bones, and so when collagen levels decrease with menopause, symptoms like joint pain can arise. A 24-week study on activity-related joint pain in athletes, found that after supplementing with collagen, they experienced less pain and inflammation, highlighting the role of collagen in supporting joint health.

Support for bone health:

Menopause is a time when women are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to decreased levels of oestrogen. A study found that collagen peptides influence bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with primary, age-related reduction BMD, supporting that collagen supplements are effective in aiding bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Boosted energy and metabolism:

Collagen is a protein that can help to support muscle mass and metabolism, which can decline during menopause. Supplementing with collagen can help to maintain energy levels and support a healthy metabolism. Many sources of collagen contain an abundant level of the amino acid glycine, which has oestrogen-like osteoprotective effects on the body, such as being able to boost bone mineral density. and better sleep.

Support gut health:

Collagen contains amino acids that can help to support gut health and improve digestion, which can be affected by hormonal changes during menopause. The gut is also known as the 'second brain', and so it is important to restore and maintain the gut flora. For instance, a common sign of menopause is higher stress levels, which negatively influences the gut microbiome, thus contributing to signs of bad gut health such as digestive issues, bloating, sleep problems, fatigue, and more.

Choosing The Right Collagen

With so many collagen supplements on the market, it can be difficult to find the right one to support menopause. There are several factors to consider when searching for the best collagen powder for menopause, including:

Types of collagen:

Type 1 collagen is considered the best type of collagen for menopause as it has an abundant role in supporting skin, hair, and nail health, as well as promoting bone strength and joint flexibility.

During menopause, the levels of oestrogen in the body decrease, leading to a decline in collagen production, which can result in thinning skin, brittle nails, and weaker bones. Type 1 collagen supplements can help to counteract these effects by providing the body with the necessary amino acids to build and repair collagen fibres.

Additionally, type 1 collagen has been shown to improve skin elasticity, hydration, and overall appearance, which can be beneficial for women experiencing changes in their skin during menopause.

Sources of collagen:

There are two main types of collagen: bovine (from cows) and marine (from fish). Both bovine and marine sources of collagen are beneficial in supporting symptoms and signs of the menopause. Marine collagen is rich in type 1 collagen, which is the primary and most abundant type of collagen found in the skin and bones. Bovine collagen, on the other hand, contains type 1 and type 3 collagen, which are beneficial for joint health and gut health.

Quality and purity:

Looking for pure collagen powder for menopause is important because it ensures that the supplement you are taking contains only the collagen protein, without any additional binders and fillers. Supplementing with a pure collagen powder is more effective because it contains a higher concentration of collagen protein. This means that you can take a smaller dose of pure collagen powder and still achieve the same benefits as a larger dose of a less pure supplement.

Bioavailability:

Pure collagen powder is also more bioavailable, meaning that it is easily absorbed and utilised by the body. A bioavailable collagen source is collagen in its natural state, without any additional ingredients that may interfere with absorption. You can boost the absorption of collagen into targeted cells by taking it with vitamin C. A high quality collagen containing both ingredients is the Pura Collagen glow+ Advanced Collagen PLUS Formula.

Additional ingredients:

When collagen peptides are combined with a blend of other natural ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, zinc and more. These ingredients complement each other in addressing needs and concerns during and post menopause.

Vegan Collagen

Vegan collagen supplements have become important due to the growing popularity of plant-based diets.

Vegan collagen derives from plant-based sources instead of the traditional animal sources. We know that high quality brands like Ancient+Brave have vegan collagen powders that contain a diverse range of collagen specific amino acids, intelligent skin supportive botanicals and pure plant proteins enriched with bioactive nutraceuticals and nootropics for daily vegan wellbeing and collagen synthesis.

BEST FOR MENOPAUSE: COLLAGEN POWDERS

If you’re looking for an easy way to get collagen into your system, here are some of the forms that are best for menopause. Collagen powders can be added to smoothies and drinks each day.

Collagen Blend

Pura Collagen balance is a bovine collagen blend with KSM-66® Ashwagandha Root Extract, B vitamins and phytoestrogens to support female hormone balance, bone density, memory and concentration. This formula is perfect to use during all stages of the menopause as its formulation contains ingredients that tackle other symptoms including brain fog, fatigue, joint pain, and fluctuating hormone levels. This collagen is also halal certified.

Tasteless Collagen

Ancient+Brave True Collagen is a best-selling collagen because it is completely odourless and tasteless. This collagen is sourced from 100% grass-fed bovine providing type 1 hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides. Loved by Davina McCall, True Collagen provides key nutrients involved in cellular collagen renewal and formation, and is a high quality, clean source of protein to support active and healthy lifestyles.

Marine Collagen

Ancient + Brave Wild Collagen Powder contains bioavailable, type 1, marine collagen peptides, boosted with eight essential amino acids. These formulations are designed to be integrated into targeted cells efficiently, so that they can support the skin, bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage through collagen stimulation. These powers are neutral tasting and can easily be blended with your daily food and beverages.

Vegan Collagen

Ancient + Brave’s Collagen formulas are a plant-based alternative to collagen peptides. Their vegan collagen powers replace animal-based collagen sources with amino acids, botanicals, bioactive nutraceuticals and nootropics, with choline and buffered vitamin C to support better absorption. These formulations help minimise your risk of common vegan deficiencies, whilst helping to build and protect the body to replenish and renew collagen.