IS COLLAGEN THE NEW HEALTH HERO?

Come for the glow, stay for the… better digestion?

It can improve your skin and your digestion.

As well as giving us bouncy, radiant skin, a collagen supplement has joined the ranks of pre- and probiotics as a powerful player in gut health, which we now know is ground zero for pretty much anything related to our wellbeing, from acne to anxiety.

“Gut issues are on the rise – our modernday lifestyles are filled with stress, processed foods, caffeine, alcohol and other toxins, causing the gut cells to become damaged, inflamed and irritated,” says medical scientist and Swisse expert Di Mitchelmore. “Collagen contains amino acids critical for the repair of inflamed and damaged gut cells, helping to seal and soothe the gut lining and provide a barrier to protect. By stabilising the integrity of the gut, inflammation is kept at bay and healthy digestion is optimised.”

Unfortunately, our natural collagen production starts to slow in our twenties, but a supplement is an easy fix. Liquid, pills, dissolvable powders: take your pick. “There’s no research to suggest one consistency is better absorbed than the other,” Mitchelmore says, though not all collagen is equal, either. “Our body makes about 20 different types of collagen, with the most abundant being types one, two and three. Type two is supportive of cartilage and joint flexibility, whereas types one and three are predominant in the skin and gut matrix.”

So a supplement that’s promoting joint health may relieve that elbow pain from boxing class, but is unlikely to reduce bloating.

Supplements are sourced from animals and fish that have skin, tendons and cartilage. It’s a bit unsettling to think about, but makes sense — it’s really no different to sipping on bone broth, which is naturally rich in amino acids. Marine collagen does have a leg (er, fin?) up though, as research has shown its smaller molecules are better absorbed than bovine collagen.

Vegetarian or vegan? The Beauty Chef’s Collagen Inner Beauty Boost (a favourite at the ELLE office) works a little differently, helping to improve the body’s natural collagen stores. “It doesn’t contain collagen, but is rich in vitamin C, biofermented ingredients and probiotics to help balance gut health and boost collagen production,” says the brand’s founder, Carla Oates. “It also has zinc and grapeseed extract, which studies show have a positive effect on gut inflammation and health.” The mild berry-flavoured elixir is dissolved into water, making for a refreshing, glow-inducing, gut-protecting guzzle. Make ours a double.