Followers of the keto diet have been recently raving about collagen and how it has benefited them. In fact, collagen is the latest keto friendly supplement that’s been receiving praises and lots of compliments from those who have tried it.
This superfood is healthy and nutritious and can greatly benefit keto and other dieters. But what exactly is collagen and how can it benefit your keto diet?
What Is a Collagen?
Collagen is a type of protein but it does not have the same properties found in most commonly known sources of protein such as fish, meat, whey, etc. In fact, collagen is so much better. It has the most abundant amount of protein and is found in various parts of our body. According to Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, dubbed the “The Queen of Collagen”,
“Collagen is a strong protein naturally produced by your body. It’s synthesized mainly from two amino acids (the smallest units of protein)–glycine and proline. And it’s the major component of connective tissue as well as your hair, skin, and nails.”
Basically, the collagen acts like glue that binds our body together giving it integrity and strength. It’s the main component of our body’s connective tissues, including the skin, hair, joints, bones, and digestive tract.
Benefits of Collagen for Keto
The ketogenic diet is certainly one of the most effective diets today, especially in terms of losing weight, looking good, and staying healthy. But for some people who live a busy lifestyle, following the diet might be a challenge.
Sure, you can cut out all the carbs, but where are you going to get the energy that you need to face the daily demands of life? This is where the collagen supplements might be able to help. Below are some ways in which a keto dieter can benefit from the collagen.
Energy production – when starting the keto diet, some people may find themselves feeling weary and tired. That’s mainly because you have deprived yourself of carbs, which used to be your body’s main source of energy. One of the biggest benefits of the collagen is that it provides your body with the energy that it needs to keep you going throughout the day without suffering fatigue.
As the main component of our body’s connective tissues, collagen plays an important role in the production of energy in our body. Unfortunately, as we age, our body’s natural production of collagen also decreases. By supplementing your body with collagen, you can minimize fatigue as your body transitions into the state of ketosis.
Boost liver health – another great benefit of collagen is its ability to boost liver health and this is very important for everyone, especially followers of the keto diet. Collagen contains glycine, an important component in producing glutathione.
Glutathione is important for detoxification in the liver as it works by binding toxins together before they get excreted from our bodies.
We need glutathione to neutralize the oxidative stressors in our body especially in today’s modern world where we’re often under stress. If we don’t have enough glutathione, our body will become very toxic and this could jeopardize our liver health as well as that of our bodies.
Remember that if your liver is in jeopardy, your body will not be able to produce ketones, which is what our body needs in order to get into the state of ketosis. If you have enough collagen, your body will be able to produce glutathione, which is important for liver detoxification. Furthermore, the glycine found in collagen also helps in preventing damage to the liver. In fact, a study done on glycine has found that,
“glycine prevents liver damage and minimize liver damage from alcohol”
Promotes healthy gut – your gut microbes play an important role in your digestion, including how your body will respond to the keto-friendly foods that you introduce to your body. Having a healthy gut is therefore important when following the ketogenic diet. Collagen is an important component of the cells of your gut lining, which is why it’s good for your overall digestive system.
Keeps you full longer – although the keto diet is a high-fat diet, protein is also important as it helps to keep your body feel full longer and prevents you from overeating. Some people would turn to protein powders for this but these powders are often loaded with fillers and unhealthy additives.
Collagen, in its pure form, is clean and healthy and has no added sweeteners or additives. It can keep you feeling full longer and promotes satiety, which is important for weight loss.
Keeps your body strong – one of the most important components of losing weight and staying healthy is in staying active, whether it’s going to the gym or running regularly. Collagen can be a great help when it comes to staying physically active as it encourages joint and muscle recovery.
It has been found to help minimize joint pain, which is good for those who are rigorously working out. By adding collagen to your ketogenic diet, the health of your bones and joints will be improved, while preventing pain and injury resulting from excessive physical activity and exercise.
Reduces cellulite – cellulite is common among people who have lost a significant amount of weight and this is one of the issues faced by several keto dieters, especially those who don’t engage in regular exercises that could tone the body.
Since one of the biggest benefits of collagen is to improve skin health, it can help to effectively get rid of the cellulite in your body. In a study done on 105 women who have cellulite, it was found that the appearance of their skin has greatly improved after consuming collagen in the course of six months.
Incorporating Collagen To Your Keto Diet
With the many ways that collagen can benefit keto, it’s time to incorporate it into your diet. One of the easiest ways to add collagen to your diet is to mix the powder with your favorite cup of keto coffee or buy a packet of collagen instant coffee. This is a great way to jump start your day.
You can also add collagen powder to your favorite tea or smoothie. Since it’s tasteless and odorless, it won’t affect the taste of your beverage. Dr. Kellyann’s blog has also featured some recipes that contain collagen, such as this Keto Almond Joy Collagen Shake which is perfect for keto dieters.
