The best collagen drinks for cellulite
Nobody likes cellulite, but it’s a fact of life: it’s estimated to affect 80 to 90% of women over the age of 20. It affects men too, but to a much lesser degree. Our aversion to cellulite isn’t helped by the images we’re bombarded with in the media that continually show us beautifully smooth, cellulite-free skin. What’s especially frustrating is that cellulite is notoriously hard to get rid of, with commonly available treatments offering only limited results that aren’t permanent - so they’re never a long-term solution.
But the good news is that if you’re wanting to reduce the appearance of cellulite, help is at hand. Did you know that one of the many benefits of drinking collagen supplements is that they help to diminish the appearance of cellulite? In today’s post, we’re going to look at cellulite in a bit more detail and explain why collagen drinks might just be the secret weapon in your anti-cellulite arsenal...
What is cellulite, and what causes it?
Known for its orange peel appearance (or cottage cheese, according to some), cellulite is incredibly common. The term refers to dimpled patches of skin most often found on the thighs, but it can also crop up on the abdomen, buttocks and other areas too. You’re more likely to get it as you get older, as well as if you put on weight - though it’s not by no means solely tied to age and weight. The annoying thing about cellulite is that you can be a healthy weight and still get it, and you can even get it as a teenager.
Nobody fully understands what causes cellulite, but it’s down to the interplay between your skin’s connective tissue and fatty layers. It’s thought that cellulite affects women more than men because women’s fat cells and connective tissues are arranged vertically, while men’s are criss-crossed.
Not only that, but there are hormones at play too: blood flow to the connective tissue decreases as oestrogen production declines as we head towards the menopause, which means lower blood flow and less oxygen in the skin - and that means lower collagen production. Fat cells also get bigger and more visible, combining with thinner, sagging skin to produce the dreaded dimpled appearance of cellulite.
Of course, lifestyle does come into it as well. If you have a diet that contains a lot of fat, carbohydrates and salt, you’re more likely to experience cellulite - and not getting enough fibre is another culprit. Unsurprisingly, a sedentary lifestyle makes it more likely too, as does smoking.
Cellulite is graded from 1 to 3 in severity, with 1 being a mild ‘orange peel’ appearance with up to four indentations, and 3 being the most severe, with a ‘mattress’ appearance and ten or more deep indentations.
How collagen can help cellulite
Cellulite damages the collagen bands in your skin, so taking a collagen supplement - such as a collagen drink - can help to repair the damage and stimulate dermal metabolism, thereby reducing the appearance of cellulite. Because it’s so good for skin health, collagen also promotes thicker skin that may help to lessen the dimpled, sagging appearance of cellulite.
And the good news is that collagen isn’t simply the latest health fad - it’s clinically proven to achieve a range of impressive results across a number of research areas. In our own clinical study, the Bioactive Collagen Peptide® VERISOL produced an 11% reduction in skin waviness after six months of 2500mg supplementation.
Another study found similar results, with the group of participants who took 2.5g of collagen (as opposed to a placebo) for six months experiencing reduced cellulite and increased skin thickness.
Collagen drinks for cellulite
So, as we’ve seen, taking a daily collagen supplement is an easy way to help reduce the appearance of cellulite - and one of the best ways to get your daily collagen fix is in the form of tasty collagen drinks. All three of our collagen drinks help to support the reduction of cellulite, as well as promoting healthy skin, hair, nails and joints. Let’s look at each of them:
- Complete Collagen - with 8000mg of collagen in every serving, Complete Collagen is specially formulated to improve the way you look, move and feel, with two types of Bioactive Collagen Peptides®. It has a tasty citrus flavour, and it’s also packed with nourishing vitamins and minerals to support overall good health, including vitamins B6, C and E, biotin, zinc and copper. It comes in handy sachets that you can slip into your handbag and easily fit into a hectic schedule.
- Collagen Cordial - a Pure Beauty Global Awards 2020 and Beauty Shortlist Wellbeing Awards 2020 finalist, our Collagen Cordial gives you 2500mg of collagen per serving. It has a delicious red berry flavour and contains the same nourishing vitamins and minerals as Complete Collagen. Its versatile format makes it easy to get your daily collagen fix however you like, whether it’s mixed into your favourite drinks or added to your morning porridge.
- Collagen Shots - packed with 5000mg of collagen in every tasty red berry flavour serving, along with the same nourishing vitamins and minerals as Complete Collagen, our Collagen Shots come in packs of ten handy little bottles - ideal for an on-the-go collagen boost. A finalist in the My Face My Body Awards 2016, they’re best enjoyed chilled from the fridge.
Whichever collagen drink you feel would best suit your lifestyle, we’re big fans of the ‘Inside Out’ approach to beauty. Adding collagen into your day-to-day life is a great way to improve your overall health and wellbeing from the inside, working on numerous areas including your skin, nails, hair and joints. It’s all part of living a healthy life - and if that means also reducing the appearance of cellulite, we’re all for it.
Want to learn more? Read more about the numerous benefits of collagen and use our quick guide to help you decide on the best collagen supplements for your own health and beauty goals.
Written by guest blogger Rachel Ramsay.