Rethink Your Protein, Bro
Written by Dylan Cox
So you’ve been training hard for a while, watched all the big guns competing, and you’re looking to up your game. Or maybe that’s not true at all and you’re looking to supplement with a little protein. There are A LOT of protein powders out on the market (#understatement) and it can be a little confusing as to which you should go with. I mean, just in the CrossFit community alone the choices of “clean” protein are quite substantial to choose from. Now, I’m not saying that the incredibly biased opinion of this article should be treated as gold, but I’ve found the results of using collagen protein to be incredibly beneficial and overwhelmingly positive. So put down your mass gainer and check this out.
What the heck is COLLAGEN?!
Collagen is the main structural protein found in the connective tissues of the body. Nearly ⅓ of the protein composition in the human body is collagen. It is one of the most abundant sources of protein in the body and aids in production of healthy skin, hair, nails, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and muscle.
There are sixteen known types of collagen in your body but I will highlight the most abundant and influential four:
Type I: Approximately 90% of the collagen in the body is composed of dense fibers that are very compacted which form skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, connective tissue (muscles) and teeth.
Type II: Loosely packed fibers which help form elastic cartilage and joints.
Type III: Supports formation of muscles, organs and arteries.
Type IV: Aids in filtration and is found in layers of the skin.
Why use Collagen?
As our bodies continue to age and undergo the changes that come with increasing age, collagen production in the body begins to slow. Let’s add the stress we put on our bodies on a daily basis of working out; the combination of the two can create some significant problems for our structural system. While most proteins out on the market are out there for mainly the purpose of building muscle, collagen is not as one dimensional. It helps to strengthen your connective tissue system as a whole by aiding in the healthy composition of tendons and ligaments to help support those muscles as well. If you are a Masters athlete then you should especially check out supplementing with collagen. Sounds like the old saying that goes “killing two birds with one stone”, right?
There are many sources of collagen available, most with no additives other than the collagen protein. Collagen powder is water soluble at hot and cooler temperatures making it easy to make your own protein shake with, as well as adding it to other things like soup, acai bowls, or smoothies for an extra protein boost. Do some research, explore the options, and give it a try!
Resources:
https://wellnessmama.com/3058/collagen-hydrolysate/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881.php
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