Plant-Based Collagen vs. Animal-Based Collagen: What’s the Difference?

When looking for different ways to support your overall health and wellness, you’ve probably heard of collagen. Collagen is a form of protein that’s naturally found in the body and is known to support a variety of different bodily functions. Our collagen stores ensure that we have healthy hairs, strong nails, firm skin, well-moving joints, as well as a properly functioning gut. As such, it’s clear that collagen is an essential substance that our bodies need in order to continue operating in tip top shape. As we get older, our collagen levels tend to naturally decline, which can lead to health issues like weak nails, hair loss, wrinkling skin, among other issues. In order to make up for the lack of collagen, it’s a great idea to incorporate a daily collagen supplement or other collagen-infused product into your daily routine.

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When it comes to choosing the right type of collagen supplement for you, it’s important to decide whether you want to use a plant-based or animal-based collagen supplement. For instance, if you’re someone who avoids parking in animal-based products, you’ll want to look into vegan collagen products made with organic plant-based ingredients. If you’re not sure where to begin when it comes to finding the perfect collagen supplement for you, don’t worry. We’re here to help with a breakdown of the differences between plant-based and animal-based collagen products.

What is Collagen?

As mentioned above, collagen is a form of protein naturally found in the body. When our collagen levels begin to lower over time, it can lead to unpleasant side-effects. As such, it’s a great idea to incorporate a collagen supplement into your daily routine in order to ensure that hair, skin, nails, and joints stay in the best shape possible.

What is Animal-Based Collagen?

Traditionally, collagen has been derived via animal sources. The most common forms of animal-based collagen include bovine, poultry, and marine collagen. Animal-based collagen is created by grinding down the hooves, bones, cartilages, ligaments, and other connective tissues of animals into a powder form. This powder can then be easily mixed into various food and drink options in order to get the amount of collagen that one needs. Some animal-based collagen supplements also come in a capsule form that can be taken along with other pills.

What is Plant-Based Collagen?

While animal-based collagen has long been the most popular form of collagen used in supplements, in more recent years, plant-based, or vegan, collagen has risen in popularity. This has been due to the fact that more people have begun to follow a vegan lifestyle, meaning that they do not consume or utilize products made from animal-based materials. Instead of being made with ground up animal parts, plant-based collagen is created via a fermentation process through which animal-free proteins that resemble animal-based proteins are created. As such, plant-based collagen can provide the wanted effects or animal-based collagen without the use of any living creatures.

Plant-based collagens are also considered by some to be more sustainable than animal-based collagens. This is because the farming processes used to create animal-based proteins can produce a great deal of strain on the environment. In comparison, the process that’s following in order to create plant-based protein is typically far less cumbersome.

What Are the Most Popular Collagen Products?

There are many different types of both plant-based and animal-based products that can help you incorporate collagen into your daily routine. Some of the most popular products include:

Skin Care Products

If you’re looking to support your skin, there are a number of collagen-infused skin care products that you can use, such as lotions, lip balms, body mists, eye creams, and face masks. As you apply them directly to your skin, collagen skin care products can help you to target the areas of your body that you want to focus on supporting the firmness and hydration of.

Dietary Supplements

Dietary collagen supplements are those that can be consumed via either powder or tablet form. These dietary supplements are typically taken in one serving daily. If you’re taking powder collagen supplements, try mixing them in your favorite smoothies, juices, soups, and baked goods. Or, if you’d prefer a tablet form of supplement, be sure to take them either in the morning when you wake up or at night right before bed. With a dietary collagen supplement, you can support a wide array of bodily functions.

In Conclusion

In order to keep our nails, skin, hair, joints, and gut healthy, it’s important to ensure that our bodies have proper amounts of collagen. As we age, our collagen levels deplete, so it’s a great idea to incorporate a collagen supplement into your daily routine. Depending on your personal preferences, there are both animal-based and plant-based collagen supplements that you can try. Now that you know the similarities and differences between plant-based and animal collagen, what form of collagen are you most excited to try?