S/o Social Media Ads: Collagen Supplements?

[VillainV]

Does anyone take a collagen supplement? If so, do you recommend it? What kind of results have you seen?

I keep seeing adds for the liquid collagen supplement that apparently tastes like mangos. I like mangos, but not sure I want a flavored supplement.

[stemmie]

I recently started using a powder supplement. My 85 year old mom had been using it for months after my niece turned her on to it. Niece says it's improved her skin texture and joints. Mother says it's eased arthritis symptoms which is why I am trying it. I'm a week in and haven't noticed anything. Niece said it takes 1-2 months.

They say you can mix it with any beverage-- hot or cold. Without flavoring it kind of tastes like dirt. Niece puts it in her coffee. I put mine in tea and it was undrinkable. I flavor mine with Mio drops.

[brooke77]

I like the vital proteins unflavored powder. It’s the best one I’ve tried. I don’t like the flavored ones at all. I mix it with coffee or in a smoothie. I feel like it helps with knee pain.

[spindle92]

I have been adding a scoop of collagen to my breakfast smoothie for almost a year now and my hair and nails are where I am seeing the benefit. Both are growing like weeds and are actually healthy too.

[mambo123]

Feb 27, 2023 20:14:06 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

I have been adding a scoop of collagen to my breakfast smoothie for almost a year now and my hair and nails are where I am seeing the benefit. Both are growing like weeds and are actually healthy too.

Is there a brand you really like? Trying to get my hair back to pre Covid infection.

[spindle92]

mambo123, I use 1 scoop of Orgain every morning and cannot taste it at all.

Here is an amazon link.

www.amazon.com/Orgain-Pasture-Hydrolyzed-Collagen-Protein/dp/B07BL69CD2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2R3JBT7LIJWIV&keywords=orgain+collagen+peptides&qid=1677547602&sprefix=orgain+collagen%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0S0U4OVlNNlNVNzMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNDM1MjAzSFBKOEVFMUo4UldZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MDIzOTkzS1BZMzRLSEpVOURUJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[mambo123]

Feb 27, 2023 20:30:01 GMT -5 spindle92 said:

mambo123, I use 1 scoop of Orgain every morning and cannot taste it at all.

Here is an amazon link.

www.amazon.com/Orgain-Pasture-Hydrolyzed-Collagen-Protein/dp/B07BL69CD2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2R3JBT7LIJWIV&keywords=orgain+collagen+peptides&qid=1677547602&sprefix=orgain+collagen%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0S0U4OVlNNlNVNzMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNDM1MjAzSFBKOEVFMUo4UldZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MDIzOTkzS1BZMzRLSEpVOURUJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Thank you for the link! I was so close to buying this $100+ monthly supplement, but I will try this first.

[spindle92]

mambo123, Yeah you do not need those mega-buck ones all the celebrities are shilling on Instagram.
This brand was recommended to my SIL who fell in love with it and then shared it with me.
I hope you like it as much as I have.

[VillainV]

What if I don’t drink coffee or smoothies? Could I mix it into something else? Water? Tea? Yogurt? Oatmeal?

[spindle92]

Feb 27, 2023 21:05:11 GMT -5 VillainV said:

What if I don’t drink coffee or smoothies? Could I mix it into something else? Water? Tea? Yogurt? Oatmeal?

Yeap, you can put it with anything.  To me, it has absolutely no taste .

[pumpkin]

Feb 27, 2023 21:05:11 GMT -5 VillainV said:

What if I don’t drink coffee or smoothies? Could I mix it into something else? Water? Tea? Yogurt? Oatmeal?

I like the unflavored vital proteins and I’ve put it in all sorts of things from coffee and tea to soup and oatmeal. I don’t think I’d like it alone, but it mixes into things really well.

[steamboat185]

Feb 27, 2023 8:20:07 GMT -5 brooke77 said:

I like the vital proteins unflavored powder. It’s the best one I’ve tried. I don’t like the flavored ones at all. I mix it with coffee or in a smoothie. I feel like it helps with knee pain.

I’m trying the vital protein one made from fish (I’m a vegetarian, but have really messed my knees up this ski season and am trying this along with cortisone shots and glucosamine). I couldn’t get it to dissolve well in cold drinks, but it does much better in warm beverages. I can’t taste it in coffee at all and it made the seltzer water I had tried at first undrinkable.

[savan]

DH and I have been adding collagen to our morning coffee for 6 months now.  We use whatever is cheapest at Costco.  Sometimes it’s Orgain and sometimes Vital Protein.  We did find that Vital Proteins is the most flavorless of the two.  It has been good for my hair but otherwise I don’t know if it has made a difference.  I figure I am getting older and can use all the help I can get.

[namasteak]

Ive been using collagen in my evening tea for about 8 years now. It helps me sleep and is good for anti aging.

[stemmie]

I am using the Vital Proteins currently but did try the Orgain. My mom buys which ever is on sale at Costco. I think the unflavored does have a taste. I tried doing it in my morning tea and it was unpleasant.

I mix mine with about 1/3 c of boiling water which I let cool. It takes a minute or 2 to dissolve. I add cold water and flavor drops and chug it down.

I read somewhere that bovine derived is best for joints and nails, but that fish is better for skin and anti-aging.

[mokes]

I used to use Vital Proteins but it made me break out ... I tested twice and pinpointed it to that, unfortunately. Now I use Bowmar's collagen (powder, unflavored). It's basically unflavored protein powder, and that's how I use it.

For people asking, you can literally put it in almost anything. I do drink smoothies, but I'll also put it in soups and baked goods to up the protein (especially if I'm trying to sneak it in for my grandma). It dissolves most easily in hot liquids. If you add it to cold things, I find it's fine if blended, or mixed in slowly.

A lot of the liquid/MLM ones have such a tiny amount of collagen for the price, like a couple of grams per serving, plus sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. Bowmar's collagen (and I'm sure many others) have one ingredient -- collagen. 18 grams of protein per scoop.

[wanderlustmom]

I read studies and agree the fancy ones aren't worth the extra money. Vital proteins held up very well in studies. Unfortunately, I think it tastes terrible in my coffee or water but I do find it's okay in Metamucil orange fiber drink which is good for me anyway. LOL, I am such the old lady. I haven't taken it long enough consistently to see if it helps or not.

[sassystace]

I like the vital proteins unflavored powder and also mix it with coffee. I think it helps my joints (knees and hips), hair and skin.

[stemmie]

Feb 27, 2023 8:20:07 GMT -5 brooke77 said:

I like the vital proteins unflavored powder. It’s the best one I’ve tried. I don’t like the flavored ones at all. I mix it with coffee or in a smoothie. I feel like it helps with knee pain.

Can I ask how long it took for it to relieve some of your knee pain?

My left knee is pretty bad. I expect it'll need replacement at some point but I'm hoping to delay it. PT has bee some help, but cortisone and Synvisc have been disappointing. 

[stemmie]

Feb 28, 2023 10:53:30 GMT -5 wanderlustmom said:

I read studies and agree the fancy ones aren't worth the extra money. Vital proteins held up very well in studies. Unfortunately, I think it tastes terrible in my coffee or water but I do find it's okay in Metamucil orange fiber drink which is good for me anyway. LOL, I am such the old lady. I haven't taken it long enough consistently to see if it helps or not.

This is brilliant. 

I find it tastes a bit like wet cardboard or dirt.

[woodgnome]

I know the studies are iffy on collagen but anecdotally, I’ve been doing 2 scoops of vital proteins unflavored powder in my coffee each morning and my hair has grown so fast. Also, I like the added protein because it keeps me feeling less hungry

[osulori]

I've used the Vital Proteins chocolate collagen powder in my coffee before and really liked it, it could also be an easy mix into a smoothie. My dad does the VP unflavored powder in water or juice and says it's not bad, but he also used to drink V8 daily which grosses me out so what does he know? My go to is the Natural Creamer collagen powder from Propello Life-it would be super easy to put in a smoothie as well but I'm used to putting it in my coffee at this point so I haven't tried it any other way. Anecdotally, I feel like my joints are less stiff and overall things are less achy since I started using it (almost 2 years ago now?). My nails and hair might be a little stronger too but I don't notice that as much as I do the improvement in aches and pains.

[brooke77]

stemmie - I would say about 1-2 months. I’m pretty active (running/Peloton) and notice the difference in knee pain when I stop taking it. It’s worth a try!

[expectantsteelerfan]

Those of you who think the unflavored doesn't have a taste are crazy! I am currently powering through drinking the Orgain unflavored in coffee (heavily doctored) and it's tolerable, but definitely has a taste. I'm usually a tea drinker, and it wasn't doable in tea for me. I did order Vital Proteins to try that one too in case it's any better. I'm committed to a 2 month trial to gauge if I see any benefits (in joint pain or nails, both which would be a bonus for me).

[protozoa]

I've used for for probably 10 years I'm guessing. I started for gut health and the skin and hair benefits are a bonus, though I definitely can't measure the impact at this point (my skin, nails, and hair are all good though). I'm using Paleo Valley now, since VP got sketchier as they expanded in ways I was not comfortable with.

[7costanza]

I ordered unflavored Orgain thanks to this thread, my nails are super brittle lately so I’m hoping it helps. I don’t think the taste is too bad, but I’ve been mixing it with warm water and chugging it down, chased by oj, I don’t think I could sip it in coffee or tea.

[heyyounotyouyou]

I’ve read for knee issues the type II collagen is what is recommended the most.