Which type of collagen is best to drink? Revealing the detailed answer

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the most well-known protein to humans. It is distributed in connective tissues. Typically skin, tendons, cartilage and bones.

The monomers that make up collagen are amino acids, most commonly proline, glycine, and hydroxyproline. These amino acids create 3 strands, giving collagen its easily recognizable triple helix structure.

There are currently nearly 30 types of collagen that have been clarified in world literature. Among the types of collagen that have been decoded, type I collagen accounts for the largest proportion (about 90% of the total amount of collagen in the body).

Collagen acts as a glue, helping to bind and fix the state of tissues and cells. In addition, this component also actively participates in healing damage, immune response, transmitting information between cells and even cell movement.

Classification

As mentioned above, humans have found dozens of different types of collagen in terms of structure and properties. However, there are only 4 main types of collagen that are discussed the most, which are type I, type II, type III and type IV.

Type I

This is the type of collagen that accounts for the largest proportion and is also the most essential for skin, hair, nails and hair. Type I collagen begins to decline when you turn 25 and the older you get, the faster the decline.

When there is a lack of type I collagen, our skin will become wrinkled, rough, flaky and sagging. Along with this, hair will become thin and brittle; nails will be weak and increasingly brittle.

In addition to its beauty role, type I collagen is also an essential component of bones and tendons. In particular, this type of protein is also an irreplaceable factor in many diets.

Type II

Type II collagen participates in the formation of cartilage, so it is very important for people who exercise regularly (bodybuilding, competing in sports, …). This type of collagen is also an important ingredient in functional foods that help increase IQ.

Type III

In the bone marrow networks, there is often a lot of type III collagen. Drinks such as collagen peptides or functional foods made from scales, bones, and skin of marine fish are often rich in this special type of collagen.

Type IV

Compared to the 3 representatives mentioned above, type IV collagen accounts for a lower proportion. They participate in the purification, detoxification and appear scattered in the skin layers.

Why should we supplement collagen?

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, collagen is an essential component of many connective tissues in the human body. Most notably, skin tissue.

As people age, fibroblasts lose their function, so collagen production decreases, unable to compensate for the lost components. In another development, elastin – another structural protein of the skin also decreases at the same time. The result is that the skin becomes wrinkled and sagging.

For this reason, supplementing and compensating for the lack of collagen is extremely necessary. It helps us prevent and repel signs of skin aging, nourish the skin to be firmer, fuller, and more youthful.

In addition to its beauty role, collagen can also enhance muscle development, improve arthritis, protect the motor system, and help the body stay healthy, firm, and flexible. Now you know why we should supplement collagen, right?

Which form of collagen should we drink?

Which form of collagen should we drink is a question that attracts the attention of many people because if you choose the wrong one, it is both wasteful and ineffective. So what type of collagen should you drink?

Collagen in tablet form

This is collagen in a solid state, easy to preserve, and affordable. When used, it must go through a preparation process. The product is usually odorless and tasteless, so it is generally very easy to drink.

However, the shell of collagen tablets is gelatin (animal origin). Therefore, this type of collagen is not suitable for vegans. In addition, due to its solid texture, it may be difficult to swallow for some people.

When using collagen tablets, the common dose ranges from 3 – 15g/day (equivalent to 3 – 6 tablets/time, depending on the specific product). The process of reducing and releasing the active ingredients of collagen tablets takes a long time, so the effects are often slower than other types of collagen. However, they maintain their effectiveness for a long time, so they are still favored by many people.

Liquid collagen

This is a high-end collagen line recommended by many beauty experts. Because liquid collagen has the main ingredient of hydrolyzed collagen, the nutrients will be absorbed extremely quickly, taking effect after only a short time of being introduced into the body. When using, you should use it half an hour before breakfast or about 3 hours before lunch or dinner.

Because it does not have to go through the cleavage stage (in digestion), liquid collagen is very beneficial for those who are having digestive problems. In particular, you can combine liquid collagen with many drinks and foods such as yogurt, smoothies, coffee, etc.

In terms of collagen content, liquid collagen is somewhat weaker. Besides, they are also more sensitive to oxidizing agents and can produce unpleasant odors and damage if not properly preserved. In addition, the investment cost for this collagen line is also much more expensive than other types of collagen.

Powdered collagen

In this form, the product integrates many types of collagen at the same time, so users do not need to use many functional foods in combination. In addition, they can also dissolve in many drinks and are easily absorbed into the body. In addition, during the packaging and preservation process, the product often uses few additives, so it has less negative effects on human health.

However, the downside of powdered collagen is that it cannot dissolve completely in water, and it often has a slightly bitter taste, making it difficult to drink. In addition, the product is also packaged in large packages, making it quite inconvenient to carry around.

Through the above analysis, it can be seen that all types of collagen have their own advantages and some disadvantages. Therefore, which type of collagen to drink depends on the actual conditions, personal preferences and affordability of each person.

“Which type of collagen should I drink?” has been clarified in this article. Finally, I wish you find the right way to supplement collagen so that your skin becomes firmer and healthier. Best regards!