How Hydrolyzed Collagen Helps with Weight Loss + Other Benefits

How Hydrolyzed Collagen Helps with Weight Loss + Other Benefits

Take your daily supplement regimen to the next level with hydrolyzed collagen. 

This powerful supplement has been clinically shown to increase hair growth, help with weight loss, and slow down & reverse the aging process.

Collagen is a special form of amino acid and most people simply don’t get enough of it in their daily diet.

Learn why hydrolyzed collagen is the best form of collagen to start out with and how to use it properly in this guide: ​

What is Hydrolyzed Collagen?

​Before we talk about the specifics of hydrolyzed collagen we need to talk about collagen in general. 

First of all, collagen is an amazing supplement and represents a supplement that has previously been untapped by most people.

And this is rare, especially in the world of supplements.

Most people have at least TRIED a supplement (or tested it) to see if it works.

Hydrolyzed collagen in various connective tissues

But chances are high you’ve probably never heard about collagen or know why it’s so beneficial.

Collagen is basically a protein and is found in high concentrations in your muscles, gastrointestinal tract, skin hair follicles, and nail beds (1).

What this means for you is that collagen plays a very important role in the integrity and structure of these tissues.

Low levels of collagen cause specific symptoms ranging from leaky gut, hair loss, nail breakage (2), and decreased muscle mass (and weight gain) just to name a few.

So why does supplementing with collagen help so many people?

The real reason is that most people are deficient in collagen and certain amino acids due to their diet!

Unless you are consuming bone broth you are most likely deficient.

Collagen is rich in certain amino acids like proline, glycine, and glutamic acid (3) that just aren’t found in our natural diet.

This leads to a deficiency that can cause the symptoms above but also leads to premature aging. ​

We will go over more of the benefits of using collagen below so you can jump ahead if you want to, but let’s spend some time talking about hydrolyzed collagen…

So what is hydrolyzed collagen?

In the most basic sense, you can think of hydrolyzed collagen as a form of collagen that is highly absorbable, highly dissolvable, and ready to mix.

The hydrolyzed process creates proteins and amino acids that are broken down into smaller parts which makes this formulation of collagen easy to absorb and easy to add to foods.

It’s also especially helpful for those with gastrointestinal issues or those with low stomach acid.

Why?

Because these are the people who will have a hard time absorbing gelatin or capsule forms of collagen!

While the amino acid profile of hydrolyzed collagen is considered non-essential (meaning your body can create these amino acids from other proteins in the body) that does NOT mean you are getting enough.

The conversion and creation process of these non-essential amino acids requires precursors and enzymes which require nutrients and near-zero inflammation levels.

In states of inflammation, hormone imbalance, or nutrient deficiency there is a high chance your body is not catalyzing these reactions at 100%.

This means that you will have suboptimal collagen levels even if you consume other proteins (through protein shakes or food sources).

Hopefully, this makes sense and helps you understand why collagen stands to be so beneficial for many people. 

This brings us to the next point…

Weight loss and collagen. ​

Does it help with weight loss?​

As I mentioned previously this supplement is untapped and probably not very well known, but the truth is that it has been shown to help reduce fat mass and increase fat-free mass (4).

Studies have shown that using collagen for as little as 12 weeks can reduce fat mass in your body by up to 10 pounds (5) and simultaneously increase fat-free mass (muscle mass) by up to 6 pounds. 

hydrolyzed collagen reduces fat mass

This may not sound like much until you realize that increasing the muscle mass in your body also increases your metabolism. 

Your metabolism (which is dependent upon your muscle mass) is responsible for burning the majority of the calories you burn in a day while simply living, moving, breathing, and thinking.

Anything that increases this at baseline works tremendously in your favor if you are interested in weight loss.

Does this mean that you should use collagen as a weight loss tool without changing your diet or adding exercise?

No, not at all.

But it does mean that there is another added benefit to using collagen and that is a potential increase in metabolism and a potential drop in fat mass.

What you need to realize is that muscle has a weight and so does fat.

If you lose fat in your body but gain the same amount of muscle, then the scale may not actually go down.

​But that’s ok and you actually WANT this. 

When most people say they want to lose weight, what they really mean is that they want to lose FAT.

And this is exactly how collagen works.

​What’s also interesting is that collagen, because it is a protein, can be combined with exercise for added benefits. 

So in this case, the combination of collagen plus strength training may further improve the gains in muscle mass and metabolism.

Studies have again shown that using collagen for 12 weeks increased muscle strength significantly, and keep in mind that this study was done in people older than 55 years old (6).

hydrolyzed collagen increases muscle mass and muscle strength

For weight loss don’t forget to combine this supplement with other supplements that also help with weight loss like alpha lipoic acid, berberine, and fish oil

Tips for using Hydrolyzed Collagen

Below I give my recommendation for the best hydrolyzed collagen supplement (so feel free to skip down to that), but before we talk about the supplements we should spend some time on how to properly take collagen to get the most benefit. ​

One of the best parts about using hydrolyzed collagen is that it is RAPIDLY absorbed and really doesn’t have an unpleasant taste. ​

This means that you can rather easily add collagen to pretty much any food or meal.

But beyond these tips there are other tips you might want to consider when using collagen: ​

​#1. Put it in your morning smoothie

One thing you should consider doing if you haven’t already is switching out your protein powder in favor of real whole-food protein.

You can substitute whey-based protein powders for natural protein sources like hemp hearts, chia seeds, and collagen powder.

This allows you to get a more natural amino acid protein profile in your smoothies and reduces any issues with whey-based protein.

Remember that whey protein can still cause issues in many people because it is a dairy product.

If you have any GI issues it’s always worth a trial of reducing whey protein in favor of real whole-food protein to see how you tolerate it. ​

#2. Add it to your coffee or tea

​While I’m generally not a fan of recommending daily coffee, it is possible to dissolve your collagen in your morning coffee. 

It’s important to realize that because collagen is a protein-based product it will break your fast – so remember that if you are doing bulletproof coffee with intermittent fasting. 

One of the benefits of hydrolyzed collagen is that it is easily absorbed and doesn’t have a strong taste so it can be hidden in coffee or tea and provides a nice boost if you choose to use that route. 

#3. ​Take at least 1-2 tablespoons per day

In terms of dosing it’s important to start with around 1 tablespoon per day with a goal to increase to around 2 tablespoons each day.

​Using anything less will not provide you with the amino acid profile that your body needs.

#4. ​Be consistent with your use

This is a product that should be used DAILY.

You should also be prepared to use up to 2 tablespoons each day for at least 8 weeks in order to see the most benefit. ​

#5. Use more if you have GI issues​

Special attention should be given to those who have gastrointestinal issues. 

If you have any of the following please note you may need to use collagen for longer periods of time and at higher dosages: 

  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Chronic constipation
  • History of gas or bloating
  • Acid reflux or GERD
  • Intestinal dysbiosis
  • Leaky gut or increased intestinal permeability

#6. Combine Collagen with other supplements for boosted effects​

While collagen is a great supplement, you can get even better results if you combine collagen with other supplements. 

Remember that a “layered” approach to supplements is always the best. 

If your primary goal is weight loss then you’ll want to use collagen in addition to other therapies such as diet, exercise, and stress reduction. 

You can also combine collagen with other supplements as well. 

Supplements such as protein powder and probiotics can be added to your daily regimen to help with weight loss. 

Each supplement works in a slightly different way to help with weight loss. 

Collagen may help promote satiety while helping to reduce fat mass. 

Probiotics may help improve the composition of your gut and protein powder may help reduce your appetite (7).

In this way, you are getting an enhanced effect as these supplements work in different ways to help promote fat loss.

#7. Use it in conjunction with your exercise routine​

​If you decide to use collagen make sure to also use it in conjunction with exercise!

Specifically, I’m talking about weight-bearing exercise or resistance beyond that of gravity.

The reason for this recommendation is that studies show a significant boost to muscle mass and fat mass when you combine these two therapies. ​

Get hydrolyzed collagen here.

Conclusion

​Hydrolyzed collagen has many benefits and might be unknown to the majority of people out there. 

Because of this, it may be one of the best supplements you’ve never heard of.

You can use hydrolyzed collagen to help improve the quality and texture of your skin, help you with weight loss, and even help heal your intestinal lining.

Remember if you want to start supplementing with collagen I recommend starting with the hydrolyzed form (but you can’t go wrong with peptides if you choose that route either)

The logic is that this form is easily absorbed and really doesn’t have a taste.

This means you can hide it in pretty much any drink, smoothie, or recipe.

Now it’s your turn:

Are you using hydrolyzed collagen?

Has it been working for you?

Why or why not?

Leave your comments below! ​

Scientific References

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23949208

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29144022

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28929384

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5118756/

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594048/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594048/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3295702/

can hydrolyzed collagen help you lose weight

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

P.S. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now:

#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

#2. Need better symptom control? Check out my thyroid supplements.

#3. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order.

#4. Follow me on Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more.

41 thoughts on “How Hydrolyzed Collagen Helps with Weight Loss + Other Benefits”

  1. Can supplementing with this raise calcium levels too high? I also heard may negatively impact kidneys. There is so much information out there – hard to know what to believe.

    Reply
    • Hi Sue,

      Collagen is just a complex of amino acids, if supplementing with collagen actually caused high calcium or kidney problems then you would also have to avoid chicken, meat, and other food products because they also contain amino acids and protein.

      Reply
  2. I use it personally and with MANY of my clients. Not one person has reported negative results. In fact, all who use it LOVE it!

    Reply
  3. It has helped me with joint pain a lot. I only wonder when I calculate my total protein intake for the day, does it count the same way like solid food?

    Reply
    • Hi Joanna,

      I’m not quite sure what you mean. I would just add in the total amount of protein that you are consuming, whatever that amount may be.

      Reply
  4. I do not gave a thyroid at all. Even following strick Paleo diet I cannot lose weight. My joints hurt, my hair is falling out among other issues. I am seeing acmetabokic specialist who is trying to get me adjusted using bio-identical hormone replacement.

    The extra weight is taking its toll on my overall health and self esteem. I am told that it is going to take time to get me adjusted.

    I take many supplements including Berberine, magnesium, vitamin D, fish oil and 7 Keto.

    Do you believe this college would help and what are your thoughts about bio-identical hormone replacement versus tradadional medicine when there is no thyroid gland remaining?

    Reply
    • Hi Carol,

      Unfortunately after your thyroid has been removed weight loss becomes very difficult. In addition patients post thyroidectomy need to be treated with different proportions of thyroid hormones that most physicians don’t know how to use. I have helped post thyroidectomy patients lose weight, but they just need to have realistic expectations going into it. So collagen may help you, but realistically it probably won’t result in weight loss for you – though it may help in other ways.

      You can learn more about my weight loss program here: https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-mastery/

      Reply
      • I would just like to respond to this subject of weight loss being difficult after TT. After 20 years of experience, I think it is mostly the result of having your T4, T3, and Reverse T3 levels always slightly off the mark. Just to share my personal experience, FYI, I was always around 145 and couldn’t lose a pound to save my life but then three years ago I went through a severe heartbreak and suddenly, click, I lost 22 lbs. without making any dietary or exercise changes–AND even though I have NO thyroid and never changed my dose during that time. I know this is the result of hormonal changes related to grief, but wow, it is amazing how the human body controls itself. I’ve now finally gained 7 lbs. back after my NP lowered my levothyroxine dose because my TSH was “only” .3. After lowering from 112 to 100 I lost half my hair, got very lethargic, and gained 7 lbs. after being totally weight stable for two years straight. I’m finally on NDT now and happy with my weight of 128 and good energy levels. Hair is growing back as well. Lessons learned for me were: 1.) Emotional influences are more powerful than we think! Even without a thyroid or a dose change your body can still make major changes if the need arises. 2.) Even small dose changes can totally effect your whole life for better or worse.

        Reply
  5. I have Hadhimotos, Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. I have a lot of pain everyday. I szm only 53 yesrs old and in need of knee replacements. Have trouble getting my weight down. I have used collagen protein powders in the past and I would tend to hurt more when I used them. I tried the Great Lakes and have been using for over a week and I really feel a difference in my pain level dropping. I also feel a difference in stomach issues improving! I will be trying some other supplements you have suggested as well. I have also downloaded the Hashimotos information from your site. Thank you for getting this information out and helping people like myself!
    Donna Guidry

    Reply
  6. I was wondering if you have seen anyone with Gout benefit from hydrolyzed collagen, my husband suffers horribly and nothing helps

    Reply
    • Hi Angie,

      I don’t have experience using collagen in patients with gout so I can’t give you any insight one way or the other.

      Reply
  7. Hi Dr. Childs,

    Can you advise if I can use a hair, skin and nail supplement with Phytofol together with hydrolysate collagen (Great Lakes)? should I drink the supplement separate from the collagen?

    This are the ingredients of the hair, skin and nail supplement

    Fallopia multiflora (Phytofol®) root 1000mg
    Plus minerals
    Silica colloidal anhydrous (silica) 321mg
    equiv. to silicon 150mg
    Zinc (Zinc glycinate) 49.2mg
    equiv. to zinc 15mg
    Manganese (Manganese glycinate) 8.8mg
    equiv. to manganese 2.5mg
    Cupric sulphate pentahydrate (Copper) 197mcg
    equiv. to copper 50mcg
    Selenomethionine (Selenium) 124.2mcg
    equiv. to selenium 50mcg
    Potassium iodide 65.4mcg
    equiv. to iodine 50mcg
    Plus Vitamins
    Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 125mg
    Calcium pantothenate (Vitamin B5) 111mg
    equiv. to pantothenic acid 100mg
    Pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) 60.7mg
    equiv. to pyridoxine 50mg
    Inositol 50mg
    d-alpha tocopheryl acid succinate 41.3mg
    equiv. to vitamin E 50IU
    Dunaliella salina fresh cells 62.5mg
    equiv. to betacarotene 2.5mg
    Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) 25mg
    Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10) 15mg
    Biotin 2.5mg
    Lycopene 2.5mg

    Thank you for your help.

    Jen

    Reply
    • Hi William,

      I find hydrolyzed collagen to be more efficacious but you can also use liquid collagen if that is your preference.

      Reply
  8. Hello, I have a question. Is it ok to break up the collagen dosage throughout the day? Does it still work that way or must it be all taken at once? Thank you so much!

    Reply
  9. I started taking collagen about 4 weeks ago and can already tell a difference in my body. I don’t own a scale but I know I have lost weight. I have Hypothyroidism and am 46. My diet is great other than drinking wine some nights. I don’t work out. I can tell a difference in my skin already. My energy level has increased as well. I want to try the brand you recommend after I run out of what I am currently using. I feel amazing! Thanks for your article!

    Reply
  10. Hi
    I recently started taking a skin supplement that contains hydrolyzed collagen as well as msm, saw palmetto, hyaluronic acid, biotin and a b complex. I’ve only been taking it less than 2 weeks and am seeing a slight difference in my skin’s appearance and my nails feel stronger. What came as a surprise, is that the chronic nagging pain in my neck that I’ve endured for the past 5 years has almost completely gone away. I didn’t realize the benefits of collagen until today, after a little research. I’m interested supplementing extra beyond the supplement I’m currently taking. I am a little worried because I noticed in some reviews of certain brands in the Costco website, some mentioned weight gain as a side effect. However, you speak of weight loss and I’m hoping that will be the case for me. What are your thoughts on the weight gain claims? Also, I take Synthroid because I had radioactive iodine when I was 12 for hyperthyroidism. Weight gain has never been much of an issue until recently when I hit my forties. I’m now 47 and if I don’t watch what I eat and excercise, then I gain weight quickly and it’s tough to lose. Are there any issues with taking the Synthroid with this supplement? Is it safe to take together? I usually take the Synthroid first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and the supplement maybe an hour later with food. Sorry for the long post, I just want to learn all I can about this amazing supplement. 🙂
    Thank you!

    Reply
  11. I was wondering if you have seen anyone with myoma and fibroid shrinkage from hydrolyzed collagen, my sister has fibroids.
    thanks

    Reply
  12. I am currently taking omeprazole for Gerd, I would like to get off of the omeprazole and try collagen instead. How can I make this change? From what I understand omeprazole stops stomach acid and collagen produces more to help digest food. Is there a best time of day to take the collagen? Thank you for your help.

    Reply
    • Hi Louise,

      Collagen is usually well tolerated but if you are concerned you can start at a lower dose than suggested.

      Reply
    • Hi Rose,

      They should be added now! Sorry about that, some of my older articles don’t have quite as many citations as newer articles. I went through and updated them and put parenthesis around the literary sources.

      Hope that helps!

      Reply
  13. Rally like your article! I’ve been taking collagen for a few months and I want to go up to 3-4 scoops, do you think it would be protein overload?

    Reply
  14. I have started Garden 9of Life grass fed collagen. I am hoping for joint pain to go away. I have a lot of pain in my hips and legs. I think it is more mussel pain rather than joint. I just had a knee replacement in Jan 2019, and also have gained weight. Lots to be exact. Will this help me lose weight and with mussel pain?

    Reply
  15. I’m taking 2 scoops (about 2 T. ) per day of collagen I and III, hydrolysate by Swanson. Have been doing this for a year. It has greatly helped my joints, nails and hair growth but I think has caused me to lose about 5/6 pounds. I’m 5’6″ and weigh only 105 with a few clothes on. This is unacceptable. I eat a lot but can’t gain. I need to do this but don’t want to give up collagen. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  16. Now iam hyperthyroidism past one year I take the methimez tablet ,but my hair was very thin,hair fall and greying what is the solution? I will take your supplement? I continue my medicine or stop?please tell me? And skin allergy urticaria also ,i take Okacet allergy tablet it is correct or not any side effects for this medicine ?ur supplement work for my issues?

    Reply

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