Collagen as most people know it is the powder that celebrities take to look young. It actually does so much more. New research appears everyday to prove the extensive benefits of collagen.
With all its celebrity endorsements, it seems almost everyone mixes it into their morning coffee or smoothie. It makes for a really tasty and healthy taste but, in spite of its recent rise to fame, most people don’t even know the different types of collagen or their origin.
In reality, there are three main types of collagen, Type 1, 2, and 3, and two different sources: marine and bovine collagen. Let’s dive deeper into the world of collagen and take a closer look at its different types and sources
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein which makes up over 30 percent of the total protein in your body. Being the most abundant protein, it is found everywhere- from your skin to your bones. It maintains skin elasticity, strengthens joints and bones and even improves heart health. Collagen is necessary to almost every part of your body.
Most of our connective tissue is made up of collagen. Our body uses the vitamins and minerals in our diet to produce it. As we age, our body slowly stops making collagen on its own. This happens around the time we turn twenty-five but the process is so slow that we don’t see its effects until much later.
There are three main types of collagen:
- Type 1- the most common of the three, this type of collagen is mostly responsible for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It is found in skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
- Type 2- this type of collagen is most common in cartilage or the connective tissue found between bones
- Type 3- found in soft tissue, type 3 collagen helps heal wounds and cuts
Collagen Supplements
Signs of premature aging like wrinkles are all a result of collagen deficiencies. Aging might be natural but the first signs are always frightening especially if they come early.
Collagen comes in liquid and powder forms. You can mix it into drinks, smoothies or even baked goods. You can find lots of collagen recipes that make it easy to incorporate into your diet to make it healthier.
Benefits of Collagen Supplements:
- Enhances skin health: collagen protects the integrity of the skin and keeps it soft and smooth.
- Relieves bone and joint pain: collagen supplements enhance the joints and strengthen bones
- Prevents bone loss: Bones are mostly made of collagen which keeps them strong and healthy.
- Promotes heart health: the collagen in arteries help them stay firm and open. When your body starts losing collagen these arteries start closing slightly which could lead to various diseases.
Collagen supplements take collagen from other animals and mix them with other vitamins. There are two main sources of collagen: bovine and marine collagen.
Bovine Vs Marine collagen
Bovine Collagen
Bovine collagen comes from cows and other animals in the bovidae family. The hide of a cow (like our skin) has lots of collagen which makes it a great source for supplements. Bovine collagen contains all three types of collagen. Together, they make up over 90% of the collagen in our body. While being manufactured, the collagen peptides are broken down.
The major problem faced with bovine collagen is the way in which the cows are raised. Some cows are conventional feedlot cattle and others are grass-fed. When choosing a bovine collagen supplement avoid taking collagen produced through inhumane methods.
Benefits of bovine collagen:
- Relief from joint pain: bovine collagen has strengthens the tissues in joints so that they work smooth and you can rest pain-free
- Supports gut health: bovine collagen targets gut health as there is a lot of connective tissue to be found in the stomach.
- Heal and recovers: Type 2 marine collagen found in bovine collagen specifically helps in healing cuts and closing wounds for a speedy recovery.
- Cheaper & Accessible: there is a huge market for marine collagen so naturally, it is cheaper and more accessible.
Marine Collagen
Marine collagen comes from the skin of fish. It only contains types 1 and 3 collagen but it still makes up over 80% of the total collagen in our body. Since marine collagen comes solely from fish, it is pescatarian-friendly.
Some brands use farm-raised fish. They could be subject to various treatments or unhealthy substances. Most use open-water fish from nature. Make sure to check where your collagen is coming from so that your skin gets quality ingredients.
Benefits of marine collagen
- Improves skin: Marine collagen reduces signs of aging like wrinkles or fine lines. It maintains skin elasticity and even prevents dark spots or discoloration.
- Provides Antioxidant Protection: Since it consists of many amino acids, marine collagen has lots of antioxidants. These eliminate harmful free radicals preventing them from damaging nearby cells.
- Improves Bone Strength: Much like bovine collagen, marine collagen also enhances the bones by making them stronger and powerful.
- Pescatarian-friendly: This is a good option for people who avoid meat but still eat fish aka pescatarian's.
Why marine collagen?
We here at Skin Project use only fresh water marine collagen produced in small batches. Marine collagen is better in terms of bioavailability and sustainability. The fishing industry generates lots of waste which is actually a quality source for marine collagen. It is also 1.5 times more bioavailable in the body which means that it assimilates easier. Skin Project’s hydrolyzed marine collagen is broken down even more. That’s because we know you deserve speedy, quality results for your skin.
Conclusion
Now that you know the ins and outs of collagen, it's up to you to decide which type suits you best. Our personal preference is marine collagen for countless reasons but bovine collagen has its benefits, too. Either way, collagen is important if you want to maintain a healthy body. It plays a major role in maintaining skin elasticity and supports bones and joints. Before starting collagen, pick your goals and decide what’s best for your health. If you’re ready to try marine collagen, Skin Project is the place to start!
