We’ve all heard of collagen and how important it is for beautiful, smooth skin. However, is all collagen created equal? It might surprise you to know that there are several types of collagen in your body. Each of these types support different areas. For example, did you know there are different types of collagen out there? There are marine collagen options and bovine collagen peptides. Then, there is collagen protein powder and collagen liquids. Additionally, you have probably seen Type I & III collagen on many product labels at the store.
Collagen is the most important and abundant structural protein in your body. Maintaining adequate amounts of collagen is important to enjoying your best health. As I mentioned, there are different types of collagen that perform different roles in the body — five to be exact! Which collagen types do you need, and how do you make sure you’re getting enough?
I’ll explain all that in just a moment. I will also share why you especially need Type I & III collagen. For now, let’s discuss what collagen is and the role it plays in keeping you healthy.
What Is Collagen?
Collagen is a hard, insoluble, and fibrous protein that makes up one-third of the protein in the human body. Think of collagen as the “glue” that holds your body together. Your skin, bones, connective tissue, cartilage, and joints all need collagen. It helps them to be healthy, strong, and flexible. Collagen protein also helps maintain a healthy intestinal barrier. Not surprisingly, it also supports healthy bones and joints.
Your body synthesizes collagen from special amino acids found in various foods. Our bodies also need certain minerals and vitamin C to manufacture collagen.
Most of us cannot get enough collagen from our diets alone. Even those eating an organic, Paleo diet have trouble getting as much collagen as our ancestors did, let alone enough for optimal health. High-sugar diets, UV sun exposure, and smoking all negatively impact collagen production.
Benefits of Taking Collagen
Collagen is fantastic for a variety of reasons. For those with leaky gut, collagen protein powder can be a gentle and effective way to repair it. For those looking to strengthen their joints, hair or nails, it can be a powerful addition to your daily routine.
Remember how I said there are different types of collagen? Each of these types fulfills a special role in the body. Because of this, it’s important to know which type you need in order to get the results you’re looking for.
In the case of leaky gut, collagen helps maintain and promote optimal gut lining health. This is because it is full of amino acids and peptides. The cells that line your intestinal tract love this stuff! So many of my patients report greater digestive comfort after using it. Supporting the gut lining is paramount for those concerned with autoimmunity, healthy thyroid function, and a balanced inflammatory response.
If you’re trying to stay active, collagen is a critical component of muscles, bones, and joint health. Maybe you’re more concerned about the look of your hair, skin, and nails. Again, collagen is an incredible nutrient that can help improve these areas. Why do we get wrinkles at the age of 40? Well, a lot of that has to do with not enough collagen to support our skin!
What are the different types of collagen, and which ones do you need?
The 3 Critical Types of Collagen
Although there are many types of collagen in your body, between 80 and 90% of the collagen in your body consists of these three types.
Type I: This is the most abundant type in your body. It’s key to your skin’s elasticity and hydration, and in keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay. It’s also a significant player in the strength of your nails, teeth, and thick, luxurious hair. Perhaps most importantly, it lends strength to your bones.
Type II: This type is found in cartilage. Cartilage is the connective tissue that provides structure for your body. It links your bones together and also supports the health of your spinal disks and eyes.
Type III: Critical for gut health, you find this type in intestines, muscles, and blood vessels. Type III collagen also forms the outermost layer of articular cartilage, which covers the ends of your bones and protects your joints.
Type I & III Collagen
When it comes to choosing the best types of collagen for your health, I recommend Types I & III. These types are the most important if you’re looking for collagen supplements. That’s because these give you the most beneficial combination you can get! In fact, you get numerous head-to-toe health benefits than simply taking Type II collagen alone.
Of course, there are many collagen supplements on the market today. The problem is that some are made with fillers and additives that do more harm than good. My grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen peptides come with pure, hydrolyzed Types I & III. This enables easier absorption, encouraging healthier skin, bones, hair, nails, and connective tissue.
What if you’re trying to lose weight? Bovine collagen peptides also support healthy weight management by optimizing lean muscle mass. It even helps curb sugar cravings by assisting with healthy insulin production and pancreatic function. My grass-fed, hydrolyzed collagen protein powder is also rich in essential amino acids many of us lack. One example of this is glycine, which supports a healthy mood and restful sleep.
Collagen Protein Powder
Unless you’ve got an 8-quart crock pot simmering bone broth from grass-fed, antibiotic-free cow bones all day every day, then you need high-quality collagen supplements! This collagen protein powder is one of my absolute favorite supplements. It’s so versatile, and I use it every single day.
There are many different collagen supplements out there. It can be challenging to find a clean, high-quality source. That’s why I custom-formulated the best hydrolyzed collagen powder. It’s sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised beef, and is also 100% non-GMO and made with kosher collagen. Plus, it’s keto friendly, and Paleo-approved.
Dietary collagen is difficult to digest and not very absorbable. By its nature, it’s very sticky (its name comes from kola, the Greek word for glue), so it tends to mix poorly into liquids.
Hydrolyzing collagen breaks up the difficult-to-digest proteins. This makes the peptides easy to digest. The result ensures far greater absorption and bioavailability. Hydrolyzing collagen also mixes well into hot or cold beverages without clumping!
These bovine collagen peptides are the best hydrolyzed collagen form on the market. Many who have tried it like to mix it with their smoothies or add it to their favorite recipes. The possibilities are endless!
Who Should Take Type I & III Collagen?
Frankly, there’s almost no one who wouldn’t benefit from additional collagen protein powder. However, because Type I & III collagen specifically supports skin, gut, bone, muscle, and joint health, it’s particularly helpful for anyone who:
- Is concerned about leaky gut and wants to maintain a healthy intestinal lining
- Is looking to alleviate occasional joint pain
- Wants to support healthy weight loss
- Cares about strong and healthy hair, skin, and nails
There are plenty of collagen supplements to choose from on the market. However, many are highly processed. High temperatures used during processing often denature delicate collagen peptides. This leaves you with a poor quality product.
My bovine collagen peptides are rich in Type I & III collagen and are sourced from grass-fed cows. Not only that, but it is free of GMOs, antibiotics, and hormones. It’s free of inflammatory ingredients like gluten, dairy, corn, soy, grains, and legumes. You also won’t find binders, fillers, and other unnecessary ingredients. Finally, I made sure to process it at a very low heat so that your body can absorb all the critical collagen peptides.
It’s completely flavorless, so you don’t have to worry about the taste. I love it in my morning smoothie or hot tea at night. You can add it to your favorite soup dessert for added protein!
Final Word on Type I & III Collagen
Collagen is one of the unsung heroes of health. This protein plays so many vital roles in the body, and a large majority of Americans don’t get enough of it.
Finding the right collagen supplements can be overwhelming. That’s why I’ve decided to take the guesswork out of it and give you only the best hydrolyzed collagen on the market. Simply to mix and easy to enjoy, it’s quite possibly the best collagen protein powder you’ll ever find. Grab a bag of my bovine collagen peptides today —– your body will thank you for it!
