Collagen for the active lifestyle
Exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy body and mind, and that’s something we’ve all been a lot more conscious of amidst the restrictions of the past year. If you’re a running or hiking enthusiast, whether long-term or thanks to lockdown, you’ll no doubt be particularly keenly aware of the need to take good care of your body to keep your joints flexible and to prevent injury.
But one product you may not have considered for your fitness support regime is collagen, and in today’s post we’re going to be looking at the various ways in which it can keep your body performing at its best. Specifically, we’ll look at the important part collagen has to play in keeping your joints healthy and your body mobile - as well as helping you to recover more quickly from running-related injuries.
How does collagen help your joints during and after running?
It’s no secret that running places a lot of strain on your joints, and over time, that can take its toll in the form of weakened, painful joints or more serious chronic injuries. That’s where collagen, a natural protein, can help. Of the three types of collagen found in the human body, it’s Type II collagen that’s of most relevance to runners: it’s found in your cartilage, where its rigid construction allows for shock absorption. In fact, its major role in your connective tissue is such that you could call it ‘the glue that holds us all together’.
But collagen production naturally declines as you get older, so your body needs some help with replacing what’s been lost. Taking collagen supplements helps make up this short-fall, as well as triggering your body to create new collagen of its own. Collagen gets lots of attention thanks to its anti-ageing effects on your skin, as it helps to reduce the volume and depth of wrinkles, as well as strengthening your nails and hair. But what you may not have known is that thanks to its major role in your cartilage tissue, collagen can also work wonders for your joints.
The idea of using collagen to support healthy joints and better mobility isn’t just a fad, either: it’s clinically proven that collagen supports healthy joints and helps to reduce joint pain during and after exercise. Indeed, the specific Bioactive Collagen Peptide® used in our joint supplements, FORTIGEL®, has been clinically tested and approved for its effects on relieving joint pain and regenerating healthy cartilage:
- One of these clinical studies demonstrated the growth of newly generated cartilage tissue after 60 men and women took a daily dose of 10,000mg of FORTIGEL® or a placebo for 48 weeks.
- Results from a second study demonstrated a 45% reduction in exercise-induced knee joint pain, based on 180 men and women aged 18-30 experiencing knee pain during and/or after exercise taking a daily dose of 5,000mg of FORTIGEL® or a placebo for 12 weeks.
As these studies show, the science indicates that collagen supports a flexible, mobile body and helps to reduce exercise-induced pain. But it’s also a powerful way to help your joints recover more quickly from injury. Another study found that within three months of combining a specialised exercise programme with taking a 2,500mg daily dose of the collagen peptide TENDOFORTE®, 60% of patients with chronic Achilles Tendinopathy returned to running faster.
In other words, there’s compelling evidence that collagen is a fantastic addition to the rehab process for runners, and one that’s increasingly being used to support runners in recovering from and preventing injury. Bearing in mind that running while injured can cause serious damage, it’s great news for runners who are keen to get back on the track or trail.
Collagen for runners
- Joint+ - this is designed to maximise your joint mobility and flexibility, making it ideal if you want to improve your overall mobility so you can push yourself harder on your runs and hikes.
- Osteo+ - this specifically targets joint pain and contains several other joint health ingredients, including Vitamin C, which supports your body in producing collagen, and Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which may help to relieve joint pain and stiffness.
Another supplement that’s great for runners is our Collagen Body and Joint, which is designed to lubricate your joints, prolong their lifespan and keep you moving freely. It’s formulated for those who need to maintain their joints because they lead an active lifestyle, making it ideal for runners of any age.
If you’re after more of an all-rounder, you might also be interested in our Complete Collagen gel sachets, which work on your skin, hair and nails as well as your joints - bonus! That’s because they contain two Bioactive Collagen Peptides®: VERISOL®, which targets the skin, and TENDOFORTE®, which targets the soft tissue, tendons and ligaments. Designed to improve the way you look, move and feel, it also contains a powerful blend of nourishing vitamins and minerals, including vitamins B6, C and E, biotin, zinc and copper.
If you’re having trouble deciding which joint supplement is for you, take a look at our quick guide, or find out more about the many benefits of collagen. The good news is that you can take collagen in any format you like - drinks, gels, tablets, powders, you name it - and the results are the same.
At Proto-col, we’re fans of the ‘Inside-out’ approach to health and wellbeing, and that includes your fitness regime. Our collagen supplements are the perfect way to help you achieve your exercise goals, so if you’re someone who’s always chasing that next ‘personal best’, incorporate collagen into your daily routine and make sure your body has the support it needs to keep doing better.
Written by guest blogger Rachel Ramsay.