How Do I Choose the Best Liquid Collagen?

Liquid collagen is an oral supplement taken to improve the condition of skin, hair, and nails. It is also beneficial for ligaments, tendons, and bones. A number of factors should be considered when you are choosing a collagen supplement, including need, dosage, price, and potential complications.

You should choose a liquid collagen supplement that is tailored for your needs. As there are a number of different products, this is not difficult to do. If you are taking the supplement to help with joint pain, then you should choose a product that contains other ingredients that will also be beneficial for the condition, such as glucosamine and chondritin. When you are taking the product to improve the appearance of your skin, then a collagen supplement with vitamin C is a good choice. Combination products also reduce the number you have to take.

Varying doses of liquid collagen are also available, and again you should choose one based on your needs as different uses require different doses. You would, for example, take a lower dose for skin improvement than you would for treating arthritis pain. As a basic rule, if you are taking collagen for your skin, five to six grams a day should be sufficient, while arthritis pain may require five to ten grams a day. With any medication or supplement, however, it is important to check with a doctor and to read the product label thoroughly before taking.

Consider the price before you choose a liquid collagen supplement, as with these kinds of products you may not notice the difference right away, requiring you to purchase the product more than once. If the product does work for you, then you'll want to make sure you can reasonably afford to continue buying it. Combination supplements may seem more expensive but may, in fact, work out to be cheaper than buying separate products.

Before buying any supplement, there are possible complications to consider. Reading the label is very important, especially if you have allergies or want to avoid certain things that may interact with other medications that you are taking. Liquid collagen can often contain other ingredients such as gluten, sugar, and shellfish, so look for these before you make a choice. If you are a vegan or a vegetarian, this can also be important as many products are animal based.

Liquid collagen supplements should also be checked carefully for parabens. Although present in many products as a preservative, parabens may be carcinogenic and also interfere with your endocrine system. As well, some people can have allergic reactions to them. They may not cause you any problems, but it is best to choose a paraben-free product just to be on the safe side.