Collagen, as a type of protein, is the most abundant and widely distributed functional protein in mammals, accounting for about 25-35% of the total protein and 6% of the human body weight. In layman’s terms, collagen is the glue that holds your bones, muscles and skin together. It is the connecting bridge between skin, bones, tendons, ligaments and other important structures throughout the body. How about collagen supplements? Let Innova Nutra tell you the benefits for your health.
We often recognize collagen as a synonym for beauty and youth. Part of its role is to give structure, elasticity and firmness to the skin, hair and nails. Supplementing collagen can, to a certain extent, make up for the loss of collagen caused by the aging of the body as we age.
Collagen is based on glycine, hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline, and its molecular weight can reach hundreds of thousands to millions after polymerization. The production process of collagen powder utilizes the principle of hydrolysis, which is broken down into smaller peptides after enzyme treatment, thus producing collagen peptides or hydrolyzed collagen.
What Are the Main Ingredients in Collagen Supplements?
Collagen is a family of proteins. At least 30 types of collagen chain coding genes have been discovered, which can form more than 16 types of collagen molecules. According to their structure, they can be divided into different types such as fibrous collagen, basement membrane collagen, and microfibril collagen.
According to their distribution and functional characteristics in the body, collagen can be divided into interstitial collagen, basement membrane collagen and pericellular collagen. Among them, interstitial collagen molecules account for the vast majority of the collagen in the whole body, including type I, II and III collagen molecules.
Type I: account for the largest proportion and are mainly found in the skin, tendons, bones, ligaments and organs.
Type II: mainly found in cartilage, it cushions joints and provides support for bones.
Type III: found in muscles, arteries and organs.
For making collagen supplements, you need to choose the corresponding type of collagen and produce powder products through relevant technologies.
The main component of collagen powder is collagen peptides, which are small-chain amino acids such as glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine produced by hydrolysis (i.e. enzymatic breakdown) of animal tissue. But depending on the source, the amino acid composition will vary slightly. If you are wondering about the difference between collagen and collagen peptides, you can get the answer from this principle.
A complete collagen powder product often adds other ingredients to increase the diversity of taste. For example, many collagen powders contain natural flavors, usually extracted from fruits or essential oils. In addition to natural flavors, artificial flavors may be added to imitate flavors as diverse as chocolate, yogurt, and fruit.
What Food Is Rich in Collagen?
When studying foods rich in collagen, it was found that ligaments, tendons, cartilage and other parts are rich in connective tissue and usually have high collagen content. The most common ones are tendons and cartilage of various edible land animals, as well as seafood and fish. And they all have one thing in common: after a long period of stewing, collagen will hydrolyze to form a viscous sol, and after cooling, it will become a “jelly” state with a unique taste. If you want to supplement collagen, these food can be your choices:
Fish and Seafood
Fish skin and bones are also rich in collagen, especially type I collagen. The collagen content in aquatic animals is higher than that in terrestrial animals. For example, the protein content of silver carp, bighead carp and grass carp skin is 25.9%, 23.6% and 29.8% respectively, which are higher than the protein content of their corresponding fish meat: 17.8%, 15.3% and 16.6%. The collagen content in fish skin can be as high as 80% of its total protein.
Animal Skins
The skin of some animals is also a good source of collagen, the most common of which are pig skin and chicken skin. The collagen fiber structure of pig skin is dense, so the texture is elastic. After stewing, the collagen in pig skin will break down into gelatin. In contrast, the collagen structure of chicken skin is similar, but the content is less.
Bone Broth
We know that bones contain a high content of collagen, so stewing and roasting bones in a specific way can extract collagen for consumption. The ingredients used can be beef bones, pork bones, chicken feet, etc.
Other Foods
The foods I am going to introduce do not contain collagen itself, but they play a significant role in the synthesis of collagen. Which may include:
- Egg whites – rich in proline, an amino acid that makes up collagen.
- Citrus Fruits and bell peppers – rich in vitamin C, it is also a part of collagen synthesis, which helps stabilize the collagen molecules and promotes their tighter structure.
- Berries – rich in oxidants and to help collagen minimize the impact of free radicals. Reducing skin inflammation and damage from UV rays.
What Does Collagen Supplements Do to the Body?
We have learned so much about the basic theories of collagen, however, most consumers are more concerned about the benefits of this type of protein. Let’s take a look at the benefits.
- Health promoting effect on skin, hair, muscles, blood vessels, bones, and eyes
- Improves immune function
- Inhibits cancer cells
- Activates cell function
- Stops bleeding quickly
- Treats arthritis and soreness
- Prevents skin aging and removes wrinkles
Collagen has so many benefits, but there are also doubts that Is it OK to take collagen powder every day? The answer could be yes, but we have to pay attention to the taking methods.
It is safe for an average adult to consume 2.5 to 15g of collagen per day. For those who need to maintain their health, it is recommended to supplement about 5g of collagen per day, and a maximum of 10g is sufficient. Because the body’s ability to absorb nutrients is limited, consuming too much will only cause additional metabolic burden. If your digestive system is relatively strong, it is recommended to take collagen supplements on an empty stomach. The body needs to rely on carrier proteins to assist in absorbing amino acids, and the absence of nutrient competition from food can enhance collagen absorption.
2024 Best Collagen Supplements
We may not be able to get enough collagen from our daily diet, or the cooking process is tedious. Choosing supplements is a quick, convenient and direct way. Based on the experience of existing consumers and the advice of authoritative health-oriented experts, we recommend some collagen powder supplement products for your reference.
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder
Ingredients: Collagen Type I & III
The collagen peptides is made from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle, it’s high in nutritional value and sustainably produced. This product also contains hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), can help the development of collagen.
Ingredients: Collagen Type I & III
Derived from bovine collagen sources and good for hair growing, skin and nails, can be taken directly with water or mixed with coffee or juice.
Sports Research Collagen Peptides
Ingredients: Collagen Type I & III
Single-sourced from Grass-Fed Brazilian Cows, free of harsh chemicals, gluten-free, and non-GMO verified.
Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Hydrolysate
Ingredients: Collagen Type I & III
Processed from grass-fed bovine, it supports joint health, promotes skin elasticity, and aids digestion. Paleo, certified keto, and gluten-free.
Are you looking for a fully qualified manufacturer? Then don’t miss the opportunity to learn about Innova Nutra. We have comprehensive powder supplement production capabilities for your brand, as we support custom powder formulation, strict manufacturing processes and private label service. As a professional supplement manufacturer in USA, we have a strict production system and efficient production equipment that can meet your required production volume. We also have sales experts who can answer your questions 24 hours a day. Contact us now for more information!