Collagen peptides?

[Rorey]

Apparently I'm getting older. That's not a bad thing because the alternative is definitely not good. I'm concerned about taking better care of myself and have been reading about the benefits of collagen peptides. I just took a sample packet that I got, so hopefully it won't cause any adverse condition. I'm kind of concerned because what I took is derived from "grass fed and pasture raised" creatures, and I've been a vegetarian for decades.

Has anyone here had any experience with this supplement? Does it really work?

I don't expect it to make me look like a teenager again, but I was hoping to at least slow down some of the wrinkling that seems to be happening.

[tanyev]

1. My husband takes it for joint issues and he feels like it helps.

Can't say his skin looks any different, though.

[Rorey]

7. Joints

I prefer edibles.

J/K, I don't indulge.

Seriously, though, my knees used to bother me a lot, but apparently something somewhere along the way has helped me because I'm hardly ever bothered now.

[safeinOhio]

2. Balanced diet and exercise works for me.

70 years old and ran a 10K this week. No supplements.

[Rorey]

8. I'll only run if I'm being chased

I love walking, but I quit running when my last dog quit running. We used to do an hour long run/walk thing every morning until he got too old for it. I sure do miss him, and I miss how he forced me to be more active.

I'm thinking that I should get off my lazy butt and take advantage of the Silver Sneakers program that my supplemental health care offers. I do try to keep pretty active, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have a more structured program in my life.

[Warpy]

12. All the people who preached running at me in the 70s

have knees and hips that are worse than mine and I've had rheumatoid arthritis since the early 60s.

Finding a good place to walk is a good idea. I had that back in Boston but I'm too old for hiking trails here in NM (death by NM is a thing and happens fairly often).

The collagen peptide pills won't hurt anything but your wallet. If you weren't a (former) vegetarian, I'd suggest homemade chicken soup, instead, it's less refined and a lot cheaper. However, aging sucks no matter how you look at it and if something harmless gives you a lift, so be it. Father Time is one mean SOB, so don't expect it to turn you back into Adonis.

[Rorey]

13. I never was Adonis, but if you want to call me Aphrodite......

I'm a woman.

And yeah, I'm still a vegetarian too.

I'm just really trying to take care of myself so I continue to feel good.

I've never been particularly vain. I think I'm accepting the aging process pretty well. I actually feel pretty darn good, and that's what matters most. I count my blessings every day, and I sure don't want to take those blessings for granted.

[Warpy]

15. There are parts I have found distinctly unenjoyable.

I did enjoy being issued my invisibility cloak when I turned 50, life is a lot more pleasant without catcallers.

I was vegetarian for a long time, quit when I went through nursing school and didn't have the time to cook. Chicken and fish taste reliably like what they are, no matter how indifferently they are cooked, and time was more valuable than cuisine.

[Rorey]

17. Catcallers - no fun?

After my divorce last year I wondered if I'd spend the rest of my days on this earth without any kind of love interest. I was a little lonely for awhile, and then I really started enjoying living alone. On occasion I'll encounter a guy who seems interested, but the fact is that I really don't think I ever want to invest myself into that kind of relationship again. I'm good. Been there, done that.

[Rorey]

16. My wallet

I'm actually such a "cheap date" as far my grocery bill goes that I don't think it'll hurt too much if I spend what is initially going to be a dollar a day on this supplement.

[Rorey]

9. Supplements

I don't take a lot, but I started taking black elderberry at least a few times a week, and now I'll be adding the collagen peptides. I try to eat right, but I slip up now and then. I don't take any prescription medications. I do take a low dose aspirin almost daily. I had a TIA about 14 years ago and it was recommended, and it hasn't seemed to cause any ill effects.

But, yeah, eating right is important. Gotta have the right fuel to run well.

[Zoonart]

3. HI there.

I also have been a vegetarian for over 48 years, so I did lots of research and soul searching.

The answer seems to be the quality of the peptides. Just bone broth is not enough to have an effect. I began using a supplement containing 5 types of collagen. (grass fed cows, cage free chickens, wild caught fish, gluten free, non-go, dairy free, sugar free.)
It is dissolvable in hot or cold drink and has no taste at all. I have been using it religiously for over seven months now and I have had great results.

My skin looks great, though at over 60, that is relative and I have never been one to tan. I also have noticed an improvement in the amount of stiffness in my joints, no cracking, no squishy knees. I also lost 8 pounds.

Overall, I feel that the collagen has delivered something that is missing from my diet and helped me overall.
The supplement I use is not inexpensive, but worth it. I take NO prescription drugs and I hope to keep it that way.

Hope this helps.

[Rorey]

5. Soul searching

That's an issue I have. I'm vegetarian mostly because I just am. I never liked meat and just gradually quit eating it. I don't push it on anyone else, but I do advocate for more humane methods of production.

On one site I read that one should take all 5 types of collagen, and in another I read that one shouldn't because there may be dilution. Makes no sense to me. If the different types are for different benefits, how is it a bad thing to take all 5? Obviously I want all of the benefits.

I have also been pretty much a sun shunner. I never could understand why someone would purposely bake their skin, and it just looked so darned boring to lay outside just for the purpose of a different skin tone. I like natural. Always have. I also don't color my hair, and there's a whole lot more gray now. I'm okay with that.

I just want to take care of myself, and considering that our skin is our biggest organ in our body, it seems like I should be doing everything I can to help keep it as healthy as I can.

Thank you so much for your helpful post.

[empedocles]

4. The very available in stores and online, simple collagen peptide, sometimes advertised as being

hair and skin health. I tried one. Can see the whiskers in my daily electric shaver seem to have doubled. Other effects less obvious. Seems positive.

The important aspect of peptides is that they can deliver targeted supplements to specific body areas. You can view them easily on several peptide warehouse websites. Rough count suggests over 70 different specific peptide uses.

Anecdote from a friend caught my interest. Male, 65, diabetic. His right leg would go numb at times scaring him. A number of conventional med tests revealed nothing. His MD wrote a prescription for a specific blood test. Next numb attack, rush to ER and get this blood test. Blood test revealed a key B vitamin was not being transported to the problem leg. Simple experiment, take that specific B vitamin every morning. Numb attacks did not reoccur. Friend does not take supplements and had no further interest in the episode.

That anecdote and other research I've done, much in connection with a body scan professional knowledgeable in peptides led me to experimenting with some Rx level things, and early signs are positive.

A lot of information out there, a lot to learn. Some, or possibly many, bodybuilders and celebrities seem to be heavy into it.

Seems like it will be a big thing at some point.

[Rorey]

6. Hair

I feel like my hair might be getting thinner, so it'll be a positive benefit to me if it gets thicker again.

Two of my sons are into the body building thing, somewhat, and take what seems like a lot of supplements. I'll have to ask them if collagen peptides are part of their regimen.

[empedocles]

10. Suggest you do bunch of research, impress your sons, get past the 'oh, Dad'

thing, get more out of it. Very promising.

[Rorey]

11. Actually it'd be "oh, Mom"

[Rorey]

14. I asked one of my sons about it a bit ago

He said he doesn't take collagen peptides, but he'd like to start. He just doesn't want to add one more supplement because he's already spending a fortune.

Personally, I mostly try to eat right. I take my low dose aspirin, the occasional black elderberry, and now I'm going to give this collagen peptides thing a try. I think it'll be helpful if only for the fact that it makes me be a bit more mindful of my health when I do something like try out a supplement.

Editing to add: I've always been blessed with thick hair (genetics), but it seems like more is showing up in my brush these days. Maybe it's just that time of year or something. I'm shedding.