If you want glowing skin and wish to get rid of some unwanted wrinkles, you might be using collagen supplements. Learn about collagen side effects and how they may affect you.
What is collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and serves as the building blocks for bones, cartilage, skin, teeth, tendons, and other connective tissues.
Besides serving as “the glue” for the body, collagen helps repair and heal damaged cartilage and bones. It also maintains the elasticity, resistance, and mobility of joints and connective tissues.
While taking collagen supplements may help restore collagen levels, you may experience some negative side effects.
Though these side effects may not be serious, it’s a good idea to keep them in mind.
Bad Mouth Taste
Depending on the sources and whether it’s unflavored or not, your collagen supplement may leave a bad taste in your mouth; this is especially true of marine sourced collagen.
How to avoid the unpleasant taste and odor? Look for collagen supplements that are unflavored and unscented.
You can also mask the taste if you mix it with fruit juice. However, be sure to avoid combining it with acidic fruit juices (orange, apple, grape, etc.) as they can lower the supplement’s strength and potency.
Hypersensitive Reactions
If you’re allergic to certain foods, you may experience a hypersensitive reaction after taking collagen supplements. Marine sourced collagen that contains shellfish and other sources that may lead to allergic reactions.
Some collagen is sourced from eggs, which can cause food sensitivities in individuals and especially children. Always check the food sources and ingredients to avoid experiencing any allergic reactions.
Elevated Calcium Levels
Hypercalcemia happens when you experience high calcium levels. Certain collagen supplements, such as collagen tablets obtained from marine sources, have high amounts of calcium.
If you’re taking calcium supplements while taking collagen with high levels of calcium, be cautious. Normal calcium levels range from 8.5 to 10.2 mg/dl.
If your calcium levels go beyond that, it means you’re experiencing hypercalcemia.
Individuals with hypercalcemia can go through bone pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, and abnormal heart rhythms.
Figuring out how much calcium you’re intaking daily, including collagen supplements, will help you avoid these side effects.
Positive Side Effects
Collagen supplements, like any other type of supplement and medicine, has its negative side effects. Fortunately, most of the side effects are benign and can be easily avoided.
Additionally, individuals taking supplements can experience a handful of collagen benefits. According to a study found in the Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research, collagen supplements have positive side effects as well.
Collagen pills provide an anti-aging effect by improving skin elasticity and increasing skin hydration.
Supplements help reduce inflammation, improve wound healing, decrease the risk of heart disease, improve osteoarthritis and osteoporosis symptoms, and lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
When taking collagen supplements, the negative side effects can be easily avoided. With minimal work, you can enjoy collagen supplements benefits without any worries.
