Believe it or not, not all collagen is created equal. With over 30 types of collagen, how can you possibly sort through the confusion?
Fortunately, we’ve pulled together a Keto Zone Guide to Collagen.
There are three well-known types of collagen crucial for your health, and each type has different functions.
If you’re interested in taking collagen, you need to know the functions of each type and how it’ll benefit you.
Keto Zone Guide to Collagen
What is Collagen Powder?
Collagen powder is a supplemental powder derived from bones, hooves, skin, ligaments, and tendons of animals. Appetizing, huh?
While it may not be the most appealing of supplements, collagen contains powerful and effective nutrients that are valuable to the human body. In fact, many important amino acids found in collagen are absent in modern diets.
Basically, there are 3 ways you can get collagen on a daily basis:
- By drinking bone broth.
- If you eat small tiny bones in seafood (some bones are usually eaten when you eat salmon, for example).
- You can use a gelatin, collagen powder or supplements.
For most people, supplemental powder is the easiest way to routinely add collagen to your diet.
Ease of Collagen Powder
While both bone broth and tiny bones are great for health, they aren’t always easy to come by (or cost-effective) in a daily diet.
Collagen powder, on the other hand, is easy to use. You can add powder to coffee, tea, smoothies, soups and more. Unlike gelatin, powder dissolves easily and doesn’t “gel” or harden liquids.
You only need a small amount, about 2 tablespoons per day, to get the benefits boosted in research, as long as you are taking the right type of collagen.
How to Make Sure You’re Taking the Right Type of Collagen
Again, there are over 30 types of collagen, but here’s a breakdown of the 3 most important ones. The majority of collagen powders are made from cow, chicken, fish, pig or egg sources. For example, our Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder is a combination of chicken and fish.
Use our Keto Zone Guide to Collagen, to find out which type matches your health goals.
Type I Collagen
Type I Collagen makes up 90% of our hair, skin, and nails. If you’re looking to improve your appearance, Type I is the right type for you.
In fact, Type I Collagen can help ward off the hallmarks of skin aging, like the stretching out or thinning of the skin.
How you may ask? There are a few distinct ways:
1. Improved Elasticity of Skin and Tissue
A 2014 study of 46 women, ages 35-55, showed that 8 weeks of collagen powder supplementation improved skin elasticity within just 4 weeks (1).
When skin’s elasticity is improved it can stretch and rebound better, without sagging, to create a youthful appearance.
2. Reduced Wrinkles
Another 2014 study concluded that collagen supplementation reduced wrinkles after just 8 weeks of use (2).
Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology concluded that collagen supplementation not only improved skin moisture, but also produced younger-looking, less-fragmented skin (3).
3. Improved Skin and Tissue Structure
In a 2017 lab study, researchers found that 6 months of oral consumption of collagen increased the collagen content in the skin to improve the skin structure.
This study enhanced the density of different types of collagen (Type I and Type III) and resulted in improved color and luster of skin and fur. While the study was on mice, it showed a strong promise for human skin and hair as well (4).
How do you get Type I Collagen? It’s most abundant in bovine and marine collagen. However, there’s a relatively high incidence of allergy to bovine collagen among humans, in addition to some concerns of disease in cows transferred to humans. The best source of Type I Collagen is from fish. Check your collagen sources before consuming and make sure they include fish (5).
Type II Collagen
Type II Collagen is the most important form when you’re feeling sick and under-the-weather. This is one reason why good chicken soup or broth always makes people feel better when they’re sick.
In fact, Type II Collagen is known for its immune-boosting and joint-supporting properties.
How?
Type II Collagen improves your digestion and is a major part of our gut lining. Type II acts as a barrier between the substances we consume and our bloodstream, ultimately helping both digestion and immune function.
In addition, Type II Collagen is a major building block of cartilage, which is why it’s so crucial for joint health.
So if you’re looking to improve your immune function and joints, search for Type II Collagen.
Where does Type II come from? Chicken bone broth and bovine (or cow) sources.
Type III Collagen
Type III Collagen specifically promotes cardiovascular health and aids in the formation of arterial walls.
It’s often found alongside Type I Collagen in human and animal bodies.
Which means your gaining both cardiovascular and skin health improvements.
How is it made? Type III collagen supplements are often made from bovine (cow) and other animal sources.
Other Types of Collagen
While 80-90% of human collagen is Types I, II, and III, there are other less-known types as well. Two other important types are V and X, which are important for cell membranes, placenta health during pregnancy, bone formation, and more. When you consume chicken or bovine sources for collagen, you are usually getting an additional small amount of V and X types.
Your Best Collagen Powder
Fortunately, the Keto Zone Hydrolyzed Chicken Collagen and Marine Powder is a great source of these collagens, especially Types I, II, and III.
The benefits are unlimited, supporting your joints, skin, ligaments, heart, and digestive health. It’s easy to add your collagen to water, coffee, smoothies, and cooking. Collagen also adds a great source of essential amino acids to your everyday diet.
Bottom Line
If you’re not adding collagen powder to your diet, you’re likely not getting these great health-benefiting aminos on a regular basis. Thankfully, adding a daily scoop of hydrolyzed collagen powder to your morning coffee or your cooking, makes your life easier. And since Keto Zone Hydrolyzed Collagen Powder contains both chicken and marine collagens, you can get the 3 most important types in each scoop. Utilize our guide to collagen to help choose the best option for you.
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