Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and makes up almost one third of all types of proteins. Collagen is found in tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, as well as skin, bones and muscles.

Nearly 28 types of collagen have been identified, but collagen type I is the most common in skin, bone, teeth, tendon, ligaments, vascular ligature, and organs. Collagen type II is present in the cartilages. For collagen type III, the skin, muscle, and blood vessels are the most common sources of this protein.

 

Dr. Josh Axe: What is Collagen?

 

 

 

 

What is collagen used for?

 

Collagen is an essential building block of the body. It provides strength and support for many different types of tissues, including skin and nails. Our bodies synthesize collagen until we reach the age of about 25, but past that age our production of collagen reduces, causing us to lose elasticity in our skin and joints. Collagen supplements can help restore collagen levels in older people and promote healthy hair, nails and strong bones.

Doctors use collagen as a treatment for wound healing techniques as it helps to repair skin, bones and tendons. Nearly 90% of collagen in the body is type I collagen.

People, mostly women, use collagen for cosmetic purposes such as improving skin elasticity.

 

 

 

Animal vs Marine Collagen – What’s the Difference?

 

Both bovine and marine collagen provide the same benefits, with the slight advantage to using marine for its better absorption.

Animal collagen – mainly of bovine source – is the most popular type of collagen available in supplements on the market.

Native collagen type I can be extracted from different sources, however, the main source of extraction is bovine because of its availability as well as its biocompatibility.

Another common source is porcine byproducts. This source has high resemblance to human collagen, causing less allergies.

Bovine and porcine collagen are both extracted from animals. Bovine collagen is cheaper to extract, which makes it more commonly used in many products. It is believed that up to 3% of people are allergic to bovine collagen, but porcine collagen is more similar to human collagen so allergies are less common.

Premium collagen supplements are extracted from grass-fed cows, and sometimes enhanced with other nutrients for superior composition and bioavailability.

 

Marine collagen is extracted from cold water fish, such as salmon. Cheaper alternatives are extracted from tissues such as bones, skin, and scales or waste fish byproducts.

Fish collagen is absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently into the body which means it has superior bioavailability over animal collagen. This is due to its smaller particle size compared to other types of collagen. The smaller particle size allows an easier and faster uptake and transportation of the collagen peptides to the skin, bones and joints for the synthesis of new collagen.

 

 

 

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder

 

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder is sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine to ensure a high quality and sustainable source of this powerful ingredient. Made with natural vanilla flavor, it dissolves in just about any drink you add it to, like coffee, tea and smoothies.

 

 

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HUM Nutrition Collagen Love™ Skin Firming Supplement + Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C

 

HUM Nutrition Collagen Love™ Skin Firming Supplement with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C helps visibly strengthen, smooth, and firm your skin with a blend of collagen. This formula provides a unique skin-repair and -protection blend with collagen types I and III—essential for healthy-, young-looking skin. The restorative blend also has chondroitin sulfate to support visible firmness and elasticity in all the right places.

Start to see results in as little as four weeks!

 

 

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Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder

 

Live Conscious Collagen peptides are sourced from bovine sources certified as grass-fed and pasture-raised and hydrolyzed into small chains of amino acids that are easily digested. When you look healthier, you take years off your appearance. Genuine, high-quality products, 100% satisfaction guarantee.

 

Live Conscious Collagen Peptides Powder

 

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Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Collagen

 

Ancient Nutrition Collagen Powder is the most advanced collagen supplementation on the market. Ancient Nutrition proprietary formula includes three types of collagen from three different clean sources to help your body produce more collagen, such as type I and III to promote bone, tissue and joint health, plus type II collagen to support a healthy digestive tract. Ancient Nutrition’s Bone Broth Collagen Powder is also 100% free of GMOs and additives.

 

 

 

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Vital Proteins Wild Caught Marine Collagen Powder

 

Vital Proteins’ Marine Collagen is made from fish scales harvested in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii using sustainable methods. The marine collagen powder is rich in natural peptides and amino acids, making it a highly bio-available, digestible and soluble supplement for skin, hair, tendon, cartilage, bones, and joints.

 

 

 

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Truvani Wild Caught Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen Protein Powder

 

 Truvani collagen is sourced from wild-caught fish off the coast of Iceland, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, while the collagen type II comes from wild-caught fish off the coast of France. These unique cold waters deliver a high concentration of collagen type II protein, which helps repair and strengthen skin, hair, joints, ligaments and tendons.

This premium quality collagen powder is easy to add to your morning routine! Add it to your smoothie or coffee for an extra boost of energy and muscle repair after a workout.

 

 

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How to take collagen powder