If you want to have firmer skin, stronger bones, improved muscle mass, and possibly even a healthier heart, you should consider checking out collagen.
Collagen is known for providing plenty of health benefits; most notably, for our skin, but its benefits go beyond our skin. In the following article, we will dive into pressing questions about collagen powder including what it is, how to use it, and what benefits it can provide for your health. We’ll also, of course, give you our picks for the best collagen protein powder, so you can find the right one for your needs.
If you’re new to collagen and you want to try it out, this article is for you! If you feel like you’ve got the low-down on collagen protein and want to skip straight to our top picks, feel free to scroll down to the bottom of this guide. Now, without further ado, let’s get started!
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a specific type of protein that can be found in your skin and connective tissues that make up your muscles, bones, ligaments, etc. Collagen binds the structural component of these major parts of your body. The word “collagen” is derived from the Greek word “kólla” which means “glue” – and indeed, collagen acts as a “glue” to your skin, bones, muscles, etc.!
While our body produces collagen to support these different body parts, as we age, our collagen production decreases. Collagen decline can begin as early as 25 years old. This is why getting collagen through supplements would be a good idea. You can supplement with collagen powders, collagen peptides, type ii collagen, or even collagen peptides paired with amino acids. There are so many different types of collagen, with collagen peptides growing in popularity.
How Does Collagen Work?
Collagen is made of amino acids that promote skin, hair, and nail health. Many collagen supplements include vitamin C which works as a complementary ingredient to help stimulate natural collagen synthesis. There are many different collagen types to choose from, but we suggest choosing one based on your individual goals and desires.
If you are in search of a multi collagen supplement, then Ancient Nutrition might be the one for you. If you are looking for grass-fed collagen peptides to boost skin elasticity, try looking at Vital Proteins collagen. These are all gluten and dairy-free as well.
Because of its skin, hair, and nail benefits, many believe that collagen is a great anti-aging supplement.
Health Benefits Of Collagen
Collagen is known to benefit different parts of your body. There are a variety of benefits you can gain from taking collagen supplements, depending on their collagen types. Here are just some of the benefits you can receive when adding collagen powder to your daily diet.
1) Collagen Supports Your Skin
Collagen benefits different parts of your body, but it is mostly known for its benefits on the skin.
To begin with, collagen is a major component of your skin – it comprises a whopping 75-80% of your skin. Therefore, it’s no wonder that collagen is good for your skin – it makes up your skin!
The main role of collagen for your skin (and mostly to other body parts it serves) is to bind its connective tissues. For this reason, collagen is sometimes considered the “glue” for our skin.
2) Collagen Supports Bone And Joint Health
Collagen plays a crucial role in our bones and joints, too. Once our collagen level starts declining, it will negatively impact our bone health. Therefore, supplementing collagen would be a good idea to support your bones.
Collagen also benefits our joints because it supports our cartilage, a soft tissue that prevents our joints from grinding one another. The weakening of our cartilage is one of the most common reasons behind joint-related problems, which is why supporting it is very important to avoid such problems.
Aside from collagen, be sure to get calcium and vitamin D for healthier and stronger bones!
3) Collagen Can Boost Muscle Mass
Collagen is also present in your muscles, although not as much compared to your skin – it makes up for only 1-10% of our muscles. Still, collagen is needed to keep our muscles strong.
Collagen can also play a role in boosting muscle mass. Collagen is also present in your muscles – albeit, it only comprises 1-10% of your muscles. In this regard, collagen can boost and support your muscle mass, although if you’re serious about building muscles, it will not yield as many results compared to whey protein and creatine.
Still, collagen plays a structural role in our muscles. For instance, it is shown that collagen highly benefits people with sarcopenia, a condition where we lose muscle mass because of aging.
4) Collagen Is Good For The Heart
If benefiting your skin, bones, joints, and muscles is not enough, collagen also has cardiovascular benefits! Collagen could also support your heart health, too. Here are two main ways of how collagen can support your heart.
First, collagen provides structural integrity to your arteries. The stronger our arteries, the healthier our heart would be as the blood flow would be smoother.
Second, and interestingly, collagen can also increase our HDL or “good” cholesterol. HDL is good for the heart because it keeps away and removes other types of cholesterol from interrupting our blood flow.
Best Collagen Protein Powder
With countless collagen supplements on the market, picking and choosing which one to try can be daunting. While there isn’t the best collagen powder, there are brands that are of higher quality than others. You can also check products to make sure they use third party testing which will ensure the ingredients used are high-quality.
Within the umbrella of collagen supplements, there are a variety of types you can choose from. These include collagen peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, marine collagen, grass-fed bovine collagen, type 1 collagen, and more. There are others you can use, but these are the most popular options on the market.
If you are looking for your first (or next) collagen powder and you don’t know which brand to try out, consider checking out these three products, which are some of the best collagen powders!
1) Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein
Ancient Nutrition strongly adheres to diet and nutrition principles based on what our ancient ancestors ate to keep themselves strong and healthy. This is where the name comes from!
In addition to their Multi Collagen Protein, you may be familiar with other Ancient Nutrition supplements, such as their Organic SuperGreens powder. Ancient Nutrition’s collagen supplement is made from beef, chicken, fish, and eggshell membrane. This supplement is a good source of different types of collagen: Type I, II, III, V, and X collagens. This collagen supplement is grass-fed pasture-raised, which also ensures high quality.
Not only is this product high quality, but it includes a variety of supporting supplements to help with max absorption of collagen. It includes 20g of collagen, 18g protein, 200% DV of Vitamin C, and 4B CFU* probiotics! These ingredients work to increase skin elasticity, support bone density, and aid in joint function.
This is one of the best collagen powders that you can try. It’s easy to add to many foods including things like smoothies, coffee, and even energy bites! Not to mention its grass-fed pasture-raised making it one of the top-rated collagen powders you can buy.
If you’re a fan of “ancient nutrition,” you should check out Ancient Nutrition’s collagen supplement!
GET THE BEST PRICE ON ANCIENT NUTRITION MULTI COLLAGEN PROTEIN2) Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
If you are looking for a collagen supplement, you can’t miss Vital Proteins.
Vital Proteins is one of the most well-known names in the collagen supplement market, and for a good reason – Vital Proteins is made from grass-fed and pasture-raised cows. So, rest assured that their supplements don’t contain any substances or unwanted hormones that can cause havoc in your body.
Their collagen powders have been used by everyone, from influencers to celebrities, to your next-door neighbors. They’ve quickly become a household product for many who are health-focused.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON VITAL PROTEINS COLLAGEN PEPTIDES3) Nordic Naturals Marine Collagen
Nordic Naturals Marine Collagen is a collagen supplement that provides hydrolyzed collagen peptides to both provide the benefits of collagen supplements and to stimulate our own body’s collagen-producing cells.
Nordic Naturals contain Type 1 collagen which is sourced from wild-caught Arctic cod. It also contains vitamin C which, aside from being a great antioxidant, also plays a role in the formation of collagen. If you are looking for the best collagen supplements that include vitamin C, then trying out Nordic Natural Marine collagen is worth your time.
You can find more health information on their website.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON NORDIC NATURALS MARINE COLLAGENDoes Collagen Protein Powder Really Work?
The short answer is: yes. Collagen protein powder (and collagen supplements in general) works because this compound is naturally produced and used by our body, to begin with. Collagen supplementation is encouraged to replace the collagen that we lose because of aging. Therefore, collagen works well with our body because it is already produced and used by our body, to begin with. It specifically impacts our skin, hair and nails, as well as protecting us as a source of anti-aging.
But, just like with other types of supplements, always check the label and see if the supplement is potentially effective or not. Simply put, some supplements are simply ripoff or just ineffective, and these supplements give a bad name to good and effective supplements.
Is Collagen Protein Powder Vegan?
Unfortunately, most collagen powder is not vegan, and cannot be made vegan. Collagen is found in animals, specifically in their connective tissues, making it impossible to turn “vegan.”
There have been recent movements in the vegan world to popularize a type of “collagen” made using genetically modified yeast and bacteria. There is not a lot of research on this, but they are making strides trying to make vegan collagen peptides.
Is Collagen Protein Powder Safe?
So far, there is no documented or reported side effect or other health risks associated with taking collagen powder and collagen peptides supplements.
However, keep in mind that some collagen supplements contain possible allergens such as eggs and shellfish. So, if you are allergic to one of these foods, be sure to check the supplement you intend to buy and see for any allergens and other potentially harmful substances or ingredients.
Many of the best collagen supplements are sourced from grass-fed pasture-raised cows, making them not vegan-friendly. Grass-fed collagen is the highest quality of collagen, making it not the best choice if you are vegan or vegetarian.
Should You Try Collagen Protein Powder?
Collagen is simply a wonderful protein that plays an essential role in different parts of our body such as the skin, bones, joints, muscles, and even the heart. Many argue that collagen helps with anti-aging, increasing the strength of hair and nails, and even boosting skin health.
Our body naturally produces collagen, however, this production will decline with age – for some, it can be as early as 25 years old.
It is therefore important that we get enough collagen through supplements and diet. And of course, to get the most from our collagen supplements, be sure to live a healthy lifestyle – eat a healthy diet, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, managing stress better, etc.
Whether you prefer grass-fed bovine, collagen peptides that include amino acids, marine collagen, or hydrolyzed collagen, there are tons to choose from.
If you are thinking about adding collagen powder supplements to your diet, now is a great time to try it out. Collagen supplements are easy and safe supplements to test that carry a variety of benefits with them. If you start taking collagen powder supplements and experience any negative symptoms, contact a medical professional for help.