In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleThe #1 Collagen-Rich Food to Buy at CostcoHealth Benefits of CollagenTips

In This ArticleView All

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In This Article

The #1 Collagen-Rich Food to Buy at Costco

Health Benefits of Collagen

Tips

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If you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole of researching skin health, you’ve likely come across collagen. But collagen is more than just a potential beauty booster. It’s actually the most abundant protein in the body, found in your ligaments, tendons, muscles, bones, tissues and even the lining of your intestines.

While collagen is available insupplement form, it can also be found naturally in a variety of foods and drinks. If you’re a Costco shopper, read on to learn what collagen can—and can’t—do for you, plus our pick for the No. 1 collagen-rich food to add to your cart.

What Happens to Your Body When You Take Collagen Powder Every Day

Sardines top our list for the No. 1 collagen-rich food at Costco. Costco carries several brands of these tasty little fish. However, lightly smokedWild Planet Wild Pacific Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oilare an especially delicious “catch.” Plus, they’re sustainably caught and sold in convenient 6-packs of 4.4-ounce cans.

Per 3-ounce serving, you’ll get these impressive benefits:

In addition to collagen, sardines are rich in EPA and DHA,omega-3 fatsthat promote heart, brain and immune health.They are also an excellent source of vitamin D and provide calcium, so they support bone health, too. Finally, a 3-ounce portion delivers a whopping 18 grams of protein, which supports satiety.

Collagen is the main protein in our skin. Yet, as we age, our bodies produce less of it. Could it help you look younger? Maybe. One review study found that consuming collagenmayimprove skin’s moisture levels and elasticity. However, because research on this topic is limited, more study is needed, according to the study’s authors.And even though there’s lots of hype that collagen can help build stronger hair and nails, there’s little to no research supporting these claims.

Collagen has, however, been shown to play a role in joint health. For instance, research has found that including collagen in the diet can help reduce joint pain and improve joint functionality in athletes, especially when consumed one hour before exercising. When combined with resistance training, it may also help older people build muscle.It may additionally help alleviate arthritis-related joint pain.

Since our bones are primarily made of collagen, bone mass also diminishes with age. This can increase the risk of developing bone-related diseases, such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. Potentially, collagen might help. For instance, one study found that long-term collagen peptide supplementation helped restore some lost bone in women with osteopenia or osteoporosis.

Tips to Include Sardines in Your Diet

With their mild, briny flavor, sardines are a versatile protein-rich option to incorporate into your weekly meal plan. Since most sardines come canned, there’s no cooking required. So they’re easy and convenient to add to meals and snacks or to enjoy right out of the can!

Or toss sardines on top of your favorite bowl of greens or salad. Need inspo? Try thisGreek Salad with Sardines. These tasty little fish also shine in pasta dishes likeLemon-Garlic Sardine FettuccineandSpicy Sardine Linguine.

Looking to jazz up your breakfast? Add sardines to your morning eggs for extra protein and a healthy dose of omega-3s and vitamin D.

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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Wild Planet Foods.Canned Sardines in Olive Oil.Srinivasan S, Durairaj B.Collagen isolation and characterization fromSardinella longiceps.J Adv Vet Anim Res. 2021;8(4):679-686. doi:10.5455/javar.2021.h560Geahchan S, Baharlouei P, RahmanA. Marine Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Wound Healing, Skin Anti-Aging, and Bone Regeneration.Mar Drugs. 2022;20(1):61. doi:10.3390/md20010061National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, et al.Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2080. doi:10.3390/nu15092080Khatri M, Naughton RJ, Clifford T, Harper LD, Corr L.The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review.Amino Acids. 2021;53(10):1493-1506. doi:10.1007/s00726-021-03072-xGarcía-Coronado JM, Martínez-Olvera L, Elizondo-Omaña RE, et al.Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Int Orthop. 2019;43(3):531-538. doi:10.1007/s00264-018-4211-5Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, König D.Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides in Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Long-Term Observation in Postmenopausal Women.J Bone Metab. 2021;28(3):207-213. doi:10.11005/jbm.2021.28.3.207

Sources

EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Wild Planet Foods.Canned Sardines in Olive Oil.Srinivasan S, Durairaj B.Collagen isolation and characterization fromSardinella longiceps.J Adv Vet Anim Res. 2021;8(4):679-686. doi:10.5455/javar.2021.h560Geahchan S, Baharlouei P, RahmanA. Marine Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Wound Healing, Skin Anti-Aging, and Bone Regeneration.Mar Drugs. 2022;20(1):61. doi:10.3390/md20010061National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, et al.Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2080. doi:10.3390/nu15092080Khatri M, Naughton RJ, Clifford T, Harper LD, Corr L.The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review.Amino Acids. 2021;53(10):1493-1506. doi:10.1007/s00726-021-03072-xGarcía-Coronado JM, Martínez-Olvera L, Elizondo-Omaña RE, et al.Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Int Orthop. 2019;43(3):531-538. doi:10.1007/s00264-018-4211-5Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, König D.Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides in Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Long-Term Observation in Postmenopausal Women.J Bone Metab. 2021;28(3):207-213. doi:10.11005/jbm.2021.28.3.207

EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

Wild Planet Foods.Canned Sardines in Olive Oil.Srinivasan S, Durairaj B.Collagen isolation and characterization fromSardinella longiceps.J Adv Vet Anim Res. 2021;8(4):679-686. doi:10.5455/javar.2021.h560Geahchan S, Baharlouei P, RahmanA. Marine Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Wound Healing, Skin Anti-Aging, and Bone Regeneration.Mar Drugs. 2022;20(1):61. doi:10.3390/md20010061National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, et al.Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2080. doi:10.3390/nu15092080Khatri M, Naughton RJ, Clifford T, Harper LD, Corr L.The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review.Amino Acids. 2021;53(10):1493-1506. doi:10.1007/s00726-021-03072-xGarcía-Coronado JM, Martínez-Olvera L, Elizondo-Omaña RE, et al.Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Int Orthop. 2019;43(3):531-538. doi:10.1007/s00264-018-4211-5Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, König D.Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides in Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Long-Term Observation in Postmenopausal Women.J Bone Metab. 2021;28(3):207-213. doi:10.11005/jbm.2021.28.3.207

Wild Planet Foods.Canned Sardines in Olive Oil.

Srinivasan S, Durairaj B.Collagen isolation and characterization fromSardinella longiceps.J Adv Vet Anim Res. 2021;8(4):679-686. doi:10.5455/javar.2021.h560

Geahchan S, Baharlouei P, RahmanA. Marine Collagen: A Promising Biomaterial for Wound Healing, Skin Anti-Aging, and Bone Regeneration.Mar Drugs. 2022;20(1):61. doi:10.3390/md20010061

National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements.Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

Pu SY, Huang YL, Pu CM, et al.Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2080. doi:10.3390/nu15092080

Khatri M, Naughton RJ, Clifford T, Harper LD, Corr L.The effects of collagen peptide supplementation on body composition, collagen synthesis, and recovery from joint injury and exercise: a systematic review.Amino Acids. 2021;53(10):1493-1506. doi:10.1007/s00726-021-03072-x

García-Coronado JM, Martínez-Olvera L, Elizondo-Omaña RE, et al.Effect of collagen supplementation on osteoarthritis symptoms: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Int Orthop. 2019;43(3):531-538. doi:10.1007/s00264-018-4211-5

Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, König D.Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides in Osteopenia and Osteoporosis: Long-Term Observation in Postmenopausal Women.J Bone Metab. 2021;28(3):207-213. doi:10.11005/jbm.2021.28.3.207