Nutrition

World Water Day: 5 Benefits of Adding Collagen to Your Water

Written by Dr. Chad Walding, DPT

Updated on February 15, 2024

One of the few things we absolutely need in order to live is water. In fact, our body can go longer without food than without water—by several weeks.

Do you want to know what makes water even better for you?

Adding collagen.

Adding hydrolyzed collagen to your daily intake of water intake can enhance the health benefits you feel on the inside and the outside.

In this article, we dive into the 5 benefits of adding collagen to your water, but first...what is collagen, and specifically—what is hydrolyzed collagen?

Table Of Contents

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body (1).

It’s something your body produces naturally, but its production declines with age—as early as your 20s.

Because collagen is most prominent in the joints, bones, cartilage, muscles, and skin, you will feel achier and your skin will feel looser when it’s lacking.

What Is the Difference Between Collagen and Hydrolyzed Collagen?

The difference between collagen and hydrolyzed collagen happens during the manufacturing process.

Collagen turns into hydrolyzed collagen through a process called hydrolysis, which is the breaking down of collagen into smaller chains of amino acids called peptides. This makes it easier and more efficient for your body to absorb (2, 3).

Because collagen is an amino acid, and amino acids are the building blocks of the body, it’s crucial to incorporate it into your daily wellness routine so that you can replenish the support system of the body.

Below, we dive into 5 benefits that come along with simply adding collagen to your water.

A woman pouring a scoop of NativePath collagen into a coffee mug

Replenish Lost Collagen with NativePath Collagen Peptides

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, it’s essential for the health of your bones, joints, skin, hair, nails, digestion, and more.

Add to Cart

5 Benefits of Drinking Water with Collagen

There’s no doubt that water comes with its whole host of benefits. I mean, approximately 60% of the human body (and 90% of our blood) is made up of water, so it must be important (4).

On top of that, we’re told to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day—which has been dubbed the “8x8 rule” (5). However, this rule has been widely criticized due to the fact that it’s limited to healthy adults in a temperate climate who live a pretty sedentary lifestyle.

What the Institute of Medicine now recommends is that the average woman should drink approximately 74 ounces (about 9 cups) of water per day, and the average man drink 101 ounces (about 13 cups) per day (6).

The table below is what Americans were drinking before and after the start of the 8x8 rule. The “before” dates back to a survey by Ershow and Cantor in 1977-78.

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Native Note: Caffeine (and alcoholic beverages like beer, but to a lesser extent) may be counted toward the daily total, where they used to not count toward one’s daily fluid intake.

1. Water Can Optimize Physical Performance

The normal turnover of water is approximately 4% of the total body weight in adults. So if you’re a 70 kg adult, this is equivalent to turning over 2,500-3,000 ml (or 84-101 fluid ounces) of water per day (7). And that’s excluding perspiration.

Based on the evidence derived from nine different articles, dehydration has a negative impact on physical performance for any activity lasting longer than 30 seconds (8, 9).

Even modest dehydration of a 2% reduction in body mass impairs normal bodily functions and performance (10).

In comes collagen, which demonstrated a significant increase in fat-free mass in a 2019 study conducted on 57 fit young men (11). This study took place over 12 weeks and included resistance training three times a week along with 15 grams of collagen peptides per day.

2. Water Enhances Energy & Brain Function

Did you know that those who drink their water increase their reaction time by 14% (12)?

Well, that’s what Dr. Caroline Edmonds and her team found. Not only did dehydration decrease cognitive performance, it also led to people being more confused and tense.

To make sure that you’re keeping your brain healthy and hydrated, follow these guidelines by the Institute of Medicine:

  • Females: 74 ounces of water per day (approximately 9 cups) 
  • Males: 101 ounces of water per day (approximately 13 cups)

3. Water Reduces Caloric Intake

In a 2016 study, 18,300 U.S. adults were surveyed on their dietary habits (13).

The findings: Those who increased their consumption of water by just 1% reduced their daily calorie intake as well as their consumption of saturated fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol.

Yes, you heard that right—for those who simply added 1 to 3 cups of water each day, their calorie intake decreased by 68 to 205 calories.

Native Tip: To help with weight loss, try swapping out your soda for a glass of water with Wild Berry Collagen.

4. Good Hydration Leads to Healthier, Supple Skin

As beauty aisles become more and more crowded with their billion-and-one anti-aging serums promising you radiant, younger-looking skin, water fades into the background.

That is until a study conducted in 2007 by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. This study showed that drinking 9.5 cups of water every day for four weeks altered skin density and thickness (14).

And if that not enough, a study by the University of Missouri, Columbia showed that drinking about 2 cups of water increased blood flow to the skin.

5. Lubricates the Joints

Did you know that cartilage—found in your joints and the disks of your spine—contains 80% water (15)?

Remaining hydrated can keep your cartilage feeling lumber and ache-free, whereas dehydration can bring on joint pain due to the reduction of your joints’ shock-absorbing ability.

The Perfect Mix of Water and Collagen

NativePath Blog Post Image

Drinking dozens of ounces of water each day can get...boring.

That’s why we love to mix it up by adding NativePath Wild Berry Grass-Fed Collagen to our water.

Or, if you’re not a berry person, try out our regular Grass-Fed Collagen with zero-flavor.

Simply put 1 to 2 scoops into a glass or water bottle of filtered water and stir until dissolved.

A woman pouring a scoop of NativePath wild berry collagen into a glass of water

Collagen With Sweet & Tart Berry Flavor

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, it’s essential for the health of your bones, joints, skin, hair, nails, digestion, and more.

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The Bottom Line

Water is a necessity for living. Without water, our cells can’t rebuild themselves, our body can’t cool down, nutrients can’t be transported, joints can’t be lubricated, and waste can’t be flushed through us (16).

Take this breakdown of water in the body, for instance— 

  • Brain & Heart: 73% water
  • Lungs: 83% water
  • Skin: 64% water
  • Muscles & Kidneys: 79% water
  • Bones: 31% water

The recommended daily intake of water is controversial, but it’s important to get at least 8 cups (1 Liter is the absolute bare minimum for survival). Factors that can increase your number of cups per day include humidity, wind, body temperature, and even breastfeeding status (17).

Support your body and drink ample amounts of water each day. To get the most bang for your buck (for your wallet and health), drink your water with NativePath grass-fed collagen peptides.

Dr. Chad Walding
Article by

Dr. Chad Walding

Dr. Chad Walding is the Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer at NativePath. He is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with a passion for helping people eat, move, and live in harmony with their natural state.

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    Medical Disclaimer

    This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Chad Walding nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement, or lifestyle program.

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