Collagen/whey protein powders, cellulite and skin tightening

Whey protein, muscles and overall health

Milk whey protein is by far the best protein you can use after weight training or even after cardiovascular training.

It is the highest biological quality protein you can have for whole body protein requirements and muscle mass maintenance/building. This is because whey protein contains all the essential aminoacids in the right ratios and a very absorbable form.

In addition, because whey significantly boosts insulin secretion, it further boosts its own absorption by muscle cells (insulin boosts the absorption of protein by muscle cells - that’s one of its functions).

On this article we analyse everything related to whey and collagen protein powders and their impact on skin, muscle, fat tissue and the immune system.

Collagen protein and your skin

Although whey protein benefits skin, it is better suited for muscles. On the other hand, collagen is a protein that specifically suits the needs of skin, bone, fascia, tendons, and ligaments, as this is the type of protein predominantly found in those tissues.

Collagen is quite different to all other kinds of protein, as it is especially rich in glycine, proline and hydroxyproline. Hydroxyproline, specifically is the hallmark of collagen, as it is only found there in the human body.

Collagen, like all dietary proteins, is broken down in peptides in the gut, peptides enter the circulation and consequently stimulate collagen synthesis and also provide the building materials for such synthesis.

Can lack of protein cause cellulite or loose skin?

Most women today do not consume enough protein, because they were brainwashed for decades by “nutrition experts” and female magazine advice that “too much protein is bad for you” or that “humans need very little protein to build muscle and skin”.

Try to offer that silly advice to an athlete - they will laugh at you.

This misinformation and the consequent lack of protein in the diet is one of the reasons why so many women suffer from loose skin and cellulite these days.

Collagen and elastin in the skin are made of protein. With a low protein diet the body gradually uses up the protein stores in the skin and never replaces them, leading to skin looseness.

Whey/collagen protein skin benefits: skin tightness and cellulite prevention

So, for most women, the addition of a mix of collagen/whey protein in the diet is recommended after training, at a daily dosage of about 20 grams of whey and 10 grams of collagen.

This will ensure that both muscles and skin are replenished with all the necessary aminoacids they need for tissue repair, muscle growth and skin tightness.

Furthermore, given that loose skin is one of the hallmarks of cellulite, lack of protein is an important risk factor for cellulite. This is something that I have seen on countless of low protein-consuming clients at our cellulite clinic over the decades.

Simply put: lack of protein = more skin looseness + more cellulite.

So an adequate protein intake will help prevent both loose skin and cellulite.

Collagen vs whey: which is the best protein powder for skin tightening?

Firstly let me make it clear that “skin tightening” cannot be achieved after it is lost, solely by taking in more protein.

However, a decent protein intake can indeed help prevent loss of skin tightness - and cellulite.

Furthermore, an increased intake of protein can help with actual skin tightening, IF combined with an impactful exercise regime and/or deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, the strongest skin tightening technology known today.

The best protein for this purpose is a mix of collagen protein (or “vegan collagen” protein) combined with whey, as described above. The combination will offer the best anabolic effect for both skin and muscles.

Whey, insulin and sedentary living

Although whey's stimulation of insulin production is a blessing after training, it may prove a curse if you are sedentary.

This is because when you are sedentary and consume carbs and/or fat, excessive insulin stimulates the absorption of carbs and fat into the fat cells, leading to obesity and cellulite.

You may reduce the insulin-stimulating effect of whey protein by adding in your shake:

• Fibre, such as citrus fruit pectin, chia seeds, flax seeds, oat fibre etc

• Healthy fat, such as flax seeds, chia seeds or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), derived from coconut oil (but NOT whole coconut oil)

In this way, you will slow down whey’s digestion and the consequent insulin release.

However, the total amount of excess insulin secreted will still remain the same, so this is not a perfect solution.

We do not specifically know if collagen protein boosts insulin secretion, but we do know that all dietary protein has that effect (including steak or other source of protein), so we should assume that collagen powder intake should also boost insulin secretion, but perhaps not as much as whey.

So both whey and collagen powders should ideally be consumed just before or right after exercise.

When consuming whey protein is a very bad idea

On the other hand, if you are sedentary but on a low carb diet, excessive insulin will lead to hypoglycaemia, low energy and dizziness.

If you are on a low carb diet AND exercise at the same time, whey is an even worse idea, as it will further cause hypoglycaemia and dizziness.

If you are on diet AND exercise and use stevia as a sweetener (a known hypoglycaemic agent), hypoglycaemia is almost guaranteed.

So if you use whey just before/right after exercise, it is a good idea to include some carbs in your whey protein shake (perhaps some fruit), to avoid hypoglycaemia caused by exercise and whey.

And at all times try to avoid stevia as a sweetener.

In general, excessive insulin production at any other time except just before/right after exercise is not a good thing for health, as it leads to obesity and is a risk factor for insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome / pre-diabetes, full blown diabetes and cancer.

The same advice applies to collagen powder intake: ideally you should consume it just before/right after exercise.

Can whey/collagen protein make you fat?

In summary, a high quality collagen/whey protein combination is ideal as a muscle building / skin tightening supplement…

• if taken just before or immediately after real, vigorous exercise: running, cycling, intensive exercise classes etc - NOT pilates and yoga

• if consumed together with some fruit carbs: just before or immediately after vigorous exercise is the absolutely best time to have carbs

Whey cannot make you fat if consumed just before or right after vigorous exercise, if you are on a diet or if you fast.

Conversely, whey protein is detrimental to your health, your fat stores and cellulite if it is taken when sedentary. Whey could theoretically make you put on weight if consumed when sedentary. Collagen theoretically should have a similar, but more minor, effect.

All in all:

• Don’t expect to build muscle or tighten your skin solely with protein intake and without exercise (or at least deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency, for skin tightening).

• And conversely don’t expect to build muscle/skin with a low protein intake.

Both are needed.

Whey and immune system stimulation

Whey protein is a great way to boost your protein intake and thereby ensure muscle tissue repair and growth, as well as skin repair and firming (muscle and skin are made of protein).

However, whey is also a strong immune-stimulating food. Human and all animal milk contains immune compounds to assist with immune health in the first months of life. So whey protein is an immune-stimulating protein, as it contains multiple immune compounds in very concentrated form.

Collagen protein does not have such an effect.

Whey protein is not always innocent

Furthermore, whey may be either beneficial or detrimental to health, depending on the quality of the product and how it is used.

Most whey proteins that you can buy in "health food" and bodybuilding stores (probably 95% of the market) contain denatured (damaged) immune compounds, due to their harsh processing, such as cross-flow filtration, microfiltration, isolate filtration, hydrolysation and ion exchange.

Denatured immune compounds may irritate the immune system, causing intolerance reactions to sensitive people, which although mild in most cases, in the long run are detrimental to the immune system.

On the other hand, pure undenatured whey protein is the best thing you can have if you have a cold or the flu, together with pure, undenatured colostrum, vitamin C and some glutamine.

But this is material for another article…

Collagen is not known to have such an effect, but still it is good to look for a high quality collagen powder and don’t settle for cheap stuff.

Whey: the ultimate supplement for colds and flu

For the reasons described above, it is essential to ensure that you buy pure, "native", non-denatured whey which is as close to the original component of milk, as possible.

Of course, whey produced from organic or grass fed cows is preferred to that produced with industrial farming methods that include hormones, pesticides and other pollutants.

A real, pure whey protein provides:

• Immunoglobulins / IgG, including, among others, bovine serum albumin, alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulins

• Lactoferrin, which ensures proper iron supply into the cells that need it

• L-Cysteine, which is a precursor of glutathione, the most important antioxidant and detoxification factor in the human body

Collagen protein does not have such an effect.

Even the best whey protein in the world should be used in moderation

Because of it's powerful immune-stimulating effect, whey should not be used excessively or continuously without breaks.

But even more importantly, denatured whey should not be used at all, as it may gradually lead to unwanted immune stimulation (intolerances, allergies, auto-immunity etc).

Personally I use 10-20g of non-denatured whey every other morning, mixed with 5-10g of collagen, 2-5g of glutamine, 15g of high flavanol cocoa powder, 10,000IU of vitamin D and other healthful compounds. [That’s just me, of course. Please consult a health practitioner for advice personalised to your needs.]

On the other hand, when I go to the gym, I always use a shake with a full dose of 20-40g of non-denatured whey protein.

My favourite whey protein brand is Well Wisdom, which I have been using for years (I have absolutely no financial or other relation to that company or its distributors - this is my honest, unadulterated advice).

Have your whey totally undenatured and your collagen hydrolysed into peptides

As explained above, undenatured whey is the way to go, to avoid damaging the immunoglobulins contained in whey.

On the other hand, collagen peptides, i.e. collagen protein hydrolysed into smaller pieces (i.e. peptides) is the way to go, as whole collagen protein is quite indigestible.

My favourite collagen protein is Doctor's Best Collagen Types 1 & 3 Powder, which is specifically suited to skin, is of high quality, neutral tasting and well digestible.

For a collagen protein more suited to joint care (collagen type II) I use Arthred).

Again, I have absolutely no financial or other relation to these two companies or their distributors - this is my honest, unadulterated advice.

Don’t waste your money on collagen capsules or overpriced collagen drinks - buy a collagen power instead

Regarding collagen, I don’t have a favourite brand, but the best advice I can give is do not waste your money on collagen capsules or drinks - they are too poor value for money and do not provide enough quantity.

Why consume ten 1000mg capsules when you can mix 10g of a neutral tasting collagen powder in a shake?

So go for a collagen powder, which would allow you consume 5-10g of collagen a day.

In summary

The combination of pure, native, non-denatured protein and a high quality collagen protein is great as a protein supplement, especially:

• if used right after exercise

• if not used in excessive amounts or without breaks every few weeks

• if not used while sedentary

Normal, cheap, denatured whey should not be consumed at all, due to the damage of its immunoglobulins occurring during the manufacturing process.

This combination of collagen and whey is also the best protein supplement you can use to maintain skin firmness and help prevent cellulite

It can also help boost skin firmness while you undergo a course of deep-acting, high-power radio frequency and or high-power ultrasound cavitation ultrasound, the best treatments for skin tightening and cellulite.

For more detailed analysis on collagen and skin tightening/cellulite please click the link.

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Frequently asked questions

Does collagen make your bum bigger?
Will collagen powder make me gain weight?
Does whey protein make you fat?

And no, whey/collagen protein does not cause cellulite or make your bum bigger (unless you sit around too much and consume way too much whey protein at the same time).

PS: if you have any immune condition, please consult with your healthcare practitioner before you use whey/collagen protein.

Is whey protein good for skin?

Whey protein is indeed good for you skin, but collagen powder is even better. The combination of both also makes sense.

Can you take collagen and whey protein together?

Absolutely. As mentioned above, each of them has its own use, whey for muscles and less so for skin; and collagen for skin and joints and less for muscles.

Does collagen protein build muscle?

All protein helps with building muscle (always in combination with resistance training), so collagen protein will indeed help. But whey protein is more suited to muscle building.