When I swam in college, it was usually mandatory to take some sort of protein after practice. I can remember everyone grabbing their protein bottles after college and all of us drinking it up.
After college, I still used protein powders here and there but not as frequently. Then sometime after 2014, I pretty much stopped using protein altogether. I can’t tell you why, but I just did. I became bad and lazy about eating directly after a run. Not because I avoided it but because it was never at the forefront of my mind.
In 2017, before becoming a Vital Proteins Ambassador, I started taking Vital Proteins after workouts. Most Vital Protein products offer at least 12 grams of protein without added sugars, chemicals, and artificial additives.
Protein powders with minimal ingredients and quality protein are usually more pricey.
Enter into my Life: Collagen sometime in 2017…
Collagen is a great protein alternative to consume post workout. In addition to protein, most collagen products also have amino acids including glycine and arginine.
Why is that important?
Both amino acids help the synthesis of creatine in the body and creatine has been shown to help improve performance during exercise.
As most people know, long-term strenuous exercise can lead to the loss of collagen in the body. Supplementing collagen helps to protect that loss. It has also been shown to reduce the risk of injuries on muscle, tendons, and ligaments. I stayed healthy through my marathon training cycle so while I’m not a doctor, it’s enough to keep me consistent with it.
Collagen makes up about 30% of the proteins within the human body. It is mostly found in structures like: bones, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen is also a part of the connective tissue in the skin. Supplementing it helps the constant renewal of skin cells.”
One other great benefit is the long shelf life. This means that there isn’t a need for artificial preservatives keeping it a clean and natural.
But Wait…it’s not “Complete”:
There is a minor catch with collagen and that is not considered a complete protein.
What does a complete protein mean?
There are 20 different amino acids that can form a protein, nine of which the body does not produce on it’s own. The nine the body cannot produce are called essential amino acids. We need to find them from different sources since we cannot make them.
Collagen, however, does not fall into a complete protein because it only contains 8 of the 9 essential amino acids. Sources that do include whey and eggs. Two sources that are complete proteins are both whey and egg protein. Which now Vital Proteins makes a few different whey protein options as well. I’ve tried all four and my personal favorites are the dark chocolate and coconut or the vanilla and coconut water.
Other Collagen Related Posts:
Recovering from Workouts
Why Collagen Post Run?
Differences of Collagen Peptides and Gelatin
Top Benefits of Collagen
Questions for you:
What kind of protein do you prefer after a workout?
Have you tried collagen before?
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