Collagen, Protein and Sports Performance: Benefits of Collagen for Exercise and Athletes

We're always keen to chat about the many benefits of collagen supplementation. Healthier looking skin, stronger feeling nails and glossier, thicker-looking hair - who wouldn't want to talk about how good we feel!

But collagen is much more than external beauty, it's about helping you feel your absolute best, inside and out. That’s why today we’re going to delve a bit deeper into the benefits of taking collagen for athletes – of every level.

Absolute Collagen is full of key amino acids and vitamin C but what many people don't realise is that collagen is also high in protein.

Found in our connective tissues, collagen is often referred to as the 'glue that sticks us together'. Collagen is a fibrous protein, and your natural collagen production already helps make up almost one third of the total structural protein in the human body.

Of course, protein is a huge buzzword in the world of health and fitness right now. Because of the benefits of protein when training (find out about those further down), there are now lots of fitness protein supplements available.

Two common examples of protein supplements popular for athletic performance include bone broth and Whey Protein.

Bone broth is a highly nutritious source of collagen and protein. However, in order to get the best quality, most effective, and most consistent dose of collagen, we suggest taking a daily dose of a liquid collagen supplement such as Absolute Collagen, which contains 8000mg of premium hydrolysed marine collagen.

But when you’re at the gym, you don’t often see people sipping on bone broth. Nine times out of 10 it’ll be a protein supplement such as Whey Protein.

Whey Protein is a hugely popular dietary supplement among fitness fans and is promoted to help build muscle during physical activity – but how does it work?

Amino Acids in Whey Protein

Just like collagen, the secret behind Whey Protein is the amino acids. Whey Protein contains all nine essential amino acids, which is why it's sometimes called a “complete protein.”

Protein powders and supplements like Whey Protein work by giving you a boost of amino acids which are vitally important for our bodies and supports the growth of body tissue and muscle. 

Whey Protein and collagen protein have slightly different amino acid profiles. Though this is hardly surprising as Whey Protein is a milk by-product, whereas collagen supplements are sourced from the bones, skin, and connective tissue of animals, including cattle, fish, and pigs.

Amino Acids in Absolute Collagen

Collagen protein is a little different in that it contains eight, rather than nine, of the essential amino acids.

However, unlike the amino acids found in many protein supplements like Whey Protein, collagen contains several amino acids which aren't often found in our diets. Collagen proteins like Absolute Collagen are rich in proline, glycine, and hydroproline, which won't be found in Whey Protein powders, shakes, or supplements.

That means taking a daily liquid collagen supplement, like Absolute Collagen, is the perfect way to support your natural collagen levels, helping your skin feel healthier whilst giving plenty of fitness benefits too!

Absolute Collagen has the added bonus of being hydrolysed. This just means the amino acids that make up collagen molecules have been broken into smaller chains that the body can efficiently absorb. In contrast, supplements like Whey Protein, are not always hydrolysed, and our bodies can take an hour and a half to absorb Whey Protein from protein shakes.

Collagen for Exercise and Athletes

As mentioned above, collagen is a great source of protein and protein is hugely important when exercising.

Not only does protein support the maintenance of normal bones*, but the amino acids found in protein provide the building blocks of all tissues within the body. This means regular exercise with protein intake supports the maintenance of muscle growth** and it can also contribute to growth in that all-important muscle mass.

Many high-level athletes take protein supplements to help build muscle strength and lean muscle mass whilst supporting bone health and joint health.

Coupling these points with the already well-known beauty benefits of taking a collagen supplement, it's clear to see that the significant benefits of added protein from collagen supplements are hard to ignore. And it’s no surprise that more and more athletes are now opting for collagen supplements!

Our Absoluters love taking their daily, easily absorbed collagen supplements as part of a healthy exercise routine. From yoga to marathons, our Absoluters are an energetic bunch – and we love helping them feel their absolute best!

If you’re taking on a new fitness challenge this summer or just fancy an all-round boost, we’d love you to join the Absolute family. Click here to start your Absolute Collagen journey today!