What is collagen, and is it worth taking?
What is collagen?
Collagen is a type of protein our bodies produce naturally.
Do we need to take supplements?
My answer to this question is “up to you!”. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet already provides the protein our bodies need. Yes, our bodies can produce collagen naturally without needing any additional collagen supplements. BUT as we age, our bodies gradually produce less collagen…
Traditional oral collagen supplements (hydrolyzed collagen and collagen peptides) are sold in two forms: pills or powder that come from bovine (cow) and marine (fish).
For skin and hair, collagen type I and III together is considered the best combo. Since Type I is considered the most abundant type of collagen, and Type III provides elasticity and tissue health (Clinic, 2022). According to Mascio (2025), type I collagen makes up over 90% of our bodies total collagen.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, zinc, copper, and vitamin C are also needed for our bodies to produce collagen using amino acids, which are the building blocks of collagen. I’ve noticed several collagen firms adding vitamin C to their collagen products lately.
Collagen-rich foods
Protein from animal products contains all essential amino acids that make up collagen, in the form of collagen. Since collagen itself can only be sourced from animal products such as fish, beef, chicken with skin, eggs, and more.
On the other hand, plant-based foods only provide the amino acids needed to produce collagen – beans, tofu, quinoa, mushrooms, lentils, and more.
Would Collagen reverse signs of aging?
In my opinion, it wouldn’t, if you only pop a collagen pill alone without having enough or regular sleep, exercising, or eating well. Collagen supplements are complementary.
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen for UV protection. And bear in mind that our bodies don’t naturally know how to use collagen supplements. Is it for your overall health? For your skin? Or your hair?
The Collagen Powder I use
I’ve tried a few different brands in the past. One of them was Vital Protein’s collagen powder, 20 gr per serving. I currently use Orgain’s collagen powder, which also provides 20 grams peptides per serving, and it is also more affordable than Vital Proteins’ collagen powder. If you are in search of a good collagen powder, get one that provides 20 gr collagen per serving. I ve been also prepping little packs of collagen and colostrum mix. It’s much easier for me to consume this way – see the image below.
References
Clinic, C. (2022, May 26). Collagen: What It Is, Types, Function & Benefits. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen
Mascio, J. (2025). What is collagen made of? Collagen represents a quarter to a third of all protein content in mammals and st… Goldman Laboratories. https://goldmanlaboratories.com/blogs/blog/what-is-collagen-made-of?srsltid=AfmBOooSWydk2mQXhjbRcbqpGeCBYI9Y1uAblIjkn9A0xZq2LW6MBBJ0
