In Pursuit of Happy Joints

Earlier in February, I posted an informative discussion about Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Protein on Facebook Live. Check it out!

Disclaimer: Through my affiliation with Sweat Pink, I received Great Lakes Collagen products and compensation in exchange for this post as well as social media sharing. All opinions are my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

Most runners experience inflammation after a run, especially after one where you might have pushed your pace a little harder and/or ran a little farther. Sometimes you just feel sore, even if the run went well. Other times, the soreness comes a day or 2 later, aka delayed-onset muscle soreness or DOMS. What do you do when this happens? Do you reach for the bottle of ibuprofen? Do you let it go away on its own?

In the past, I took more than my share of ibuprofen to ward off post-run soreness. You and I both know that isn't the best thing to do. As I've gotten smarter about training, I incorporate foam rolling and stretching into my post-run routine to help ward off some of that pain. But even that wasn't enough. It wasn't until last year and my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis that I began to really educate myself about inflammation--both as it relates to running and working out as well as RA. I've made changes in my diet and have incorporated more anti-inflammatory foods. I've also started using hydrolyzed collagen protein supplements.

Collagen is made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The body uses amino acids to build muscle, bone, connective tissue, skin, hair, and nails. Collagen protects our joints and is a key player in keeping the GI tract healthy. Collagen is especially important in digestive health because a healthy gut reduces inflammation throughout the body. It is well known that starting in your 20s, collagen production begins to decline.

Collagen Molecule

It seems like everyone is touting the health benefits of hydrolyzed collagen these days! There are a variety of brands on the market. There are other dietary sources of collagen as well. Not only does collagen protein come in the hydrolyzed powder form, bone broth, gelatin, and sardines are popular sources of collagen as well.

Bone broth is made like soup stock, only it is cooked for a much longer time. The benefits come from the collagen that is present in the tissues, cartilage, and bones. Most of the commercial bone broth is derived from beef, although if you make your own, you could make it from chicken or other animal bones as well. I found all kinds of tips for making your own bone broth on the interwebs.

Gelatin is made up mostly of protein. Most gelatin is made from beef bones, but other bones can be boiled down to make gelatin. Gelatin contains amino acids and is a great source of collagen. Gelatin can be added to soups, stews, and other dishes and can be used to make gravies, sauces, and smoothies. Jello™, the sweetened colored stuff that we all grew up with does contain gelatin but it also contains sugar and artificial colorings and flavorings. You'd be better off avoiding that product if you're looking to add gelatin to your diet.

Sardines are another excellent source of collagen because the entire little fish is consumed, including the bones and connective tissues. Sardines have a lot of other benefits. They are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids as well as selenium and calcium. Think of it as your afternoon snack in a can. Sardines are considered one of the most healthy foods you can eat. That doesn't mean I will be eating them. I found plenty of websites with advice on how to make them more palatable, so if you are interested in trying sardines, let Google guide you.

Collagen hydrolysate products have been all the rage lately. Collagen protein products are mostly derived from beef sources but marine sources are also available. These products come in the form of a tasteless, easily dissolvable powder. While taking collagen protein is theoretically no different from taking a protein supplement (your body shouldn't be able to tell the difference), some studies have shown promising results in reducing inflammation and pain in athletes as well as in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and RA (source). A very promising study proved that using collagen hydrolysate products improved skin texture and nail strength.

In addition to the research, anecdotal reports are all over the internet. Users are reporting everything from less knee pain to improved skin texture and stronger nails.

For the purposes of this post, I'm going to share my experience using Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Hydrolysate with you.

photo from GreatLakesGelatin.com

I used a different collagen product for a couple of months last year but stopped because I didn't notice much of a difference in the way I felt. In January, I started using Great Lakes Gelatin Hydrolysate Powder daily, 2 tablespoons, in my morning smoothie. Within a week or so, I noticed that my GI issues dramatically improved. Regular readers know that in addition to RA, I have IBS-irritable bowel syndrome, or as I like to refer to it, "I'll Be Stopping". I joke that I know where every bathroom and portapotty is located on all of my running routes. I'm used to it and don't even give it a second thought anymore. But I haven't had to stop as much lately, which obviously is a wonderful benefit!

I didn't even make the connection of my improved GI status to the GLG protein powder until I started reading more about the product. GLG contains higher levels of Glycine, Alanine, and Proline, amino acids which aren't found in many of the other products. Glycine has been proven to have anti-inflammatory effects (source). GLG is highly bioactive and contains 95% protein.

When the gut is happy, the rest of the body is happy, and that makes Wendy happy! I truly believe that gut health is the basis for overall health. I have been feeling better overall since taking this supplement. Even though I take RA meds, I still have RA symptoms every day. It would be wonderful if adding a supplement like GLG daily as an adjunct to my regimen could help keep that residual inflammation quiet.

I haven't seen any benefits to my skin or nails yet. Time will tell. I'm always looking for that fountain of youth, guys.

GLG is allergy, pesticide, insecticide, and heavy metal free. GLG is derived from beef and sourced from pasture-raised, grass-fed cattle in Argentina and Brazil.

I have been using the Collagen Hydrolysate product, which comes in bulk cans as well as individual serving packages. There are other products as well, including Collagen Endurance, which is strawberry/cherry flavored and Collagen Endurance Plus, also cherry flavored. These products contain caffeine for an extra energy boost. You can also buy the original Gelatin from Great Lakes Gelatin.

Do you want to try GLG? The products are available at amazon.com, many health food stores and online from GLG. I have a 20% off code good through March 15, 2018! Use the code GLGLife20 on their website. 

Have you tried a collagen hydrolysate powder? If so, what did you think? 

I'm linking this post with Tuesdays on the Run: Marcia, Erika, and Patti and Coaches' Corners aka Rachel, Debbie, and Lora.

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