If you want to enhance your body shape and boost the vitality of your skin, hair, tendons, bones and joints, then you need to consume enough collagen.
The problem? If you’re like most of us, you don’t hit your daily required intake of it. You’ll learn why in this evidence-based article. And you’ll also discover the best way to consume enough collagen, so that you can upgrade your health and well-being. Keep on reading!
What is Collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. The word comes from “kólla“, which is Greek for “glue”, and -gène, which means “something that produces” in French. In other words, collagen is a “glue-producing” nutrient – it functions to hold the structures in your body together.
Without collagen your bones would be extremely fragile, your muscles weak and atrophied, your skin thin and dry, and your nails brittle. But if you consume enough collagen, you’ll support your health and well-being in many different ways.
Here’s a taste of the benefits consuming enough collagen provides:
- Aids weight loss
Because collagen is nearly 90% protein, consuming it is an excellent way to aid weight loss. The reason is that raising your protein intake reduces food cravings, decreases your total calorie intake and supports weight loss (1).
- Increases skin radiance
Placebo-controlled research in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology shows that consuming collagen peptides increases skin moisture and collagen density, giving it a more radiant appearance. What’s more, multiple studies found that collagen supplements can reduce wrinkles and slow down skin aging (2, 3, 4, 5).
- Nourishes hair thickness and growth
Research found that consuming collagen increased hair thickness and growth in men and women between 21 and 38 years of age affected by androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) (6).
- Boosts muscle growth
Collagen is made up of nearly 90% protein, making it an excellent aid for those who want to build muscle. Hence, a double-blind placebo-controlled study found that when men involved in resistance training supplemented with 15 grams of collagen daily, they gained much more strength and muscle than those receiving a placebo (7).
- Enhances joint health
Consuming collagen can improve joint health. One reason for this is that collagen is loaded with proline, an amino acid that’s vital for joint structure (8, 9, 10).
- Supports cardiovascular health
One study found that daily collagen supplementation for six months significantly reduced artery stiffness in healthy adults. Their levels of “good” HDL cholesterol also increased by an average of 6% (11).
- Aids mental health
Researchers found that collagen type VI can protect brain cells against amyloid-beta proteins, the leading cause of Alzheimer’s disease. What’s more, collagen supports the formation of neuronal synapses, which may reduce your risk of schizophrenia (12, 13).
But here’s the problem! Nearly all of us miss out on the powers of collagen since we fail to get enough of it. This is because most of us rarely eat organ meats and connective tissues, which are the most abundant dietary sources of collagen.
The solution? It’s an easy one… take a collagen supplement! This is an easy way to get enough high-quality collagen so that you can boost your health, energy levels and well-being. Here’s how to select the best product.
How to Choose the Best Collagen Product?
As with every supplement, the quality among collagen products varies tremendously. While some can do wonders for your body, others do more harm than good. One reason is that some animals from which collagen is derived live in terrible conditions, which hampers collagen quality.
Most collagen is derived from grain-fed chickens that are crammed into small battery cages that are stacked tier-upon-tier. Not only is it terrible to treat animals like this, but this also creates low-quality and pro-inflammatory collagen.
Instead, you should invest in collagen derived from grass-fed and free-range cattle. Its collagen quality is superior and it contains significantly fewer pro-inflammatory properties that can wreak havoc on your health.
What’s more, by choosing a collagen supplement that comes from cattle rather than chicken, you’ll also get a product with a superior amino acid profile. The reason is that cattle collagen scores higher in the vital amino acids glycine and proline.
Another thing that’s important when choosing a supplement is going for one that contains collagen peptides. This means that the collagen has undergone enzymatic hydrolysis which leaves smaller and more bioactive peptides that are easier to digest.
The BEST Collagen Peptides on the Market Today!
We’ve evaluated every collagen product on the market and created an unbiased top three list so that you can save a lot of time. It’s simple! Go through the list below and select the right product for your needs, situation and preferences. Let’s dive in!
#1. Vital Proteins
If you’re looking for the best quality possible, then invest in the collagen peptides by Vital Proteins. This offers you hydrolyzed, non-GMO peptides that come from pasture-raised and grass-fed kosher cattle, which ensures a premium-quality, natural and sustainable source of collagen.
Each serving supplies you with a whopping 20 grams of protein and 3,719 mg of natural glycine. The product is soluble in cold and hot liquids, so you can easily add it to your favorite drinks such as coffee or a smoothie. And it’s one of the best, if not the best, tasting collagen product on the market.
Pros:
- The best premium-quality option
- Hydrolyzed peptides obtained from pasture-raised, grass-fed kosher
- No additives, flavorings, chemicals, etc.
- Non-GMO
- High in glycine
- Soluble in cold and hot liquids
- Superior taste
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
#2. Zhou Nutrition
If you’re on a low budget and want the best balance between quality and affordability, then you want to invest in the peptide proteins by Zhou Nutrition. It’s a 100% pure collagen peptide product that’s derived from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle. (So it contains no additives, flavorings or other unnecessary compounds.)
It dissolves well in your favorite liquids, whether they’re hot or cold. It’s non-GMO and hormone-free. And the manufacturers back you with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. So if, for any reason or no reason at all, you’re not satisfied, ask for a refund and you’ll get your money back. In other words, there’s no risk in trying the product today!
Pros:
- The best low-budget option
- Hydrolyzed collagen peptides obtained from grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle
- No additives, flavorings, chemicals, etc.
- Non-GMO
- Hormone-free
- Soluble in cold and hot liquids
- A 100% satisfaction guarantee backs you
Cons:
- Not derived from 100% grass-fed cattle
- Not the best tasting option
#3. Perfect Keto Collagen
If you want a top-notch product that also deepens your state of ketosis, then you want to invest in the collagen peptides by Perfect Keto. Why? Well first off, it comes from 100% grass-fed, USA-raised cattle. This means high-quality peptides without any deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest for production!
Besides, each serving supplies you with five grams of pure MCT oil powder, which increases your blood ketone levels. Each serving contains 1.5 grams of acacia fiber, which boosts gut health without raising blood sugar. It’s free from artificial flavors and chemicals. And it comes in four different flavors. (You should try the vanilla one – it’s delicious!)
Pros:
- Comes from 100% grass-fed cattle raised in the USA
- No clear cutting of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest to produce it
- Each serving contains five grams of pure MCT oil powder to boost ketone levels
- Each serving contains 1.5 grams of acacia fiber to support gut health
- Comes in four flavors
Cons:
- The stevia taste may be too strong for those without a sweet tooth
The Bottom Line on Collagen Protein Powder
It’s true. Consuming enough collagen supports your health and well-being in many ways. Those include supporting healthy body weight, aiding muscle growth, and boosting the vitality of your skin, joints, bones, connective tissue, and joints.
The problem? Nearly all of us fail to consume enough collagen since we rarely consume organ meats and connective tissues, which are the most abundant dietary sources of collagen.
Fortunately, we can ensure that we get enough collagen by consuming it in supplement form. But when you choose a product, it’s crucial to select the right one, since most collagen products come from animals that live in terrible conditions, which leaves low-quality and pro-inflammatory collagen.
If you want to experience all the life-enhancing benefits collagen can provide, then there are three products that are by far the best on the market.
Here’s What to Do Next…
If you want to get the absolute best quality on the market and don’t mind spending a little more for astonishing results, then you want to invest in the collagen peptides by Vital Proteins.
=> Click here to get the collagen proteins by Vital Proteins >>
If you’re on a low budget and want the best balance between quality and affordability, then you want to invest in peptide proteins by Zhou Nutrition.
=> Click here to get the collagen peptides by Zhou Nutrition >>
If you’re looking for a top-notch product that also deepens your state of ketosis, then you want to invest in the collagen peptides by Perfect Keto.
=> Click here to get the collagen peptides by Perfect Keto >>
All three options in this unbiased list are excellent. Choose the one that best fits your needs, situation and preferences to experience the powerful, life-enhancing benefits of collagen!
