Over the last few years my joints have started to take a beating. Years of lifting, wrestling, football and Brazilian jiu-jitsu have and do continue to take their toll.
While it hasn’t stopped me, it does get annoying. The sometimes-constant joint pain and swelling can really get in the way of my workouts.
I know that joint pain and issues for people that workout is far from unusual. Most people that I know that have been lifting for any length of time have something on them that hurts. It’s normal unfortunately.
Just because it’s normal doesn’t mean that you have to tolerate it. About a year ago, I got really fed up with some of the nagging joint issues I was having and began to look for a specific supplement to help me out.
I have taken fish oil for years which is definitely helpful however, it was not fully fixing the issue. I was still feeling a lot of weakness when I was lifting and working out.
After looking around a bit, I came across a supplement called collagen peptides by Sports Research. I had never heard of collagen peptides before, but they had great reviews and I ended up trying them.
After using them on and off for about a year, I can confidently say that they have helped me tremendously. My joints feel almost as strong as ever.
My Sports Research collagen peptides review is going to tell you everything you need to know about them if you are in the market for a new joint supplement.
About Sports Research
If you are a veteran reader of Supplement Reviews Lab, then you probably recognize the name of this company from my review of their Vitamin D supplement, which I’m a big fan of.
Sports Research has been pumping out supplements since 1980 however, I only found them a few years ago on Amazon. They make some awesome supplements so I’m not sure why they are not more popular.
“Sports Research is a family-run company dedicated to providing the highest quality health and wellness products that complement your lifestyle and enhance your well-being. We believe in our supplements because we make them with trademark, proven ingredients. We sell only the most heavily researched, scientifically sound products-just like the Sports Research name implies.”- About Us section of the Sports Research site.
Overall, I like this company a lot. I have tried only a few of their supplements compared to how many they actually make. I didn’t realize they made as many as they did until I checked out their site.
From all of their supplements that I have looked at, they use high-quality ingredients without adding any junk or artificial ingredients. Their supplements are very reasonably priced.
They also make a lot of supplements that are keto and paleo-friendly which is a huge plus for me.
What are collagen peptides?
You have probably heard of collagen before. Collagen is the glue that holds our body together. It is the most abundant protein in our body.
Collagen is particularly found in our skin, bones and connective tissues. Collagen also gives our skin strength and keeps it smooth.
As we age, our bodies ability to produce collagen declines. This is basically why your body begins to break down as you get older.
With less collagen being produced by your body, your joints begin to weaken, and your skin begins to wrinkle. All a normal part of the aging process, but wouldn’t you want to slow that down if you could?
The good news is that you can. Maybe. Studies have found mixed results however, many have reported significant improvements in their skin and joint health after supplementing with a collagen supplement.
One type of collagen supplement that people have found great results with is collagen peptides. In simple language, collagen peptides are strands of collagen that are broken down through a chemical process.
Collagen peptides are more bioavailable and easier for the body to process and digest compared to the regular strands of collagen.
Most companies derive their collagen peptides from animals and fish however, they seem to absorb into the human body quite well.
How do they work?
After taking collagen peptides, they reportedly go to work in a similar fashion to whey protein, rebuilding and repairing various parts of our body to include our joints, bones and cartilage.
Think of them like a whey protein for your joints and skin.
The potential benefits of collagen peptides are healthier skin, healthier hair, stronger joints and stronger bones.
Collagen Peptides by Sports Research
Sports Research is one of the few companies that I have seen producing a Collagen Peptides supplement. I have started to see more recently, but it seems like they were one of the first to make it.
Their collagen peptides are derived from grass fed pasture-raised cows, which is a huge plus. You want something like this taken from healthy cows.
Sports Research Collagen Peptides are non-gmo, gluten free, keto friendly and manufactured in a good manufacturing practice (GMP) facility. They are also free of artificial colors, preservatives and sweeteners.
Ingredients
Vanilla bean- Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, natural flavors, sea salt, Luo Han Guo extract (monk fruit). That’s it.
Dark chocolate-Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides, cocoa powder, natural flavor, sea salt, stevia leaf extract and Luo Han Guo extract (monk fruit).
Unflavored-- Hydrolyzed bovine collagen peptides. Even simpler.
As you can see, the unflavored is literally just collagen peptides. Sports Research is not trying to hide anything within their supplements like other brands do.
Nutrition
Calories- 40
Protein-10 g
Sodium- 100 mg (4%).
These collagen peptides provide a decent amount of protein and amino acids, which is a plus and makes them a great addition to any protein shake.
Where to buy and price
The pricing varies however, I usually see it going between $27.00 and $33.00. Vitamin Shoppe currently is offering a buy one get one half off deal through 4/28/19 on the unflavored tub, which is a great deal.
Sports Research collagen peptides are also available on Amazon, which is where I usually get them. Amazon currently carries the vanilla bean flavor, which I highly recommend.
How to take
This is where I think the strength of this supplement lies. It comes in a powder similar to whey protein and it mixes extremely well.
You can drink it by adding it to shakes, smoothies or coffee. You can also eat it by adding it to things like oatmeal or yogurt. The unflavored obviously has no taste so you won’t even notice it’s in there.
I personally like adding it to coffee which is why I love the vanilla bean flavor. It works like a coffee creamer and makes it a little thicker while adding a nice vanilla taste to it. It’s a very subtle and natural vanilla taste.
I add a scoop to my coffee most mornings. After stirring it a few times, it usually always completely dissolves however, sometimes there can be a clump or two left over.
My experience
I have really noticed a few benefits since taking this. I am almost done with the vanilla bean tub which has 41 servings, so I have been taking it consistently for over a month.
Prior to that I had taken the unflavored single serve packets however, I did not take them consistently. I still noticed results though which is pretty cool.
Since taking it, I have noticed a reduction in joint pain to the point where I barely feel any pain most days. That’s with training Brazilian jiu-jitsu 3-4 times a week on top of working out.
My joints should be a mess, but they are holding up well with this stuff. They also are stronger than they were before.
One of the things I noticed most is that it seems to have mostly repaired a major issue for me. I had three knee surgeries for a torn meniscus on my right knee. Even though the last surgery was over 5 years ago, I was still having issues with flexibility and pain.
Since I started taking this, my knee almost feels back to normal. That’s pretty surprising as I have significantly less cartilage in it than I should.
I have been doing a lot of DDP yoga as well, which I highly attribute to helping repair my knee and other joints however, I feel like the collage peptides provided a lot of support.
It also seems like my joints are able to recover quicker. Even when they take a beating as they so often do, they are sore for less time. After a day, I’m usually good to go.
I don’t want to mislead you into thinking that this is the only joint supplement I use as I also use fish oil and CBD oil however, I can confidently say that my joints would not feel as good as they do without these peptides.
I’ve also noticed an improvement in my skin. It may be in my head, but it looks smoother, younger and tighter. Not something I am overly concerned about as a guy, but it’s a nice benefit!
Sports Research Collagen Peptides
Pros
- Price
- Mixes well
- Can be added to food or drinks
- Flavors
Cons
- Lack of research on supplement
- Can cause digestion issues for some
Final thoughts
After using these collagen peptides consistently, I definitely feel that they are worth buying and trying if you are looking for some extra joint support.
I am not sold on them being the miracle cure to joint issues as others have claimed however, I think they are a quality supplement that has some powerful potential benefits.
They have almost all positive reviews with many claiming huge improvements in their joints, skin and hair.
This is definitely something that I am going to buy again after my current tub runs out. They are very reasonably priced which gives me all the more reason to keep using them.
They are not for everyone however, if you are someone with joint issues or are experiencing the normal wear and tear from aging, it is definitely something worth looking into.
Thanks for reading,
Dan
P.S. Have you ever tried or heard of Sports Research collagen peptides? I’d love to hear you experience with them and questions below!
Great post and thank you for answering the question “what are collagen peptides?’
I have been taking collagen off and on for a few months but I am buying the big Costco jar. It is helping but I have wondered if the peptides would repair quicker than the product that I use.
I will try your recommendation next, as the stuff from Costco is $25 so I might as well put out the extra cash for a better form of collagen.
DDP yoga? When will we see a review on that? It looks amazing and I want to try it.
Hi Irma,
You’re welcome! I’ve never tried the ones from Costco so I’m not sure but I would definitely look into it. I am far from an expert on collagen, but the peptide form is supposed to absorb much better. These are only a bit more than what you’re paying at Costco as well. As far as DDP yoga, I will definitely do a review of it one day! I absolutely love it and will have a lot to write on it so I’m waiting for a day I have enough time to sit down and write a long post on it! Definitely soon though:) Thanks for your comment and thanks for stopping by!
Years of construction have taken their toll on my joints. I had never heard of Collagen peptides but after reading your review I may have to give it a shot! Thank you!
You’re welcome Jason! I bet it has. I honestly really like it and will continue to take it. I was a bit skeptical at first but the more I read about it the more I see people have similar results. I’d love to hear an update if you do try it out. Thanks for your comment and thanks for stopping by!
Putting your collagen supplement in coffee is brilliant. That would never have occurred to me!
This looks like a solid brand. I dug in a bit and it does have the types 1 and 3 of collagen which is what you want. I’ve been taking a different brand (also types 1 and 3) but it doesn’t have the amino acids which is a nice addition. This just might find a place among my supplements. And coffee!
Hi Jon,
It was actually recommended by Sports Research so I can’t take the credit but it works very well! Acts just like a creamer. Yes type 1 and 3 are what you want but I figured it would be a little too technical to get into in the post. Thanks for pointing that out though! It’s a big plus of this. I’d love to hear you opinion if you do give it a shot! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comment.
This is a great piece that is very comprehensive and thoroughly explains what collagen peptides are. I’ve researched and written on the topic of collagen as well, but i didn’t really touch on collagen peptides so i learned a lot from reading this.
Collagen is an important structural protein that is imperative for the integrity of our bones, cartilage and muscles. Furthermore (as you alluded to) it is beneficial to skin and hair as well.
Collagen deficiency is commonplace and if you don’t have time to prepare collagen rich meals yourself then you’ll need to find a good product like this one if you are going to endeavor to fortify that need for your body. I read some glowing reviews on this product so, it definitely has my interest.
Thanks again for this article, Brad
Hi Brad,
I’m glad you enjoyed it! That’s interesting to know as I didn’t know a deficiency in it was so common. It definitely has great reviews and you can add my review to them. I really enjoy it and am going to continue using it as long as it continues to work for me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you decide to give it a try. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comment!
I just started taking this and I must say it is well worth trying. My knees and leg muscles were in bad shape and doctors said take pills that didn’t seem to work. My sister suggested collagen. I read the reviews and decided to try it. I have been amazed!! My knee pain and leg muscles feel 100% better after just a week. As far as hair and skin, I haven’t noticed yet but look forward to the added benefit. I will definitely keep using.
Hi Debbie,
That’s wonderful! I was quite surprised with how helpful Collagen has been for me as well. Of everyone that I know that has tried it, I have never heard anything but positive reviews. I’m really glad it’s worked for you! Thanks for stopping by and telling me about your experience with it. I always like to hear others thoughts on the supplements I talk about.