8 Collagen Myths Busted

It goes without saying that collagen is a hot commodity right now. But deciphering the effectiveness of different collagens on the market can be tricky business. We understand that with loads of information floating around, selecting the right product can be difficult. So we’ve set out to bust some collagen myths in hopes of clearing up a few untruths and making your experience with collagen a little smoother.

Collagen Myth 1 - Vegan Collagen

Arguably the most popular myth we’ve come across recently about collagen is that it can be vegan. To be frank, vegan collagen does not exist. At the present time, there’s no way to obtain collagen from a plant source, because by nature, collagen only occurs in animals - mainly in connective tissue such as bones, cartilage, skin, tendons and ligaments - which plants do not have. Collagen is a unique and specialised structural protein that only animals are capable of synthesising. So, plant derived collagen can't exist, because plants don’t have the tools to synthesise it. However, one may wonder how there came to be “vegan collagen” or “plant based collagen” on the market? This is because plants have compounds that can provide our body with some of the building blocks to boost collagen production. These include amino acids that alongside other compounds like vitamin C, Copper and Zinc, can boost your body to produce its own naturally occurring collagen. So it is possible to buy vegan or plant based “collagen boosters," but not plant derived collagen.

Collagen Myth 2 - All Collagen is Created Equal

This could not be further from the truth. Like anything in life, you have different providers that can create the same product with different levels of quality. Our collagen is sourced from Gelita and Weishardt, established collagen manufacturers. These companies have invested heavily in collagen technology and scientific research.Gelita and Weishardt have been focusing on developing premium collagen peptides that have been hydrolysed to a small peptide size for easy absorption and their collagen is backed by extensive scientific research. A shortcut to checking the quality of collagen is to be on the lookout for the following on the label:

• The word “Bioactive” - which means it will stimulate existing cells in the body to produce more collagen
• The word “Peptides” - which means the collagen has been broken down and can be readily used by our body through digestion and acting directly in the targeted area where they can be effective
• A “Registered Trademark” symbol - which means that a company has invested in protecting its unique ingredients.
• The phrase “Scientific Papers” - if a manufacturer is selling a functional collagen then they should have scientific studies behind them showing the benefits of their product

All of the different bioactive collagen peptides we use in our collagen range tick all of
the above - so you know when you’re consuming Collagen Beauty, Marine Collagen Beauty, Collagen Joints + Bones or Collagen Protein - you’re consuming collagen backed by scientific research.

Collagen Myth 3 - Marine Collagen is More Effective than Bovine Collagen

There are a lot of misconceptions about which source of collagen is more effective: bovine or marine.

Marine collagen is not superior to bovine collagen and neither is bovine collagen superior to marine. In fact, one is not “bigger” or “smaller” than the other in its natural form. The size of the collagen peptide relies only on the hydrolysis process. This is the process where collagen fibres are broken down into small peptide chains. So in terms of functionality and benefits, bovine and marine collagen are the same.

Collagen Myth 4 - Supplements with Plain Collagen are as Effective as Supplements with Collagen and Vitamin C

100% not true. This is one of the reasons we include it in our formula. Vitamin C is absolutely essential for collagen synthesis. Vitamin C is the essential cofactor for the two enzymes required for collagen synthesis. It also plays a role in the body's antioxidant processes. So by adding vitamin C into our Collagen Beauty™ formula, it enhances the benefits and effectiveness of the product as it gives your body not only extra collagen but also the tools it needs to produce more collagen.

Collagen Myth 5 - Collagen Works Overnight

Collagen Myth 6 - Sustainable Collagen Does not Exist

If you source your collagen from a reliable and trustworthy collagen manufacturer, a sustainable approach is absolutely possible. Here at Nutra Naturals we are passionate about sustainability, which is another reason why we chose to partner with Gelita and Weishardt. You can read Gelita’s latest Sustainability Report on their website, which details everything from their production processes to their commitment to the highest animal welfare standards. You can also read about Weishardt's sustainability on their website too.

Collagen Myth 7 - Collagen is Created Naturally by the Body, so There’s no Need to Supplement

Our skin is made up of over 75% collagen, which begins to degenerate in our mid 20s and is accelerated by other lifestyle and environmental factors. So taking collagen supplements is one way to help top up your dietary intake as this decline occurs. Collagen supplements can be an easy way to add extra collagen protein to your diet.

Collagen Myth 8 - Taking Collagen Supplements Makes Your Body Stop Producing its Own Collagen

Busted! Biomechanically speaking, our bodies were designed to naturally break down and produce new collagen. Our native collagen long chain is broken into small peptides, and these peptides send a signal to the body like an ‘alarm bell’, meaning that fragments of collagen are floating around so the body needs to start rebuilding them. So basically when we consume collagen peptides we get these ‘alarm fragments’ in larger amounts swimming in our body, which our cells detect and quickly start to put these fragments together to build more collagen. In this way collagen peptides stimulate our body’s ability to produce collagen. Therefore, taking collagen supplementation will trigger your body to produce more collagen naturally.

Shop Collagen Powder Online Today

There you have it! All the collagen myths you’ve been wondering about - busted at last. We're proud of our collagen range, so if you're not convinced yet, try one of our collagens and see for yourself and see for yourself.

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