In the video titled “What Collagen Really Does to Your Body,” Dr. Eric Berg delves into the often-overlooked benefits of collagen beyond its popular reputation for improving hair, skin, and nails. While many use collagen as a beauty enhancement, its primary role is much more profound. Dr. Berg explains that collagen constitutes about 30% of the protein in our bodies and forms the essential connective tissues that hold us together—like tendons, ligaments, and bones.
As we age, our collagen levels significantly decrease, leading to issues such as sagging skin and joint problems. Surprisingly, most modern diets provide only 1-3% of protein from collagen, compared to what our ancestors consumed, which was rich in organ meats and bone broth. Dr. Berg emphasizes the importance of collagen in gut health, detoxification, and sleep, highlighting its role as a signaling molecule that prompts the body to repair and rebuild connective tissues.
To increase collagen intake, he suggests not only supplementation but also incorporating collagen-rich foods into your diet. Watch to learn how to maximize your collagen absorption for overall health benefits that extend far beyond beauty.
Watch the video by Dr. Eric Berg DC
Author Video Description
I’m sure you’ve heard of using collagen for skin, hair, and anti-aging, but does collagen really work? It does, but in more ways than you think! Find out about the real benefit of collagen you’ve probably never heard about. Learn more about collagen absorption to maximize the benefits!
If you found this helpful, watch these videos on collagen, joint health, and more!
▶️ https://youtu.be/CD2vs-Ud6bo
▶️ https://youtu.be/SHvL0_jvYGs
▶️ https://youtu.be/g0-F3nhHS-Q
0:00 Introduction: Collagen benefits
1:04 What is collagen?
2:45 More benefits of collagen
4:10 Collagen peptides
7:58 The best collagen sources
9:22 Improving collagen absorption and function
Collagen is often used for hair, skin, nails, and joints. It’s been used to prevent wrinkles and as a beauty product, but the real benefit of collagen has nothing to do with beauty!
Our ancestors ate animals nose to tail. This means they included organ meats, bone marrow, cartilage, and skin as vital parts of their diet.
Around 30% of the protein in your body is collagen. It makes up the connective tissue of the body. Your tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, and even a portion of your bones are made of collagen.
In modern times, most of our meat doesn’t contain much collagen. Only 1% to 3% of the protein we eat is collagen. This can lead to deficiencies in glycine, a key amino acid.
When you’re 17, you have the most collagen of your entire life. As we age, we lose a significant amount of collagen, leading to skin sagging, wrinkles, joint issues, and increased overall fragility.
Here are some of the surprising benefits of collagen:
•Antioxidant properties
•Helps increase glutathione
•Gut lining repair
•Glycine for sleep and detoxification
Most of the collagen from the diet breaks down into amino acids. Only 10% remains as collagen peptide chains.
Peptides are signaling molecules that tell the body to repair and rebuild connective tissue. These peptides trigger specific genes that activate the fibroblast cells in the body to produce collagen and elastin.
When you consume muscle meat, eggs, and whey protein, you’re only getting amino acids, not the signaling molecules for repairing and rebuilding.
To increase your collagen intake, you can try a collagen supplement. You can also consume collagen-rich foods, such as the skin on chicken or fish. You can use bones, joints, and cartilage to make a variety of stews and soups. Bone marrow is an excellent source of collagen!
Grass-fed, grass-finished beef has more collagen than conventional beef. You can even try mixing collagen powder in your coffee!
Don’t forget the cofactors, vitamin C, biotin, and trace minerals, which are vital for collagen absorption and function.
Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.
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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients, so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
#health #keto #ketodiet #weightloss #ketolifestyle #intermittentfasting #lowcarb
Thanks for watching! I hope you’ll try using collagen for more than just your hair, skin, and nails. I’ll see you in the next video.
Video “What Collagen Really Does to Your Body” was uploaded on 11/25/2025 to Youtube Channel Dr. Eric Berg DC


































Thank you for this clear and comprehensive presentation about a widely misunderstood subject .💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
I eat chicken gizzards for collagen. I boil the gizzards, and then I drink that broth after the meal.
I heard collagen can spike blood sugar so I quit taking it. Anyone else hear that too?
I wish I had a teacher like this guy when I was in school! I’d have fulfilled my dream to become an architect! The way he explains things that would normally be alien language to most people, he makes it seem so simple!
I also put collagen in my coffee.
I been taking collagen powder few years now in my coffee. Hippain gone. Not sure does anything noticeable for skin but hard to tell as dont have wrinkles. I had two bad falls. Once I tripped over my dog and fell on my hip on hard marble floor. I had nothing. Small bruised. I also had very bad fall on one knee with all my weight. Swollen knee few weeks then healed. Both times I thought I must have broken something but no. For me I keep taking it. (am 60).
Dr Berg, I've noticed ingesting bovine collagen triggers asthma attacks. Do recommend any particular marine collagen to try?
TY for these great tips, Dr Berg! 🙏🏻🫶🙌🌞
Thank you Doc
All you said is so precious ❤
I consume forever marine collagen and it works best that is great video Dr berg
Many Korean women look surpringly young and shiny, their face and skin. the secret is they are not only smart on beauty cosmetics but they eat more bone soups like beefy Galbitang, chicken and pig whole from their young age.
Or maybe people can make their own collagen ? I’d highly recommend Biosil
😰🤯…..😱😭❗
Why, WHY…..you scaring us like that….⁉
I don't wanna loose my collagen, nor my Elastin….😭🤕
Excellent Topic
👏👏👏👏
Which is why I love my Instant Pot!
Thank You 💗
Consume can of sardines 3x a week. I hope this is enough.
Skin & bones included with sardines; good source of collagen🎉
Thanks Dr. Berg. God bless you.
Vegans are going to hate hearing about this .
Dr Berg, since following your advice I have lost a stone in a month. Thank you for all your advice, keep up the good work 😊
Dr Berg's videos are life-saving for me,
Thank you again Dr. Berg!
Does plain collagen break a fast?
Taking it and still wrecked. Job is physically brutal.
We love you Dr. Berg
Dr..
Quail,duck or chick eggs?
Which’’s more healthy?
Also..plz do a show about buffalo milk, buffalo ghee, buffalo yogurt..
Thx thx ❤
So am I correct in understanding that we should boil the chicken carcass and then remove the bones and consume. What about the white frothy foam you get when you boil everything. Do I skim it off our stir it back in ???? Thank you I'm just not sure . Thank you so much for your time and sharing golden information to help us heal our bodies . Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and I look forward to the next video ❤
Bone broth has collagen
Hi Dr. Berg, I've tried to take collagen peptides in my coffee, etc., but it wreaks havoc with my blood glucose levels. I always stop immediately when I see my glucose numbers go up. Does this issue go away after a period of time of taking collagen, or will my blood glucose level always be elevated? Thanks for all you do for helping improve our health!
Another great video, thank you so much dr. Berg. 😊
Hi. What if someone has an Ehlers Danlos disease?
Hello dr Berg, It's a great topic .I am deeply grateful your advice..❤❤❤❤I will send it to my best friend.
We don’t see pork liver in the grocery stores…Or lamb ..I am allergic to beef and that is where most of collagen comes from in the grocery..Thank You Dr Berg for being my doctor❤
I appreciate you every day, Dr Berg!
Too bad the amino acids in collagen is heat sensitive. Any coffee above 70°C will destroy mutch of them.
🧪
Glycine Jell-o for gummy bears 🧸🛌 😜
🫘 if Almonds can become milk 🥛 you can become anything 💪🏼
My Jamaican South can't relate to the soft meat. I need the toughest of meat bone marrow and cartilage expeditiously 😂
Thank you Dr Berg
It was years ago when you told us of collagen/gelatin. I was walking 3 miles around a golf course at the time. After taking the grass fed beef gelatin in my coffee and NAC, I noticed muscle growth. Early 60's this was a bonus. At 68 I have zero pain in my body. I had diverticulitis and it was cured after a few years. I have a drawer full of supplements – no medications. I also take organic cold pressed olive oil daily. Nobody can guess my age and I love it.
IT'S SO WELL EXPLANATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH DOCTOR BERG FOR YOUR PRECIOUS TIME.
Problem, Canadian meats now lab grown. Vegetarian?
Watching this as I make my collagen drink.
1
Nose to tail 🤢🤮. I can’t.
Hello Dr Berg, thank you for your everything. I wanted to enquire about what causes acidic burning, and irritation and stabbing feeling in the back and in the lower abdomen plus all the organs as well as the legs, tests are mostly clean and no concrete answer has been found and what can I do so this stops .It also make walking, sitting and doing other exercises nearly impossible.
So eating collagen doesn't directly bring more collagen in but encourages peptides 10% to make more collagen
The fact that we get free videos on YouTube by Dr. Eric Berg is truly priceless; keeping education and knowledge alive. 👏🤷
??? What about gelatin & collagen, is it a good combination?
Try chicken feet, cook them first though _ Oh wash them as well.🤔😇😆
What are the do's and don'ts about the correct times and co-foods for collagen?
You said it's good to have it with VitC.
But is it better to have it during a meal? Far from a meal? Morning? Evening?
Or doesn't it matter so much?
Thanks for your answer.
Thanks for your dedication.😊