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.

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. 
 
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 one of the best collagen manufacturers in the world, Gelita and Weishardt. These companies are the leaders in the collagen industry due to their technology and scientific research. Gelita and Weishardt have been focusing on developing premium collagen peptides that have been hydrolysed to the size that is most effective on the body 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 recognised the superiority of the product enough to invest in trademarking it
• 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 Body or Collagen Build - you’re consuming the most researched and scientifically studied collagen on the market with proven benefits.
 
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.

Myth 4 - Supplements with plain collagen are as effective as supplements with collagen and vitamin C
100% not true. This is the big difference between our formula and most products on the market. Vitamin C is absolutely essential for collagen synthesis. Vitamin C is the essential cofactor for the two enzymes required for collagen synthesis. It also provides other benefits to the skin — most significantly photoprotection and antioxidant protection. 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. 
 
Myth 5 - As soon as I start taking collagen my skin will start glowing immediately
We wish! Good things can take time and collagen is no exception. The scientific studies done on the collagen peptides we use show that the collagen can take up to eight weeks of daily use to give optimum results. Ideally you’d want to allow about two months for your body to start showing visible signs of improvement in the areas you are targeting.
 
However, with over 2000 reviews on Collagen Beauty™, you can read for yourself that many of our customers have noticed the benefits for their skin, hair and nails within weeks, sometimes even days. But it’s always best to consume the recommended amount daily for at least 8 weeks.
 
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 Organics 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 our website, which details everything from their production processes to their commitment to the highest animal welfare standards. You can read about Weishardt's sustainability on their website too. 
 
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 compensates for this decline of collagen production. If you want to prevent the signs of ageing, collagen supplements can definitely be a good place to start.
 
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.
 
There you have it! All the collagen myths you’ve been wondering about - busted at last. We can confidently say that our collagen range is unrivalled, but if you're not convinced yet, try one of our collagens and see for yourself. At the end of the day, real results speak louder than words.