Major Joint Pain Riddle SOLVED!
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 6, 2017
Q: This may seem like a silly question. I’ve been taking collagen for my joints for years, and just started using a different supplement brand. The new label says I should take it with a meal – but I’ve never had to do that before. Does it even matter?
— Elizabeth R.
Dr. Scott: Actually, that’s not a silly question at all. In fact, there’s quite a bit of debate in the health community on when and how you should take collagen supplements.
That probably accounts for the different labels.
Luckily, there’s an easy answer to your question. But, before I dive in, let me take a moment to explain just how important collagen supplementation can be for our health.
Our ancestors ate a ton of collagen. They drank it in their bone-broth soups, and got tons of collagen when they ate all parts of an animal.
Us, not so much.
Our diets are almost completely devoid of collagen.
Collagen is made up of the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and hydroxylysine.
When we are young, our bodies manufactured plenty of collagen, but as we grow older that production falls off dramatically. Some scientists estimate we lose 10 to 20 percent of our collagen by the time we reach 40 years old.
There are many reasons why you should make sure you are getting enough collagen in your diet:
- Skin, hair, and nail health. Collagen helps prevent wrinkles.
- Joint health. Our joints are mostly made of collagen and work better when we consume more collagen.
- Supplementing with collagen reduces leaky gut syndrome – a digestive condition that leads to higher inflammation.
- Supplementing with collagen has been shown to boost metabolism.
- Collagen is an important part of our brain and has been shown to improve mental health.
Now that we know why we should be taking collagen, what about that question: when should you take collagen?
There’s actually a good body of research showing that it doesn’t matter, despite all the debate.
If you take collagen with a meal or first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, the results are the same: your body is happy to use that collagen to make healthy skin, joints, guts, and brains.
Just do whatever works for your schedule.
So, how do you make sure you are getting enough?
Dr. Scott’s Collagen Production Plan
- There are food sources of collagen, including gelatin and bone broth.
- Sulfur containing veggies such as onions and garlic all help to increase your own collagen production.
Those tips will help, but I believe supplementing is necessary to make sure you are getting enough collagen. I prefer products that break down the collagen into absorbable and useable fractions called collagen peptides.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
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P.S. Want me to answer your question next? Email me at askdrscott@livingwelldaily.com
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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