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Heal & Repair Your Tissues Faster

Writer's picture: Dr. JakeDr. Jake

Updated: Sep 9, 2023



Collagen supplementation is a convenient and effective way to provide your body with a spectrum of amino acids that you are likely not getting, unless you are eating the skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones of animals consistently. Collagen is different from other protein supplements because it is richer in amino acids such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. These 3 amino acids form a bioactive peptide called collagen which tells our body to go heal tissue, especially tendons, ligaments, skin, hair, nails, cartilage, and bone. Collagen contributes 65-80% of the dry weight of our tendons, meaning that for anyone with tendinitis, tendinopathies, or recovering from an injury or post-operative, supplementing with collagen to help give these tendons the nutrition they are literally made of, makes a lot of sense.


I love collagen supplementation for most people. There is research showing collagen supplementation combined with Vitamin C prior to exercise allows for peak collagen synthesis 1 hour after consumption. As a physical therapist, I like the idea of utilizing this technique prior to a therapy or workout session to accelerate rebuilding and repairing injured tissues. I have also seen post-operative wounds heal much quicker when patients are supplementing with collagen.


My favorite way to incorporate collagen is into morning coffee. I have been doing Dave Asprey's Bulletproof coffee recipe since undergrad, and the benefits are numerous. Bulletproof coffee consists of 1 TBSP of Grass-fed butter (or ghee), 1 TBSP of MCT Oil (or Brain Octane), Collagen, and I like to add 1/4 tsp of Celtic Sea Salt, and ceylon cinnamon. The combination of the butter, mct oil, collagen, and salt allow your body to more efficiently run on fat for energy, keeps you satiated, gives your brain great focus and fuel, and really helps you feel cleaner. Make sure you add the salt (more on this later). And don't combine collagen with eggs (more on this later). I don't do this every morning any more, but utilizing it to help get back on track after a period of "less clean" eating.


If you are looking for a good collagen supplement to try, click the link below. Thorne Labs has a very clean, unflavored collagen that pairs well with morning coffee or smoothies.



Vitamin C also enhances the absorption of the collagen and compliments the benefits of collagen in healing.


https://s.thorne.com/OSR4y


Click the link below for 10% off and see my Thorne Dispensary and all Thorne products I recommend:


https://www.thorne.com/u/Precision10



References:

Shaw G, Lee-Barthel A, Ross ML, Wang B, Baar K. Vitamin C-enriched gelatin supplementation before intermittent activity augments collagen synthesis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;105(1):136-143. doi:10.3945/ajcn.116.138594


Khatri M, Naughton RJ, Clifford T, Harper LD, Corr L. The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review. Amino Acids. 2021;53(10):1493-1506. doi:10.1007/s00726-021-03072-x


Bechara N, Flood VM, Gunton JE. A Systematic Review on the Role of Vitamin C in Tissue Healing. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022;11(8):1605. Published 2022 Aug 19. doi:10.3390/antiox11081605

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