Network Marketing For Retirement Income?

financial freedom

At some point in your life you’ve been pitched a multi-level marketing (MLM), direct selling, or network marketing business opportunity.  While the pitch varies from company to company, it basically promises a chance to ditch your 9-5 work schedule, be your own boss, and make lots of money while making new friends in the process.

It all sounds good on paper, yet there is a seemingly endless debate over whether these companies and programs are legitimate business opportunities or not, so I dug in and got the real scoop.  As a result, I believe that the entire industry is poised for explosive growth and can be one of the most significant solutions to America’s current retirement savings crisis.

Initially, that may sound like a bold statement, but it’s not if you understand retirement the way I do.  The reality is, making a successful transition into retirement has more to do with psychology than with money… and the same may hold true for multi-level and network marketing.

Don’t get me wrong, money has a role in retirement, but it’s not the primary one every one gives it.  Combine that concept with eye-opening statistics like AARP’s estimate that half of all baby boomers (76 million) are interested in starting a business and the makings of a massive trend are in place.

As far as the retirement saving crisis is concerned, more and more people are coming to terms with the fact that they probably aren’t going to be able to save enough money to just sit around and slowly deplete their nest egg from age 62 to 100.  With the average 50 year-old estimated to have less than $50,000 in retirement savings, there is an obvious need to find alternative ways to either save more or generate supplemental income starting now, and continuing throughout retirement.  Moving beyond just the dollars and cents, boomers are growing tired of feeling guilty or bad about their past savings habits and are interested in moving towards possible solutions.

Another growing reality that could benefit MLM and related businesses is the increasing number of baby boomers who are disenchanted with their current careers.  They’re worn-out from years of the corporate grind and don’t feel the connection between their job and the people it impacts outside their office walls or company grounds.  They’re shifting their focus from accumulating a giant nest egg to a desire to be part of something bigger and better… to have a positive effect on others… and working in retirement.  Facets of life that can be fulfilled with specific types of products and service available through some MLM or Direct selling opportunities.

MLM and direct selling programs also offer very low barriers into entrepreneurship, often providing training, support, and ample encouragement along the way.  As retirees begin to realize they need activities that keep them busy, relevant, in good health, and connected to others, the time, energy and cost to participate in these kinds of companies make them very appealing to large segments of the population caught up in these dynamics.

This is not a ringing endorsement for the entire industry.  Like any investment of time, money, and energy, people need to be aware of what they are getting into and do their homework.  That’s the primary reasons I began researching the topic by reaching out to regular everyday people involved in these types of businesses and who were willing to skip the hype and offer a transparent view of the programs and give their opinions as to whether this can be a realistic source of retirement income.

I initially spoke to a retired friend who said she joined a health and beauty direct selling company as a means of meeting new people. She had recently remarried and moved to a new location, so she combined the practice of meeting new people with making extra money.  After almost a decade in the business, she’s built a small niche business with family and friends despite switching to from one company to another competitor after three years.

She admits she doesn’t attend all of the company’s local meetings and goal-setting sessions because she’s not interested in becoming a top producer.  She just likes to use the business activity to keep busy (particularly in the winter) and use the extra money she earns to travel and spoil the grand kids.

Having studied the psychology and behavior of boomers, this example represents a major shift in my thinking about the industry.  I no longer perceive these types of opportunities as money-making pyramid schemes.  Instead, I now see it as a way to enhance many of the personal aspects of retirement that are rarely discussed let alone planned for, with the added benefit of supplementing other popular retirement income sources such as pension and social security.

Daria M. Brezinski Ph.D, a practicing psychologist and former marketing director for a multi-level marketing magazine, echoes these sentiments.  “Many people don’t realize that multi-level marketing companies are successful because they help people satisfy a number of important human needs, including feeling significant, having connections, learning something new, and making a difference.  I have heard people in network marketing say again and again, ‘I’m doing this because I’m meeting amazing people … making so many connections … and I feel so good about myself.’”

Dr. Brezinski’s point is well taken and easy to see practiced by popular network marketing companies.  Many MLM and NM companies tout a three-to-five year plan to attain freedom and wealth, yet many of the people running company meetings have been in the business for five or ten years and still haven’t left their full-time job or landed on easy street.  “As it turns out,” Dr. Brezinski notes, “when other human needs are being met, the members and consultants don’t focus solely on the financial aspects.”

Continuing my interviews, I challenged three others who are in the business to be straightforward, and prove to me that the process really works.  What I found was good, consistent business advice applicable to any new business.

Lorene Hochstetler, from Ohio, recommends keeping your current job while slowly making the transition into MLM.  She’s been able to replace her full-time income but explains, “It didn’t happen overnight, and I still work every day.  I am very disciplined with my business and wake up every day knowing what I have to do in order to succeed at this.  You have to treat it like a business and be willing to follow advice from others who have made it.”

Tracy Willard of California began her MLM career out of necessity.  “Prior to getting involved in my business, I told my friends to never let me join one of those things… but when our family was hit by the mortgage crisis I had to do something different.”  She started her business with the intention some retirees may also find themselves.  “I started with the idea that I just needed to make my month easier.  My company helped me figure out what I needed to do in order to make an extra $500 per month.”

She reiterated a common theme I heard throughout the interviews.  “If you treat it like a hobby it won’t pay you like a business.”  She also acknowledged that, in spite of her success, she doesn’t sit around eating bonbons every day waiting for residual checks to hit the mailbox.  “That’s a common misconception,” she said.  “I work hard at my business every day, although it doesn’t always feel like work.  Similar to other entrepreneurs who profit from their passion, she says “It’s rewarding because I found a product that has made in difference in how I look and feel… and I love selling it and helping other people start a business.”

Staci Cahill runs her Washington MLM company in a way many people can appreciate.  She keeps her personal life separate from her business life by avoiding home parties, offering instead workshops that educate prospects on the products she offers.  “I didn’t want to be that person others hid from because they thought I was going to ask them to host a party.  I like to keep my business life and personal life separate.”

When I asked her if she was successful at her craft, she pointed out an MLM approach different from what many might expect.  “Yes, I am very successful given what I wanted to get out of it.  I’m a single mother who used to work 50 hours per week outside the home.  Now I’ve cut it to 20 hours, which is a major upgrade for me and my family.”

As a five-year veteran of MLM, she attributes her success to the fact that, “I switched companies a few years ago once I realized that pots and pans don’t change people lives.  The products I now offer has changed my life and that of others… and I find a lot of value in waking up and going to bed knowing that.”

The interviews and psychological connections lead me to conclude that MLM and NM companies, along with other small businesses opportunities, are important considerations for anyone entering retirement.  In fact, I believe the concept of starting a business for retirement income will become one of the most significant trends impacting retirement in the 21st century.  But it has to start with redefining entrepreneurship and framing it into a retirement lifestyle.  That means helping people find ways to turn a passion, hobby, or personal desire into extra money in their pocket… not to mention helping people see the importance of  planning for the non-financial aspects of retirement such as replacing a work identity, staying relevant and connected, as well as keeping mentally and physically fit.

Something multi-level marketing as well as network marketing companies are poised to capitalize on.  As a result, the industry could soon experience larger than life growth, spurred by baby boomers looking to adjust their retirement feelings and plans.

Source: forbes.com ~ Contributor: Robert Laura ~ Image:

Would You Join A Multi-Level Marketing Company For Retirement Income?

Multi-Level Marketing

At some point in your life, you’ve been pitched a multi-level marketing (MLM), direct selling, or network marketing business opportunity.  While the pitch varies from company to company, it basically promises a chance to ditch your 9-5 work schedule, be your own boss, and make lots of money while making new friends in the process.

It all sounds good on paper, yet there is a seemingly endless debate over whether these companies and programs are legitimate business opportunities or not, so I dug in and got the real scoop.  As a result, I believe that the entire industry is poised for explosive growth and can be one of the most significant solutions to America’s current retirement savings crisis.

Initially, that may sound like a bold statement, but it’s not if you understand retirement the way I do.  The reality is, making a successful transition into retirement has more to do with psychology than with money… and the same may hold true for multi-level and network marketing.

Don’t get me wrong, money has a role in retirement, but it’s not the primary one everyone gives it.  Combine that concept with eye-opening statistics like AARP’s estimate that half of all baby boomers (76 million) are interested in starting a business and the makings of a massive trend are in place.

As far as the retirement saving crisis is concerned, more and more people are coming to terms with the fact that they probably aren’t going to be able to save enough money to just sit around and slowly deplete their nest egg from age 62 to 100.  With the average 50-year-old estimated to have less than $50,000 in retirement savings, there is an obvious need to find alternative ways to either save more or generate supplemental income starting now and continuing throughout retirement.  Moving beyond just the dollars and cents, boomers are growing tired of feeling guilty or bad about their past savings habits and are interested in moving towards possible solutions.

Another growing reality that could benefit MLM and related businesses is the increasing number of baby boomers who are disenchanted with their current careers.  They’re worn out from years of the corporate grind and don’t feel the connection between their job and the people it impacts outside their office walls or company grounds.  They’re shifting their focus from accumulating a giant nest egg to a desire to be part of something bigger and better… to have a positive effect on others… and work in retirement.  Facets of life that can be fulfilled with specific types of products and services available through some MLM or Direct selling opportunities.

MLM and direct selling programs also offer very low barriers to entrepreneurship, often providing training, support, and ample encouragement along the way.  As retirees begin to realize they need activities that keep them busy, relevant, in good health, and connected to others, the time, energy, and cost to participate in these kinds of companies make them very appealing to large segments of the population caught up in these dynamics.

This is not a ringing endorsement for the entire industry.  Like any investment of time, money, and energy, people need to be aware of what they are getting into and do their homework.  That’s the primary reason I began researching the topic by reaching out to regular everyday people involved in these types of businesses who were willing to skip the hype and offer a transparent view of the programs and give their opinions as to whether this can be a realistic source of retirement income.

I initially spoke to a retired friend who said she joined a health and beauty direct-selling company as a means of meeting new people. She had recently remarried and moved to a new location, so she combined the practice of meeting new people with making extra money.  After almost a decade in the business, she’s built a small niche business with family and friends despite switching to from one company to another competitor after three years.

She admits she doesn’t attend all of the company’s local meetings and goal-setting sessions because she’s not interested in becoming a top producer.  She just likes to use the business activity to keep busy (particularly in the winter) and use the extra money she earns to travel and spoil the grandkids.

Having studied the psychology and behavior of boomers, this example represents a major shift in my thinking about the industry.  I no longer perceive these types of opportunities as money-making pyramid schemes.  Instead, I now see it as a way to enhance many of the personal aspects of retirement that are rarely discussed let alone planned for, with the added benefit of supplementing other popular retirement income sources such as pension and social security.

Daria M. Brezinski Ph.D, a practicing psychologist and former marketing director for a multi-level marketing magazine, echoes these sentiments.  “Many people don’t realize that multi-level marketing companies are successful because they help people satisfy a number of important human needs, including feeling significant, having connections, learning something new, and making a difference.  I have heard people in network marketing say again and again, ‘I’m doing this because I’m meeting amazing people … making so many connections … and I feel so good about myself.’”

Dr. Brezinski’s point is well taken and easy to see practiced by popular network marketing companies.  Many MLM and NM companies tout a three-to-five-year plan to attain freedom and wealth, yet many of the people running company meetings have been in the business for five or ten years and still haven’t left their full-time job or landed on easy street.  “As it turns out,” Dr. Brezinski notes, “when other human needs are being met, the members and consultants don’t focus solely on the financial aspects.”

Continuing my interviews, I challenged three others who are in the business to be straightforward and prove to me that the process really works.  What I found was good, consistent business advice applicable to any new business.

Lorene Hochstetler, from Ohio, recommends keeping your current job while slowly making the transition into MLM.  She’s been able to replace her full-time income but explains, “It didn’t happen overnight, and I still work every day.  I am very disciplined with my business and wake up every day knowing what I have to do in order to succeed at this.  You have to treat it like a business and be willing to follow advice from others who have made it.”

Tracy Willard of California began her MLM career out of necessity. “Prior to getting involved in my business, I told my friends to never let me join one of those things… but when our family was hit by the mortgage crisis I had to do something different.” She started her business with the intention that some retirees may also find themselves. “I started with the idea that I just needed to make my month easier. My company helped me figure out what I needed to do in order to make an extra $500 per month.”

She reiterated a common theme I heard throughout the interviews. “If you treat it like a hobby it won’t pay you like a business.” She also acknowledged that, in spite of her success, she doesn’t sit around eating bonbons every day waiting for residual checks to hit the mailbox. “That’s a common misconception,” she said. “I work hard at my business every day, although it doesn’t always feel like work. Similar to other entrepreneurs who profit from their passion, she says “It’s rewarding because I found a product that has made in difference in how I look and feel… and I love selling it and helping other people start a business.”

Staci Cahill runs her Washington MLM company in a way many people can appreciate.  She keeps her personal life separate from her business life by avoiding home parties, offering instead workshops that educate prospects on the products she offers.  “I didn’t want to be that person others hid from because they thought I was going to ask them to host a party.  I like to keep my business life and personal life separate.”

When I asked her if she was successful at her craft, she pointed out an MLM approach different from what many might expect.  “Yes, I am very successful given what I wanted to get out of it.  I’m a single mother who used to work 50 hours per week outside the home.  Now I’ve cut it to 20 hours, which is a major upgrade for me and my family.”

As a five-year veteran of MLM, she attributes her success to the fact that “I switched companies a few years ago once I realized that pots and pans don’t change people’s lives.  The products I now offer have changed my life and that of others… and I find a lot of value in waking up and going to bed knowing that.”

The interviews and psychological connections lead me to conclude that MLM and NM companies, along with other small business opportunities, are important considerations for anyone entering retirement.  In fact, I believe the concept of starting a business for retirement income will become one of the most significant trends impacting retirement in the 21st century.  But it has to start with redefining entrepreneurship and framing it into a retirement lifestyle.  That means helping people find ways to turn a passion, hobby, or personal desire into extra money in their pocket… not to mention helping people see the importance of planning for the non-financial aspects of retirement such as replacing a work identity, staying relevant, and connected, as well as keeping mentally and physically fit.

Something multi-level marketing, as well as network marketing companies, are poised to capitalize on.  As a result, the industry could soon experience larger-than-life growth, spurred by baby boomers looking to adjust their retirement feelings and plans.

Source: forbes.com ~ By Robert Laura

50 Fitness Truths That Will Make You Rethink Your Lifestyle

Here are 50 fitness truths you need to know. These thoughts will change the way you think about your fitness lifestyle.

Fitness Truths

    1. Carbohydrates, protein, fat, and alcohol have 4, 4, 9, and 7 calories per gram respectively.
    2. It takes about a 3500 calorie deficit to lose 1 pound.
    3. Insulin and growth hormone have an inverse relationship. You must keep insulin under control if you want growth hormone to do its job of mobilizing fat.
    4. The average person can store 500 grams of glycogen.
    5. Only fat and protein are essential macronutrients – carbohydrates aren’t (but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat them).
    6. Muscle glycogen is about 3 parts water to 1 part glucose. This can add water weight at the beginning of a strength training program.
    7. You burn more calories during the 23 hours you don’t exercise than the 1 hour you do.
    8. You don’t need to do cardio to lose weight. You only need a calorie deficit. But that doesn’t mean isn’t a useful tool.
    9. The fat burning zone does not burn more total fat calories – only a higher percentage of calories from fat. Total calories burned is what matters.
    10. You’re never too old to do squats.
    11. Weight loss is not a physical challenge – it’s a mental one.
    12. The scale cannot measure your body fat. However, this body fat caliper can. Use it.
    13. You can eat anything you want and still lose weight – but weight doesn’t always equal fat.
    14. You can’t target fat loss – fat loss is systemic.
    15. Muscle does not weigh more than fat – it’s just denser than it.
    16. Zero grams of fat on a label doesn’t always mean there’s no fat in the food product. Always check the ingredients.
    17. Whole grain bread can be highly processed – pick one that uses only whole food ingredients.
    18. Eating healthy is not more expensive than a junk food diet, especially once you consider health care costs down the road.
    19. You can’t calculate body fat percentage from height and weight alone – you need to physically measure it.
    20. You can get glucose from both protein and glycerol – not just carbohydrates.
    21. Just because a box says “whole grain” on it, it doesn’t make it healthy.
    22. You should never attempt weight loss at the expense of your health.
    23. Trying to be perfect with your diet sets you up for failure. Strive to make progress by continually creating healthy eating habits.
    24. Workout times and negative side effects are positively correlated. The quality of your workouts is more important than the quantity.
    25. Gym membership prices are usually negotiable. Don’t be afraid to ask.
    26. Cooking your food can both lower some nutrient content, and make some more bio-available.
    27. There’s a high correlation between the fitness level of the people close to you, and your own physical fitness.
    28. It’s harder to put on 10 pounds of muscle than it is to lose 10 pounds of fat.
    29. Once an adult, fat cells can be created, but they cannot be lost – only shrunken. But that doesn’t mean they can’t shrink to close to nothing.
    30. Eating at night does not make you fat – overeating does.
    31. You don’t need to do curls to get good biceps. Heavy rowing movements are excellent arm builders.
    32. Being skinny does not automatically mean you have a low body fat. Body composition is what matters most.
    33. The perimeter of the grocery store is where 90% of the healthy food is.
    34. If bad food is in the house, you’ll be more likely to eat it.
    35. Thyroid hormone output and exercise intensity are positively correlated.
    36. Healthy levels of testosterone are good for both men and women.
    37. You don’t need a gym membership to strength train. Your body weight is all the resistance you need.
    38. Unless you weigh less than 120 pounds, it’s unlikely you need less than 1200 calories to lose weight.
    39. Workout intensity is positively correlated with the degree of EPOC – the afterburn effect. Boost your intensity if you want to burn more fat.
    40. There are 3 types of skeletal muscle fibers – type I, type II-A, and type II-B.
    41. 80% of people who begin an exercise program will quit. About the same goes for people starting a diet.
    42. The body has 3 energy systems – ATP-PC, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic.
    43. Strength gains come from muscle hypertrophy and improved muscle fiber recruitment. Include a variety of rep ranges in your workouts.
    44. Dehydrating a muscle by 3% can cause a 10% loss of strength. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
    45. The thermic effect of food (TEF) is highest for protein. Up to 30% of its calories are used for digestion and assimilation.
    46. Lactic acid is not the cause of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Lactic acid returns to normal levels within 60 minutes of finishing exercise.
    47. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest. Muscle tissue eats fat at all hours of the day.
    48. Direct abdominal exercises are not necessary to get good abs. Abs are used as stabilizers when you do squats, deadlifts, and many other exercises. Only a good diet will make them visible.
    49. You can lose weight and still gain muscle; likewise, you can also gain weight while still losing fat.
    50. Consistency and patience are key to long term successful weight loss.

Source: coachcalorie.com ~ By

Small Town Couple Become Isagenix Millionaires

Todd and Joni B. are high school sweethearts who live in the same small Washington logging community they grew up in. Just hard working people with the No. 1 goal of raising their three boys to be happy and productive, life was always a struggle financially because the local sawmill was their major source of income.While Joni worked stints as a waitress, a mill worker and small franchise owner, ultimately her focus was raising her kids. She had always been a positive, happy person, but the stresses of raising their sons and struggling with her weight and finances for years began to take a toll. She began to lose her bright personality and describes it as losing her “happy.”

Not long after, her girlfriend Shauna told her about Isagenix and how it could help with some of her struggles, but she couldn’t listen. She just didn’t think she could go down the road of trying to lose weight again. Plus, getting involved in the business just seemed like too much, the timing wasn’t right. She was already too overwhelmed with her own issues and had no energy to put effort into it.

It wasn’t until she stepped onto the basketball court at one of her son’s games for parents’ night that she had a wake-up call. She was embarrassed about how she looked and she wondered what she was doing to herself. Fortunately, her friend Shauna had been persistent for 21 months and Isagenix quickly came to mind as a possible solution. Initially, with her first system, she lost 11.25 pounds* which gave her hope. She says cleansing wasn’t easy or hard; just incredibly doable.

“I didn’t understand Isagenix at first because I didn’t know what cleansing was. If I couldn’t make good eating decisions for two days on my own, how was I going to be able to cleanse for two days?” shares Joni with a laugh. “But when I started the cleanse, I just knew I had to stick with the system. Every day got better and I got stronger.”

As she used the products, she knew she was going to start the business, it made way too much common sense. She was convinced that the results were enough for people to get on board.

“We have a clean, powerful system created by a passionate formulator (Founder John Anderson) and one that people really need,” says Joni. “The strength in leadership also goes beyond what someone would need to feel secure and our compensation plan rewards proper behavior. Thank you, Jim and Kathy Coover.”

While her Isagenix business began to get off the ground, she hit an incredible milestone on the scale; she lost 100 pounds.* Soon, she was on her way to getting her “happy” back.

Her initial goal with her Isagenix business was to make $6,000 a month like her friend Shauna.** But that ended up being just the beginning, especially after her husband encouraged her and helped her believe in herself even more. She attributes her success to not only that support, but also “just being a good girlfriend and doing the right thing.”

“I kept it simple and real. I just focused on sharing girlfriend to girlfriend,” says Joni. “I kept myself available and always growing in what was happening with the company. That was my responsibility to myself and to anyone else I brought into the business. I believe your team’s success should always be your No.1 goal.”

With her success, she set bigger goals such as being able to help her husband leave his 30-year career at the sawmill. Soon, she was earning in one month what her husband made in a year** and the extra income allowed him to walk away from the sawmill at age 50, more than a decade before his expected retirement.

In early 2009, the pair hit $1 million in cumulative earnings and were named the 30th Isagenix millionaires. The couple is passionate about network marketing, which they call “the last frontier for everyday people to achieve extraordinary wealth.” Now they’re focused on leaving their leadership legacy and helping their teams experience the same success by being responsible coaches, mentors and friends. They’ve already helped to create seven six-figure earners within their teams and they’re not stopping there.

“That’s what I truly love giving people today: hope with their health and hope with their wealth,” says Joni. “I feel like my job is to empower people. I want people to walk away from a meeting with me or a phone call and say they can do it, too.”

All three of the boys love and use the Isagenix products and help each other with the business center they are growing. Joni loves to see the growth they are experiencing with their own residual incomes.

“Isagenix has helped me to grow in every area of my life. When someone can take away the financial stress, it allows them to do more of what I believe most people love to do and that means to give of yourself and your time to others,” says Joni. “I can focus on family, friends and empowering others. That’s what really lights me up.”

Joni says she’s been honored to receive the “Women of Isagenix” Award for her dedication, the “Spirit of Isagenix” Award for her determination and attitude, and is humbled to be one of the top 25 income earners in the company. Her biggest tip for success is that this is a business so treat it as such. She finds it best summed up by something her friend Shauna just shared with her.

“You can be interested and you will do what is convenient, or you are committed and you will do what ever it takes,” shares Joni.

She’s incredibly grateful for the relationships she and her husband have made through their Isagenix team and says she believes it’s because of everyone working together that they’ve achieved such amazing success. She’s quick to point out that it’s not out of reach for others as they’re watching it happen throughout their entire team.

“Isagenix isn’t just creating satisfied customers; it’s creating raving fans. That’s why the company grew by 30 percent last year while everyone else around us didn’t,” says Joni. “Isagenix is such a ‘win win’ for everyone.”

The individuals pictured are actual Isagenix Associates and not paid models.

*The weight-loss testimonials presented apply only to the individuals depicted, cannot be guaranteed, and should not be considered typical. A 2008 university study showed a statistically significant weight loss of 7 pounds (3.2 kg) during the first nine days of the Cleansing and Fat Burning System.

**Earning levels for Isagenix® Associates should not be construed as representative of fixed or typical incomes earned with an Isagenix business, nor are they intended to represent that other Associates will eventually achieve the same level of income. Income level achievements are dependent upon individual business skills, personal ambition, timing, commitment, activity and demographic factors.

 

8 Potential Health Benefits of Collagen – and 1 Thing It Can’t Do

From skin and bones to gut health and more, here’s how the trendy supplement may boost your health and well-being.

Who would have thought that a substance found in bones and skin could become a need-to-have supplement? We’re talking collagen.

“Collagen is a type of protein that plays an important role in building and supporting many tissues, from bones and cartilage to skin, hair, eyes, and the digestive system,” says Sonya Angelone, RDN, who practices in San Francisco and is a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

When you take a collagen supplement or eat foods rich in collagen, you are consuming collagen that comes from an animal, explains Ryanne Lachman, RDN, a functional medicine dietitian at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Collagen peptides are often sold in powdered or capsule form, and collagen can also be consumed in bone broth.

As with any supplement, there are potential side effects.

While collagen is generally safe, you should always talk to your healthcare team before adding a supplement to your diet. Side effects may also occur: According to ConsumerLab.com, collagen supplements may cause a rash or, in rarer cases, liver problems.

Aside from that, a universal downside to collagen supplements is that they add an extra expense to your grocery bill.

If you’re going to invest in taking them, it’s important to know the bevy of possible benefits collagen supplements can provide. Read on.

1. Supplements Help Replace What’s Naturally Lost Through Aging

Collagen is the “glue” that holds your body together, says Angelone. It makes up about one-third of the protein in your body, research shows. Thing is, she says, your body produces less collagen starting in your thirties and forties. Collagen peptides added to your diet may serve to replace what your body begins to lack as you age and support your overall health.

2. Collagen Is an Easy-to-Digest Source of Protein

Your body works hard to digest protein from sources like chicken or beef, and some people may find that they deal with digestive symptoms like burping or stomach pain after a meal, explains Lachman. But collagen supplements are hydrolyzed, meaning the collagen is broken down, a process that makes it easier for your body to digest. Collagen supplements may potentially be a more comfortable way to get protein into your diet, she says. The process of hydrolyzing also allows collagen peptides to dissolve in water, which makes it relatively simple to use them in everyday foods (like water or smoothies).

3. Collagen Helps Smooth Wrinkles and Boost Elasticity in the Skin

Skin health is the most well-researched benefit of taking collagen, says Lachman. In a January 2019 review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, researchers analyzed 11 randomized, placebo-controlled studies of more than 800 patients who took up to 10 grams (g) per day of collagen with the goal of improving skin health. The results? The supplements were shown to improve skin elasticity, help it better hold onto moisture, and rev the density of collagen fibers within the skin. “Ten grams per day is a small scoop,” says Lachman — and it could be a small step in preserving a youthful appearance.

4. Collagen May Help Lessen Joint Aches and Pains

Joint pain can make it difficult to exercise, which can knock you off the path toward your goals. Taking a collagen supplement may help you get back on track. “There is some evidence that collagen can be great for supporting connective tissues and improving joint pain after exercise,” says Angelone. For instance, one study published in January 2017 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism found that athletes with knee pain who took 5 g of collagen peptides daily for 12 weeks had less joint pain during exercise compared with a placebo group. Oral collagen may support cartilage repair and may also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

5. Oral Supplements May Promote Gut Health

In inflammatory digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel disease (IBD), there is a “gut healing” theory about collagen. “Some research finds that collagen levels are decreased in patients with these conditions. By taking collagen, you would help correct a deficiency,” says Lachman.

Research published in May 2017 in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that among IBD patients, there was an imbalance between the formation and breakdown of collagen fibers, and this was connected to inflammation. Past research also shows that IBD patients have decreased serum levels of type 4 collagen. Collagen is a part of connective tissue, which makes up your colon and GI tract, so by bringing your levels up, there may be a supportive environment for your body to heal. This is an emerging idea, she says, but it may be one benefit to trying a supplement or dietary approach to increase collagen intake.

6. Collagen May Buoy Your Heart Health

Stirring collagen into your coffee may be good for your ticker, too. A small uncontrolled open-label study published in the Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis in May 2017 looked at 32 participants who took a collagen tripeptide twice a day. After six months, markers of atherosclerosis (buildup in artery walls), including measures of cholesterol and arterial stiffness, had improved. (When atherosclerosis affects the arteries that lead to your heart, it’s known as coronary artery disease, which is the deadliest form of heart disease, per the Mayo Clinic.) Researchers think that collagen may help fortify blood vessel walls to reduce the risk of artery disease.

7. Peptides Can Keep Bones Healthy

Bone mineral density decreases as you age, especially after menopause, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial on 102 post-menopausal women, participants who took collagen peptides for one year increased their bone mineral density compared with the control group. Researchers postulated that this was because the collagen stimulated bone formation while slowing down bone loss, per an article in the journal Nutrients in January 2018.

8. Collagen May Be Useful in Joint Disease

There are different types of collagen, according to an article published in November 2019 in Molecules. Type 1 (found in beef) is beneficial when it comes to your skin, while type 2 (found in chicken) is potentially more helpful when it comes to arthritic joint pain, Lachman explains. Joints are composed of cartilage, which is largely made up of collagen. A study published in June 2016 in the Eurasian Journal of Medicine found that patients with knee osteoarthritis who took acetaminophen along with type 2 collagen reduced joint pain during walking and had a quality of life superior to those on the medication alone. That said, research is mixed and hasn’t come to a firm conclusion. Lachman says your best bet is to purchase a supplement that contains various sources of animal collagen for the widest range of benefits.

9. Collagen Won’t Help You Lose Weight

Eating enough protein is important to a healthy diet. The nutrient is needed to support your body in building muscle — lean tissue that is more metabolically active than fat (meaning it leads to a faster metabolism, according to the Mayo Clinic). But you’ll want to put collagen in perspective here: It can’t be the only change you make to your diet and lifestyle habits. “Adding a collagen powder to a diet high in sugar and refined carbohydrates and excess calories won’t help you lose weight,” says Lachman.

Source: everydayhealth.com ~ By:  ~ Image: Canva Pro

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