Should You Be Taking Collagen? (Especially as a Woman)

Collagen’s been having a moment lately — showing up in everything from powders to protein bars to fancy skincare. But is it just hype?

Actually… no. There are legit reasons why collagen is worth having in your routine, especially for women. Let’s break it down.

💁‍♀️ First — What Even Is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein your body naturally makes. It’s basically the glue that holds everything together — skin, joints, bones, hair, nails, even your gut lining.

The problem? From your mid-20s onwards, your natural collagen production starts to drop. By the time you hit 30, it’s already slowing down — and that can show up as:

• Fine lines + wrinkles

• Achy joints

• Slower recovery

• Brittle nails or thinning hair

• Sagging skin or loss of “bounce”

Sound familiar?

💪 Why Collagen’s a Game-Changer (Especially for Active Women)

If you’re training regularly (which you should be!), collagen can help support:

1. Joint health

Collagen supports the cartilage that cushions your joints. Less stiffness = more mobility, fewer aches, better workouts.

2. Skin glow

It helps improve skin elasticity and hydration. Translation: more glow, fewer lines.

3. Hair + nails

Collagen supports keratin — meaning stronger nails and thicker, healthier hair.

4. Muscle recovery

It contains glycine and proline, amino acids that help with tissue repair, especially useful if you're lifting or doing high-impact workouts.

5. Bone strength

Collagen plays a big role in bone density — something every woman should care about, especially later in life.

personal trainer in cobham, esher, surrey, claygate, nutritionist, female,

🥄 Should You Supplement?

Honestly? Most people don’t get enough collagen from food alone — and your body isn’t making as much as it used to.

That’s where a collagen peptide supplement (usually in powder form) can help. You just stir it into coffee, smoothies or yoghurt — easy.

Look for:

• Hydrolysed collagen peptides (easier to absorb)

• Around 10g per serving

• Vitamin C helps your body actually use it — bonus if it’s included, or just pair it with fruit or veg

🧠 A Few Final Thoughts

Collagen isn’t a miracle fix — but it’s one of those small, simple things that can really support your training, recovery, and overall health long-term.

Think of it like this: you brush your teeth every day to protect your smile. Taking collagen? Kind of like that, but for your skin, joints, and hair.