Elizabeth Quan Kiu is a 61-year-old grandmother who takes collagen every day to support her joint health. Here, she writes about her experience. All views are her own.
My motto has always been "health is wealth."
I began running in my 30s and started paying closer attention to what I was putting in my body around the same time. I cut out processed foods, skipped the drive-thru, drank a daily green juice (made of aloe vera, celery and lime) and eliminated dairy from my diet. I ran my first marathon at 50 and continued to do long-distance runs — adding yoga, weight training and tai chi to my fitness routine.
Vital Note: This article has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Your licensed healthcare professional can best provide you with the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition and assist you as well in deciding whether a dietary supplement will be a helpful addition to your regimen.
In 2018, I decided to tryVital Proteins Beauty Collagen® in Lavender Lemon ($27; shop now). Supplements were always of interest to me but I was never loyal to a brand. The taste, ingredients or effects supplements had on my body usually kept me from buying one specific product on loop. What attracted me to Vital Proteins was its products’ contents. I stick to a mainly pescatarian diet and its simple (and short) list of premium ingredients was very appealing to me. I credit these clean ingredients with how easily my body processed them. I never experienced cramps or bloating with Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen®.
Within a few weeks I started feeling the benefits. Midwest winters are hard. The ice, snow and below-zero temperatures were never something I looked forward to. However, they didn’t keep me from lacing up my shoes, bundling up and logging a few miles each day. As I got older, I noticed pain in my joints, which were aggravated by the cold. It also didn’t help that I had also slipped on black ice and fallen a few times during these runs. With age, I noticed the pain would linger long after the incident. In my late 50s, I was diagnosed with arthritis in my shoulder. I’ve tried physical therapy to alleviate the discomfort but it wasn’t until I began taking collagen that I felt truly supported.
I’m very skeptical of what I put in my body. I have never been into fad diets or gimmicky products. I simply listen to how my body feels and responds to certain foods, drinks and vitamins. Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen® is one of the best products I’ve found to complement my active lifestyle.
I do not drink or smoke. I became very protective of my health at a young age because I was a single mother. I not only had to set an example for my girls, but I also wanted to do everything possible to ensure I was around for as long as they needed me. At 61, I became a grandmother. I want to be able to keep up with my grandson. Vital Proteins® is one of the few brands I trust to help me do that. Collagen has helped me stay active and it’s also benefited my skin health.** When I turned 60, I noticed my skin started losing its elasticity. After introducing Vital Proteins into my diet, the effects of aging seemed to have slowed down.**
I’m still a big fan of the Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen®, but I’m also a fan of the Morning Get Up & Glow™ collagen powder ($32; shop now) as well as the Energy Collagen Shot™ ($45; shop now). They’re so easy to use. I just add a scoop of the collagen powder in a glass of water, stir and start sipping. The Collagen Shots™ are great on their own but if I’m feeling fancy I pour it into a glass with sparkling water. All the products are so easy to use and dummy-proof which makes them easy to love. I’m pretty low maintenance and love a product that fits my lifestyle.
