Collagen Hydrolysed 300g

What is it?

Collagen is the connective tissue that accounts for up to 30% of proteins in our body.

It is the most important structural protein in our body and the primary protein in connective tissue such as bones, tendons, ligaments and cartilage. Collagen makes up 90% of connective tissue, 90% organic bone mass, and 70% of our skin.

Collagen is made primarily of three amino acids - proline, hydroxyproline and glycine. Glycine and proline are 10-20 times more concentrated than in other proteins and collagen has a unique structure that can't be found anywhere else.

This unique structure means collagen protein has unique functional properties over other proteins such as whey and casein, partially attributing to joint health, gut health, muscle growth, and an overall glowing appearance.

Collagen Supplements

Collagen supplements are relatively new but offer many benefits for joint and gut health, muscle growth, and skin appearance.

Collagen production naturally begins to slow from our early 20s and by the time we are in our 60s collagen levels are around half. This can give way to joint stiffness, weaker bones, more wrinkles, saggy skin, and thinner hair and nails.

There are 16 types of collagen in our body and this product is type one which is the most common type and accounts for 90% of collagen in our body. It is made of densely packed eosinophilic fibres which form skin, tendon and connective tissue, ligature, organs, and the components of bone.

Type one collagen is very important for wound healing, giving skin its stretchy and elastic quality, and holding together tissue so it doesn’t tear. Type one collagen fibrils are stronger than steel, gram for gram.

Joint and Skin Health

Collagen forms the elastic netting that supports the protective tissues in joints and is essential to giving skin elasticity and strength.

In this study 147 athletes suffering from activity-related joint pain were given collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement and experienced reduced joint pain when resting, walking, lifting, standing, and carrying objects.

Studies have shown that hydrolysed collagen is absorbed in the gut and then delivered to skin and joints through the blood stream. As you age, your body produces less and lower-quality collagen. One of the visible signs of this is in your skin, which becomes less firm and supple. Cartilage also weakens with age.

Collagen may help to prevent stretch marks from forming by increasing skin elasticity.

Collagen peptides may also help reduce signs of aging like wrinkles, dryness and sagging skin. In this study 69% of people saw visible reductions in their facial lines.

Collagen Protein Powder

Hydrolysed collagen is a relatively new protein powder. It is an excellent source of high-quality protein (>90%) with no fat or carbohydrates. It's easily-dissolvable, rapid-digesting, odourless and tasteless (unflavoured). Supplementing with it is an easy way to increase protein intake to assist with joint and connective tissue repair.

Collagen contains 18 amino acids, including eight out of nine essential amino acids. Because one of the nine essential amino acids is not present (tryptophan) it is not technically a complete protein. Therefore, it may not be the best protein shake to have after exercise, if trying to achieve maximum muscle development.

Due to the way your body uses amino acids to build muscle, bone, cartilage, skin, hair, connective tissue, etc - this product is better thought of as a supplement for supporting connective tissue and joint strength.

It can be taken anytime of the day. It can be mixed with water and sipped throughout from a drink bottle, combined with a NZProtein shake, added to hot beverages, and/or smoothies. It also performs well in baking.

Hydrolysate and Peptides

This product is collagen from bovine (beef) hides/bones that have been hydrolysed into an easily dissolvable, rapid-digesting form.

Hydrolysed simply means that it's been broken down into smaller pieces called peptides that are easily absorbed by the body. Therefore collagen hydrolysate, hydrolysed collagen, and collagen peptides are all the terms for the same product.

Because it's hydrolysed it's also tasteless and odourless.

Gelatin and Bone Broth

Gelatin is basically the cooked form of collagen, ie - collagen that's been only partially hydrolysed. The partially hydrolysed chains retain water which cause gelatin to gel, which is why it's used as an agent for thickening stews and desserts.

When collagen breaks down it becomes gelatin. Because gelatin is derived from collagen they both contain the same nutrients.

Gelatin and collagen are found naturally occuring in bone broth and cuts of meat that contain skin and bone (such as chicken skin and pork skin).

Bone broth is made by slowly cooking bones and cartilage to form gelatin. Collagen peptides are more readily absorbed into the bloodstream than gelatin, which can be harder to digest.

Some people may find taking hydrolysed collagen easier to take than gelatin because it's quick and convenient, cold-water soluble, and easy to digest.

Gut Health

Collagen is found naturally occuring in the connective tissue of the gut. It may help to support the protective lining of your digestive tract against leaky gut, where particles bypass intestines into the bloodstream. More research on this needs to be conducted.

Bovine vs Marine Collagen

Collagen is an animal product and may be extracted from various sources such as cows (bovine), chicken, or fish (marine). It is structurally all the same, though the amino acid ratio and concentration may vary between sources.

Bovine and marine sources are the two most common types sold on the market and this product is bovine collagen.

We selected bovine because fish (marine) collagen is very high in calcium - meaning care must be taken not to over-consume it as this can risk hypercalcemia, whereas bovine is not.

Side Effects

There are not many known risks for taking hydrolysed collagen. It may cause feelings of fullness and heartburn.

Not enough is known about safety during pregnancy and breast feeding.

Collagen is an animal product and is not vegan friendly.