Collagen is the unique structural protein that makes up more than 70 per cent of the connective tissue, skin, and bone mass. It is full of crucial amino acids that help in keeping your body together. Now, the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word collagen is usually skincare. Younger-looking skin is not the only reason why your body needs collagen.

Collagen also plays a crucial role in building and maintaining healthy connective tissues throughout the digestive tract. Thus, if you want to keep your gut healthy and happy, collagen is one of the components you need.

The Top Five Benefits of Collagen for Gut Health

There is a lot that collagen can do for your gut health, and the most significant benefits of it have been outlined below.


1. Collagens Heal Leaky Gut
Maintaining the stomach lining and a strong digestive tract is essential for preventing leaky gut. A leaky gut happens when the barrier lining of the intestine gets damaged, resulting in weakness in the digestive tract. The term 'leaky gut' is used for this syndrome because food and waste particles might pass into the bloodstream because of the damage to the intestinal lining.

Glutamine is one of the amino acid components of collagen. It is the chief amino acid for preventing inflammation of gut wall and curing leaky gut syndrome. Collagen also inhibits the oxidative stress and inflammation that comes from the opening of tight junctions in the intestinal lining.

Several studies have shown a direct link between digestive imbalances and reduced collagen levels. Precisely, decreased serum collagen levels has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Collagen supplements help provide relief in such cases of digestive distress.

2. Collagen Controls the Secretion of Stomach Acid
Collagen can regulate the secretion of gastric juices by making sure there is enough acid for digestion. It also makes sure there isn't an excess secretion of gastric juices. Excessive secretion of gastric juices can cause stomach ulcers, heartburn, and other painful digestive issues due to highly acidic conditions.

3. Collagen Helps in Healing Stomach Ulcers
Proline and glycine are the two amino acid components of collagen that help in healing your stomach lining and preventing stress-induced ulcers.

Studies show glycine is an inhibitor of stomach ulcers because it can prevent damaging gastric secretions in your stomach lining.

4. Collagen Aids in Regulating Digestion
Collagen, being a hydrophilic molecule, attracts acidic and water molecules, which helps indigestion. When you ingest collagen, it surrounds itself with stomach acid and water while moving through your GI tract. It aids in the effective breakdown of carbohydrates and proteins in your intestine. Besides this, collagen aids in the smooth movement of food through the GI tract by holding water in your intestine.

5. Collagen Repairs the Stomach and Intestinal Lining
Are you wondering about the easiest way to heal your stomach and intestinal lining? Try collagen peptide supplements.

Collagen synthesis is a crucial component in the procedure of healing and repairing your intestinal lining. New muscle cells are formed in the intestinal and stomach walls when they suffer inflammation or damage. Studies believe collagen is a crucial component in this process because collagen production is the highest while generating new cells while healing.

How To Get More Collagen in Your Daily Diet
Though the main cause of ailments like leaky gut is unknown, adding more collagen to your daily diet may help.  Here are 3 ways:

1. Add Yummy and Healthy Bone Broth to Your Diet
You can make bone broth by simmering bones to extract the beneficial nutrients and flavors of the bone marrow. It's an excellent source of collagen and also tastes delicious. You can easily make the broth and add it to your stews and soups to enrich them.

2. Resort to Using the Powdered Form of Gelatin for Your Dishes
In cooked form, collagen is known as gelatin. You can use powdered gelatin in your tea or add it to your stews, broths, and soups. 

3. Supplement with Good Quality Collagen Peptides
Collagen peptides offer an effective way to get the essential amino acids. These supplements are broken down quickly by the body so that they are easy to absorb and digest.

Steering clear of the food items mentioned below that may trigger leaky gut syndrome may also be helpful:

Gluten-containing grains
Wheat-based products
Baked goods
Processed meats
Junk food
Snack foods
Refined oils
Dairy products
Sauces
Artificial sweeteners
Beverages

Wrapping Up
Collagen has a number of gut health benefits.Bone broth, gelatin, and collagen peptides are some easy ways to add collagen to your diet.