Navigating Menopause: How Collagen Supports Women's Health

As we age, our bodies' natural collagen production slows down, which leads to signs of aging, like wrinkles, sagging skin and weaker bones and joints. Women, in particular, experience a significant reduction in collagen production during and after menopause as their estrogen and progesterone levels drop. This diminished collagen supply affects the entire body and can contribute to some of the most common menopause symptoms such as decreased skin elasticity, reduced bone density and weaker bones and joints. 

Collagen is a crucial protein that provides structure to the skin, bones, and joints. Learn everything you need to know about collagen here. 

Benefits of Collagen for Menopause

Supplementing with collagen during menopause can have a lot of benefits, from helping to support skin hydration, reduce joint discomfort, and improve bone strength.  Read on to learn more about the connection between collagen and menopause.

1. Collagen supplementation helps improve skin health: As women's estrogen supply diminishes during menopause, so does their collagen supply. Menopausal women often struggle with the effects of reduced estrogen and collagen supply, with increased dryness, thinning of the skin, appearance of wrinkles, sagging, and a loss of elasticity.  

Supplementing with collagen can help women regain that healthy youthful glow. Several studies suggest that collagen peptides can enhance skin elasticity and hydration, which can help skin look more hydrated and diminish the appearance of wrinkles.

2. Collagen supplementation can improve joint health and reduce joint pain:  Decreased estrogen levels in menopause can also lead to achy bones and joints. Supplementing with collagen has been shown to help reduce joint stiffness and pain, which can be very useful in allowing menopausal women to retain their active lifestyles. 

3. Collagen supplementation can help strengthen bones. Bone health is a priority for women, especially after menopause. Women’s bone density decreases with age, and weaker bones can increase the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.

Research highlights the potential benefits of collagen in preventing bone loss during menopause. One recent study found that collagen supplementation improved bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Supplementing with collagen can be key to helping women maintain their bone density and help prevent osteoperosis or fractures.  Experts suggest that combining collagen with vitamin C and calcium can further enhance bone strength.

4. Collagen supplementation can help minimize menopause related weight gain.  Collagen protein has been shown to help suppress appetite, and decrease sugar cravings, making it useful for those looking to maintain or even lose weight. Supplementing with collagen can really help menopausal women that are struggling with slower metabolisms and unwanted weight gain caused by decreased estrogen levels.  In a 2016 study in the International Journal of Medical Science, researchers studying the effects of collagen in menopause concluded that collagen supplementation can help reduce body weight gain and other obesity related complications that can occur in menopause. 

5. Collagen supplementation can help with menopause related hair loss or thinning
Many women experience hair loss and thinning during menopause. Another benefit of collagen supplementation during menopause is to strengthen hair follicles, which helps hair grow, and keep it looking and feeling thick and shiny.  

What to look for in a collagen supplement

When looking for a collagen supplement for women, the source and quality is important. Make sure your collagen supplement comes from high-quality hydrolyzed collagen from grass-fed, pasture raised cows, such as Further Food Collagen. Further Food Collagen contains Type 1 and 3 Collagen, which help to support your bones and joints, along with other skin and gut health benefits.  The hydrolyzed collagen powder is easily and quickly absorbed in the body. 

In addition to supplementing with collagen powder, you may also want to incorporate some other collagen-rich foods including:

1. Bone broth Made from animal bones, bone broth is rich in calcium and magnesium, which are essential minerals for strong bones. Bone broth also contains collagen from the animal bones, but you can also add additional collagen for that extra support. 

2. Beef and Pork

3. Fish-Fish skin and scales are rich in collagen, and the collagen from fish is easily absorbed by the body. You can also try Further Food Marine Collagen, which is made from wild caught fish. 

4. Eggs 

Collagen plays a vital role in maintaining overall health during menopause and in helping with menopause symptom relief. You can learn more about collagen and its benefits at Furtherfood.com.

Want to read more?

Is Collagen Good for Gut Health? Here's why it works!

Collagen Recipes: 47 Delicious and Easy Recipes

Collagen for hair