The Collagen Myth: Why Your Supplements Might Be Useless

Walk down any supplement aisle or scroll through beauty influencer reels and you're bound to see it: collagen. Powdered, capsulated, flavored, and hyped as the miracle molecule that promises plumper, younger-looking skin. But here's the uncomfortable truth—most of it doesn't work the way you think it does.

Collagen is a protein your body naturally produces, and it’s essential for strong skin, hair, and nails. But when you ingest collagen in supplement form, it’s broken down into amino acids—just like any other protein. Your body doesn’t recognize “collagen” supplements and rush to rebuild your cheekbones. It simply digests them.

That doesn’t mean you’re powerless in the collagen game. Instead of adding more collagen, focus on feeding your body the raw materials it needs to produce its own: Vitamin C, zinc, silica, and amino acids from whole foods. Leafy greens, berries, seeds, nuts, and colorful vegetables all play a critical role in collagen synthesis.

What you eat matters more than what you supplement. A plate of summer heirloom tomatoes drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil does more for your collagen health than a scoop of flavored powder.

Instead of investing in hype, invest in nourishment.