Collagen has such a wide range of uses, from joint health to better skin.
Collagen is a compound found in your skin and in the connective tissues that make up your tendons, ligaments, muscles, and more. It’s the most abundant protein in the body. However, over time, aging breaks down the collagen in your body and makes it more difficult to produce more.
Collagen helps provide structure to your skin and fortify your bones. It may also relieve joint pain. Because of its potential health benefits, collagen powder has become a popular supplement. Made from animal tissues, this nutritional powder is typically hydrolyzed, which means the proteins have already been broken down, making it easier for your body to absorb it.
Taking collagen powder can help decrease the speed of aging by minimizing both dryness and wrinkles. Studies show that collagen provides significantly higher skin elasticity, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Collagen may also improve the hydration of skin and its overall appearance.
What are Collagen Peptides?
Collagen peptides are short chain amino acids naturally derived from collagen protein. But not all collagen peptides were created equally…we suggest looking for a dietary supplement with hydrolyzed collagen peptides.
When collagen peptides are hydrolyzed that just means the amino acids have been broken down, so it’s easier for your body to digest. Hydrolyzed collagen peptides can come from several different sources, such as fish and bovine. But when hydrolyzed collagen peptides are derived from fish, it becomes less potent than if it came from bovine. We highly recommend going with hydrolyzed collagen peptides that have been derived from organic, grass-fed bovine, due to their potency and effectiveness.
What's the Difference Between the Different Types of Collagen?
The Three Types of Collagen to Know About
♦ Type I is the most common type of collagen that’s found in skin, tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, and between organs. It’s also well known for its hair, skin, and nail benefits. Simply put, it’s a versatile protein that has many benefits for whole body health.
♦ Type II is predominantly located in your eyes and cartilage. It’s a very specific type of protein that helps improve your joint health. Since other types of collagens also have benefits for joints, finding a collagen dietary supplement that uses type II is not necessarily vital.
♦ Type III is found in your skin, muscles, and blood vessels. This type of collagen usually goes alongside Type I, complementing each other very well. Type III is also known for helping to improve your skin’s elasticity and smoothing about fine lines.
The most effective collagen peptides will list both Types I and III on their label. However, some collagen powders go overboard and include up to 5 or more different types of collagen. At first glance, this may seem great — the more the merrier, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case… by cramming more types of collagen into one dietary supplement, you’ll be getting less of the few important types that have been shown to improve your health.