If you’re an athlete, you’re most likely taking a protein supplement or two. But is your supplement doing as much for you as it should be? After reading through this article, you’ll come to see why liquid collagen supplements blow others out of the water when it comes to benefits for athletes.
Today we will discuss the pros and cons of different protein supplements for athletes, why collagen has the most overall benefit, and why you should consider switching to a liquid collagen supplement to achieve your athletic goals.
What is the best protein powder for athletes?
As an athlete, you need to make sure that you are getting the right kind of protein to help you perform at your best. There are many different types of protein out there, but not all of them are created equal. So, which is the best protein for athletes?
Whey protein
Whey protein is one of the most popular types of protein powder on the market. It’s made from milk and is a rich source of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which can help muscle growth and recovery.
That being said, while whey protein is great for bulking up, it might not cut it in other areas, like injury prevention or easy digestion.
In fact, whey protein is not easily digested or absorbed by the body, which can result in a whey protein stomach ache. This is especially true for people who are lactose intolerant, since whey is derived from milk and naturally contains lactose.
Plant-based protein
Plant-based proteins, such as hemp protein and pea protein, are also popular with athletes. They are typically lower in calories and fat than animal-based proteins, making them a good choice for athletes who are looking to manage their weight.
Plant-based proteins are also rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients can help improve recovery time while reducing inflammation.
Soy protein is another plant-based protein that is popular among athletes. It’s a complete protein, meaning that it contains all of the essential amino acids your body needs. Soy protein is also low in calories and fat, and it’s rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals.
That being said, plant-based protein will never truly stack up against animal protein when it comes to quality and muscle-building potential.
Collagen protein
Collagen protein is the most abundant protein in the human body, and it helps to give structure and support to the skin, muscles, ligaments, and other tissues. Collagen is extremely important to the health of your body, but your natural production starts to decline every year once you reach your mid twenties.
You can get more collagen through supplements derived from animal sources, such as beef or chicken. As an animal protein, collagen has the same muscle building benefits as whey.
Collagen protein is a rich source of the amino acids glycine and proline, which both play an important role in protein synthesis. This means your body uses collagen to fortify your connective tissues against injury, and also to heal injuries more quickly if they occur.
While collagen protein for athletes has high levels of most other amino acids, it is low in tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids that deals with sleep and mood regulation. This means that when taken by itself, collagen is not a complete protein.
Fortunately, some manufacturers, like Frog Fuel, add tryptophan to their collagen supplements, making them ideal for protein supplementation and arguably the best protein for athletes and perhaps even one of the best supplements for endurance athletes.
Downsides to consuming protein powder
While protein powder can be extremely beneficial to athletes, there are also some cons of protein powder.
Digestion issues
Perhaps the biggest drawback to ingesting protein powder is the problem some people have of digesting it. This is particularly common when people take whey powder, which your body can find difficult to break down. This can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
But the molecule size can also greatly impact digestion - regardless of the type of protein involved. That’s why it’s important to look for hydrolyzed or nano-hydrolyzed protein supplements that have been chemically broken down into easy-to-digest pieces.
Additives
Protein powders generally are not regulated by the FDA, so another potential concern is unhealthy additives and chemicals. Some protein powders contain artificial sweeteners, flavorings, and colors. These ingredients can be unhealthy and may cause side effects like headaches, dizziness, and other health issues.
Incomplete protein sources
Additionally, some protein powders are not complete proteins. This means that they lack some of the essential amino acids that your body needs to function properly. Without these amino acids, your body cannot build muscle or repair tissue nearly as efficiently.
Ease of use
And last, but certainly not least, protein powder can be a pain to use. You need to mix it into something, and if you want to take it during your workout, you have to transport it to the gym with you.
Luckily, there are liquid supplements that do the same job, and in the case of Frog Fuel liquid collagen supplements, they ARE FDA regulated and are safe to use for your athletic goals.
Let’s take a look at what liquid collagen supplements are, and some of the liquid collagen benefits you can enjoy as an athlete.
What are liquid collagen supplements?
Liquid collagen supplements work the same way as powdered collagen supplements. But, because they are in liquid form, they are more convenient to take.
You can purchase liquid collagen supplements by the bottle, or in single serve pouches. Single serve pouches are great for taking your protein supplement on the go, as you can throw them in your gym bag or jacket pocket.
You can even toss back a liquid protein supplement easily during a race, which can give you that much-needed boost of energy in the middle of an endurance event.
Liquid collagen supplements like liquid protein shots are simply collagen that is packaged in an easy to drink liquid formulation, meaning that there is no need to mess around mixing it. After all, you don’t want to have to bring a bag of collagen, a mixing container, water, and a cup to a training session!
Are there any side effects to taking liquid collagen?
While liquid protein shots are generally safe, there are a few potential side effects that people occasionally encounter. The most common of these are mild and include bloating, heartburn, and feelings of fullness.
In rare cases, more serious side effects from liquid protein shots can occur, such as allergic reactions or gastrointestinal problems - but these are generally caused by additives found in the supplements.
Because collagen is something your body already produces, it is perfectly safe to ingest - but since most supplements aren’t FDA regulated, companies can add anything they want into their liquid collagen supplements. That’s why it’s so important to get your collagen from a trusted source and to read the label carefully.
If you experience any adverse effects after you have consumed collagen protein for athletes, speak with a doctor. Fortunately, these complaints are far less likely to happen with liquid collagen supplements than with most other types of protein powder.
Why liquid collagen supplements are the best choice for athletes
Taking liquid collagen supplements can make a massive difference for athletes. Here are just some of the ways that supplementation may help.
They can help prevent injury
One of the biggest benefits of collagen supplementation for athletes is how collagen assists in injury prevention. No athlete wants to be sidelined by an injury, and the more you can do to avoid injuries, the better!
Collagen provides your muscles, ligaments, and tendons with much needed strength, support, and elasticity, so they are more likely to stay healthy during blunt force or strenuous exercise.
They can assist with wound healing
Athletes are particularly susceptible to injuries due to the high amount of stress they place on their bodies. This makes liquid collagen supplements even more crucial for athletes, who regularly become wounded in their athletic activities.
It’s no good being out of action for months at a time when you have a competition coming up.
One of the most crucial benefits of liquid collagen supplements is their role in wound healing. When we injure ourselves, our bodies need to produce more collagen in order to repair the damage.
Whether it’s external as a targeted wound dressing, or taken orally as a full body supplement, collagen has been studied extensively and has proven super-effective in speeding up wound healing.
They can improve joint health
Joint pain is another common problem that can be alleviated with liquid collagen supplements. As we age, our joints begin to wear down, causing pain and stiffness. This process can be accelerated by the kind of training and competition that athletes often undergo.
Liquid collagen supplements help to improve joint health by reducing inflammation, rebuilding cartilage and connective tissues, and increasing joint lubrication. This has the additional benefit of reducing pain, which can greatly affect athletic performance.
There are many different types of collagen, but hydrolyzed collagen that contains some type II collagen is by far the best collagen for joints. That’s because type II collagen directly benefits cartilage, and hydrolyzed collagen is easier for your body to absorb and utilize.
They can increase muscle mass
Protein is the most important macronutrient when building muscle. It is responsible for repairing and rebuilding muscle tissue after exercise. Protein supplementation can help you reach your daily protein needs, which is especially important if you are trying to build or retain muscle.
Muscle mass begins to decline in our early 30s, and liquid collagen supplements can help to slow this process, as a high quality collagen supplement is almost completely made of protein.
They can help with digestion
As mentioned above, collagen protein tends to be easier on the gut than some other protein supplements. But collagen can be healing for your gut, too! Just as collagen heals wounds to your skin and ligaments, it can help the health of your intestinal lining.
Taking liquid collagen supplements can help to heal and seal a leaky gut by strengthening the gut barrier. Liquid collagen supplements also have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract.
They can shorten recovery times
Another reason that the protein in liquid collagen supplements is so beneficial for athletes is that it can actually improve recovery times, due to optimum protein intake expediting muscle repair following training and competition.
This means you can get back to your sport or competition as quickly as possible.
They can improve bone density
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen, and this can lead to bone loss. Luckily, taking liquid collagen supplements can help to increase bone density.
This is an exciting finding, as it shows that collagen supplementation could be a helpful tool in preventing and treating osteoporosis. This is also great news for athletes, particularly those who are aging, as it suggests that supplementing with collagen can play an important role in keeping bones healthy, reducing the risk of injury.
Liquid collagen: The only athletic supplement you need
Liquid collagen protein really has it all for athletes. It’s convenient to drink on the go, is easy to digest, and is supremely healing for joints, wounds, bones, and the gut. Not to mention, it helps you retain and grow muscles following heavy training sessions.
The only downside is its lack of tryptophan, an essential amino acid. Fortunately, though, the team at Frog Fuel has you covered. Our liquid collagen protein shots are fortified with tryptophan, making Frog Fuel Power Protein a complete protein optimized for athletes like you.