Update on 5/15/2020 – It’s been exactly two years and I am still enjoying a single scoop of collagen peptides with my organic coffee each morning. My skin and nails are as healthy as can be!

I have a confession to make…I hopped on the collagen peptide train! It’s not usually my thing to follow trends as they come and go. I am more of a traditionalist. However, my sister-in-law posted about this health conscious trend and I was intrigued.

The supplement brand I am trying is Sports Research Pure Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides. I purchased via Amazon because I like to read reviews. This one currently has over 3,000 with a 4.5 star rating! It is paleo friendly, GMO tested, KETO certified, manufactured in a GMP facility, grass-fed and pasture-raised and gluten free. The container states that results may be seen within 30 to 60 days. This is a commitment, people!With such a long way to go, I thought a health journal would be helpful to track my results in real time. FYI, anyone over the age of 25 needs more collagen! Collagen is the most abundant form of protein in our bodies. It gives support to our bones, muscles, skin and tendons. Our bodies collagen production slows down in our mid-20’s. Once you reach 30, the collagen loss declines rapidly. This is when you see noticeable signs of aging. Ugh!

Benefits of Collagen Peptides

• Healthy skin, hair and nails.
• Strong tendons, cartilage, ligaments and bones. Reduces joint pain.
• Regulate sleep.
• Gut friendly. Helps heal leaky gut.
• Boost the immune system.
• May boost metabolism and muscle mass.

I could spend hours regurgitating research I found online, but I think this article by Dr. Axe is the best. I love how thorough his documentation is and all the colorful infographics.

What I’m Hoping For

Currently, my hair, skin and nails are so dry and tired from this winter weather. With our intense workouts, my muscles are sore and old sports injuries are starting to nag me. Lastly, my gut is still in the process of healing. 8 years into my Celiac journey, I am digesting foods better, but I would like to see improvement. If I only see minimal results from ingesting collagen peptides, I’ll be happy!

Week 1 – March 4, 2018

The most common way to add collagen peptides into the diet is via your morning coffee. That was an easy addition for me. The timing was perfect as our scheduled gym time is before breakfast. I could see firsthand if the supplement helped muscle tissue repair and kept me from being hungry all day.

This first week, I ingested a single scoop of collagen peptides per day. That is, about 11 grams. Here are my initial thoughts:

1. Love the flavorless nature of this powder! I was skeptical and am pleasantly surprised.
2. Digestive aid. I normally have a difficult time digesting ground beef. My menu this week included Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes and I was nervous about my reaction to the spices and beef. There was a noticeable improvement.
3. Curbed hunger pangs. Breakfast seemed to stay with me longer and I wasn’t looking for snacks at 9:00 AM.
4. Muscle repair. After working out and receiving adjustments at the chiropractor three days last week, my level of soreness was diminished.

Week 2 – March 11, 2018

Unfortunately, I don’t have much to add to last week’s list.  Although, I have noticed my nails look healthier and are growing at a faster rate than normal.

This past week, I added a Vitamin C supplement to my morning regimen. Not only is Vitamin C good for your skin, but it helps synthesize collagen in the body. My goal is to replace the supplement a few mornings a week with citrus fruits or smoothies.

Week 3 – March 18, 2018

Minimal updates from last week. I noticed last night a few pesky dry patches that always appear on my face had started to clear up. My husband and I are sharing the collagen peptides and it looks like I will need to place an order in the next couple days. We are almost out!

We stayed true to a daily Vitamin C supplement with every serving of collagen peptides. I am hoping this will boost our immune systems with that crazy flu spreading around. I hope you all are staying healthy!

Week 4 – March 25, 2018

I received my second order of Sports Research Collagen Peptides this week. The container was smaller and the branding had changed a little bit. I compared the two and the ingredients and amount seem to be the same.

Unfortunately, I can’t say I noticed any difference from the last couple weeks. However, we had a rough week with several late nights and we missed a day at the gym. This left us both feeling lethargic and run down by the end of the week. I will continue to keep you posted from week to week!

Week 5 – April 1, 2018

I have news for you this week! It was almost 30 days exactly when I noticed the first big change in my life since taking collagen peptides. Last Wednesday, I was washing my hair and noticed a 60% reduction in hair loss. Thinking this might just be a weird phenomenon, I decided to give it a few more tries before letting you in on my results.

I clean my locks every other day as I have dry, thick, curly hair that hates to be washed daily. I am one of those ladies that leaves a trail of hair behind her. My lovely locks are on the shower wall, drain and sink by the time I’ve completed my morning beauty regimen.

I have washed my hair three times over the last week with the same positive results. Not only is my hair healthier, but my bathroom clean up time is shorter!

Week 6 – April 8, 2018

At this point, I am 42 days into my journey with collagen peptides. I have to admit, the changes I was hoping for were related to increasing my gut health and decreasing the amount of fine lines I see on my face. The gut health is a little hard to determine other than noticing certain foods are a little easier for me to digest now. The younger looking skin has yet to be seen. However, I am pretty happy with how healthy my nails look. They have this wonderful pink hue to them I haven’t seen in a long time. It has been two weeks and I’m maintaining the decrease in hair loss with each wash. I still have 18 days to meet the 60 day challenge so we’ll see if my skin catches up. ha ha!

Week 7 – april 15, 2018

11 more days until I reach my goal of 60 days on my collagen peptides. As I’ve been saying, the product hasn’t revolutionized my life. However, I think the positive changes are enough where I will continue adding this into my diet. It may not be on a daily basis, but it will certainly be part of my supplement regimen. We have upcoming travel and I would like to find individual packets to take on the road with me.

Week 8 – April 22, 2018

It’s Monday morning after completing my eighth week of collagen peptides. I have two days left to finish my 60 days. It is perfect timing as we are just finishing up our second container of peptides and it is time to order another.

This past weekend, I had the chance to chat with an awesome group of ladies about my experience with collagen peptides. Most of the group decided they were going to try it out! Health is my passion and it was so much fun to share my findings.

To summarize the last eight weeks, I would say pure hydrolyzed collagen peptides have had a positive impact on my nails, hair, immune system, muscle repair and digestion. Some effects are more noticeable than others. I would also surmise that these healthy effects will be different for each individual.

If you joined the collagen peptide craze a while back, please let me know your thoughts. I’m all about feedback. We need to stick together and support one another on our healthy journey through life!