VITAL PROTEINS REVIEW | BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE, TOO

Ok, so I started taking Vital Proteins back in June once a day. I was a skeptic but at the time my nails were really brittle and breaking. I also was noticing that I had begun to develop some major wrinkles around my eyes.

I was really curious to see if taking collagen peptides would make a difference in my hair, skin and nails. After writing this blog post on the benefits of collagen peptides, I was convinced that I probably wouldn’t see the results promised in the studies I shared. Here is quick recap:

Collagen is a long chain amino acid, aka a vital building block of our bodies including skin, hair, nails, bones and joints. It is responsible for giving skin elasticity, hair it’s strength and connective tissue it’s ability to hold everything in place.

benefits of collagen peptides

Like many of you, I’ve been seeing collagen peptides all over my Instagram and blog feeds. At first, I thought this might be a quick fad but the more people used these products, the more they seemed to love them.

The journalist at heart that I think I am, I decided that I too wanted to take my own challenge for 6 weeks and see if I noticed any differences ingesting collagen.

So here I am, about to start this journey and I wanted to share with you why I am doing this

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body that naturally occurs. It is vital for our body and an essential building block in our hair, skin, nails, bones and joints. Over time however it’s production in the body decreases which is why people are starting to take it in supplement form.

Collagen helps give our skin strength, suppleness, firmness, elasticity, as well as the constant renewal of skin cells. It’s also responsible for holding our hair, nails and joints together. When your collagen production decreases that’s when your hair and nails become brittle, more and more winkles begin to appear and joints start to get achey.

I am partnering with Vital Proteins for this experiment who make a variety of supplements containing collagen peptides from beef and fish sources. Ingesting collagen allows for better absorption than a topical treatment to reap all the benefits from the inside out.

Over the next 6 weeks, I’ll be using the Vital Proteins collagen beauty bars, collagen beauty greens, and collagen beauty water for my experiment.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

I’m doing this because feeling and looking young is a priority of mine. Fans of collagen swear that it’s amazing for your hair, skin, nails, bones, tendons and cartilage. I eat well and exercise but naturally our bodies decrease the production of collagen especially after the age of 30.

I have been obsessed with taking care of my skin since I was an adolescent starting to get acne. I recently noticed how many fine lines I have around my eyes (mainly after one Instagram user kept asking me why I had so many wrinkles.)

Oh the freedoms of being anonymous behind a computer.

I obviously haven’t noticed a difference yet because I literally just started this self imposed experiment. I’ve been showing the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in my morning Instagram stories and already people keep asking me for my opinion. I know you’re excited and so am I, but I want to take some time to see the results! I’ve heard that it takes anywhere from 2-3 weeks to really start noticing a difference.

Things I’m looking to notice include enhanced skin hydration, less wrinkles, improved skin elasticity and firmness. Most people however see initial changes in their nails and digestion.

The latest findings are promising and I like what I hear…

In one recent study, women who took a collagen supplement daily experienced a 20% reduction in wrinkle depth around their eyes after 8 weeks.

People with osteoarthritis say it has helped reduce achey joints, it’s even helped people with gut issues as well as aiding in digestion.

And lastly, I’m always on the lookout for easy ways to add high quality protein to my diet. Collagen is a great source of protein for any snack or meal, especially post workout since it is easily digested. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides are sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hides to ensure a natural, high quality, and sustainable source of collagen. One serving has 18 grams of protein.

WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE AND HOW DO YOU USE IT?

Surprisingly, Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides are tasteless although they do have a vanilla flavor option. I love adding them to my coffee in the morning because they dissolve quick. They have no sugar added and are also gluten free.

You can also add it to your post workout breakfast smoothie or oatmeal easily. Vital Proteins makes single serving packets for those of us on the go.

BONUS: Studies show that eating a breakfast high in protein helps aid weight loss and maintain a healthy weight by controlling your appetite throughout the day which helps keep portions in check, cravings at bay and reduce mindless snacking. It’s nice to have options.

The Vital Proteins Beauty Water utilizes sustainably sourced Marine Collagen from fish and adds a subtle flavor to a glass of water while delivering a wallop of protein. It’s convenient and I love using it in the afternoon around 3pm when I usually want a cookie or something I don’t want to be craving. This one also contains probiotics and hyaluronic acid for glowing skin and beauty inside and out.

The products are gluten free, dairy free (besides their whey inclusive products), kosher, Whole30 approved, and Paleo. They also are natural with no preservatives or fillers.

Ok, so let’s get this started. I’ll be vlogging along the way as well as taking pictures. I am pretty excited to see the changes and am curious what other changes I should be looking for? Let me know your thoughts below

This post is sponsored by Vital Proteins. All thoughts and opinions are my own