Adding daily scoop of collagen to your routine for that radiant beauty and fitness? Here's what to look for

Even though collagen supplements have become more and more popular in the cosmetics and wellness industries in recent years, a sizable portion of the population is still unaware of the benefits of collagen and how it can improve one's general health. For those who don't know, collagen is the most prevalent protein in mammals, making up 30% of all the protein in our bodies and 70–80% of the protein in our skin.

Collagen is a rigid and fibrous protein that adds up to one-third of the proteins found in the human body and it is mostly made up of molecules that are packed together to form long and thin fibrils that support each other, ensuring our skin, joints and connective tissues are strong, elastic and healthy. However, production of collagen starts to dwindle in the mid-to-late 20s and early 30s where our body starts losing 1% of its collagen per year.

A low amount of collagen in the body can cause a number of problems, including weakening blood vessels, bone and muscle weakness, and joint pain and stiffness. Dr. Shareefa Chause, a dermatologist and cosmetologist at Shareefa's Skin Care Clinic, stated in an interview with HT Lifestyle that "most importantly, insufficient collagen levels can also result in skin issues like wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and poor wound healing."

Collagen is an essential factor for overall wellness but how to identify the right collagen supplement is the question. Experts agree that choosing the right collagen supplement can be overwhelming given the variety of options available and most collagen supplements have type 1, 2 or 3 mentioned however, in supplementation, there is no evidence that different types benefit different parts of the body and is more of a marketing tactic.

It is imperative to see the source of collagen where marine collagen is the most bioavailable and this ensures 1.5 times higher absorption than other sources. Even as experts agree that bovine collagen may be more affordable, they also caution you to consider your dietary preferences and any potential allergies when selecting the source of collagen.