Rightly so.
because there’s a lot of noise out there.
“Take this and your joints will feel amazing.”
“Drink this and your skin will glow.”
“Add this and everything changes.”
So naturally… people get sceptical.
Which is a good thing.
Because most things in health and fitness don’t work like that.
Let’s take collagen.
You’re right to question it.
Protein gets broken down into amino acids during digestion… so what’s the point?
Well, collagen is just a type of protein made up of specific amino acids.
Some forms of collagen (like hydrolysed bovine collagen) may be absorbed in a slightly different way… but even if they’re broken down, you’re still getting the building blocks.
Think of it like this:
Collagen = the bricks
Vitamin C = helps put the bricks together
Blood flow = the delivery system
So if I’m trying to support my knee right now, I might have collagen, some vitamin C… and then actually move my knee.
Because without movement, those “bricks” aren’t getting to where they need to go.
Now, will collagen change everything?
No.
It’s not magic.
It might help a bit… especially for joints, skin, hair, nails.
But it won’t replace the basics.
And that’s the key message here.
The basics are what matter.
Regular movement.
Strength training.
Enough protein.
Good habits over time.
And it’s a similar story with protein powders like whey protein.
They’re not special.
They’re just a convenient way to get high quality quality protein in.
You can get protein from meat, fish, eggs, dairy, plant sources… or a shake.
They all provide amino acids your body needs.
The benefit of a shake is it’s easy.
For example, the other day I was at physio for hours and couldn’t drive so I knew I’d be there for a while. A protein shake kept me going. Quick, simple, done. Didn’t need to rely on whatever the cafe had or prep a meal.
At home? I’ll have whole foods.
There’s no right or wrong. Just what works for you.
And this is where most people get stuck.
They look for the perfect supplement… instead of focusing on the simple things they can actually do.
Because the truth is…
Collagen alone won’t change your life.
But consistently doing the basics will.
Maybe collagen will help. I mean, I wouldn’t take it myself if I didn’t think it would benefit. And given my situation with my knee, I’ll continue to take it. Even for the 1% benefit.
Most women I speak to already know what to do. They just need the structure and accountability to actually do it.
So if you’re wondering where to start… don’t overthink it. Focus on the basics and do them more often.
That’s where the results come from.
If you want help with that, just message “Kickstart” and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Matt