Feb
How to Pick the Best Collagen Supplements
Welcome back to our 2 Part Series on collagen. In Part 1, we talked about the Top 8 Benefits of Collagen Supplementation. Now that you know more about it, let’s get into finding the best collagen supplements on the market!
From Part 1, we learned that collagen is the most abundant protein in our body. In addition, we learned that collagen is made of amino acids and vitamin C.
Hint: that’s why vitamin C is known as a “collagen booster.”
Collagens Roles in Health
Collagen is vital for our well-being. It helps us maintain and repair our bones, muscles, cartilage, and joints. It even repairs our blood vessels, eyesight, and digestive tract.
It also plays a significant role in our appearance by keeping our skin healthy and youthful and our hair and nails strong and long.
Sounds impressive, right? But sadly, our natural collagen levels drop as we age. And, that’s not all! Research shows our natural collagen production not only decreases with age but also with lifestyle factors. The most significant way we destroy our collagen levels are by:
- excessive sun exposure
- smoking
- excessive alcohol consumption
- and bad sleep habits
No wonder collagen is a popular supplement! Adding a collagen supplement is one way of getting your collagen needs to offset natural collagen loss from the inside out.
Collagen Supplements Types
- Powder
- Pill / Capsule
- Liquid
- Gummy
Collagen Rich Foods
But I can’t jump to the best collagen supplements without talking about food first! I always believe in getting most of our nutrients from food and then supplementing with vitamins and minerals as needed. So always do your best to get a variety of food groups, colors, and textures daily. Eat a healthy diet full of colorful antioxidants. Also, the foods highest in natural collagen are foods high in Lysine and Glycin. These foods are:
- Antioxidant-Rich Foods
- Organic Red Meats
- Organic Pasture-Raised Eggs
- Organic Pork
- Bone Broths ( This is my Fav )
- Organic Dairy
- Wild Caught fish
Tip: get your vitamin C from daily fruit and veggies, too, because collagen production and Vitamin C go hand in hand.
The Scoop on the Best Collagen Supplements
Choose Organic and Grass-fed
When shopping for the best collagen supplement, it’s essential to choose one that’s organic, grass-fed, and pasture-raised so that you are ingesting the cleanest collagen possible. Also, make sure the collagen is free from additives and fillers.
Hydrolyzed Collagen
I am always looking for supplements formulated with hydrolyzed collagen, which indicates that the collagen is broken down for easier digestion and absorption.
Third-Party Verification
I recommend looking for third-party verified products to ensure that the product lives up to its claims and contains the best ingredients possible. You don’t want to take something with shady ingredients not listed on the label. So look for collagen products verified by the following credible groups: NSF International, UL, and US Pharmacopeia.
Collagen Types
There are so many types of collagen, but these are the most researched for beauty and health benefits:
- Type I: the most common collagen type, found in our connective tissue
- Type ll: found in joints and cartilage
- Type III: found in our skin and blood vessels
Pick Type I and Type III for skin health and elasticity, and try type II for cartilage and joint health.
The 3 Best Collagen Supplements
Here are the best collagen supplements that I’ve found! I’ve tried many over the years, and these are tried, tested, and live up to the hype!
- My Top Pick: I’m currently using Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Peptides which contain Collagen Types I, II, III, V & X. I love it for healthy skin, hair, and nails, plus gut health.
- Best Overall: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder Supplement. I use this one in my coffee daily! It has collagen (Type I, III) and hyaluronic acid + vitamin C!!! Score!
- Best Keto and Paleo-Friendly: Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Hydrolysate dissolves quickly in hot or cool liquids. Does not congeal and is tasteless.
How Often to Take Collagen
I recommend taking one to two servings of collagen per day and sticking with it for at least three months. Consistency is key. For best results, I like mixing Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides into my morning cup of coffee. I’ve also mixed it into my oatmeal and smoothie.
You can try mixing it into juice or even plain water! Then in the evening, I take my Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Capsules with my dinner. You can even find hundreds of baked goods recipes using collagen.
Check out Part 1 of this series if you missed it!
Are you using collagen in your routine? Share below in the comments!
For more articles like this, check out :
- The Top 6 Benefits of Collagen Supplemnts
- My famous Gorgeous Skin Detox Salad
- The ever so popular Rosemary and Applecider Hair Rinse
- The Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Dental Care
- Intermittent Fasting 8 Mind-Blowing Benefits
- Intermittent Fasting Food List: What to Eat
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase after clicking my link. I only share brands and products that I love and trust.
