Collagen Peptides vs Marine Collagen, What’s The Difference?

With so many health supplements available, it's hard to know what you should be taking. One of the biggest supplements in the health and wellness world right now is collagen. Collagen is a protein found in our bodies. The less collagen you have, the less your body will be able to strengthen your connective tissues and help your skin to glow. Collagen protein is made of amino acids, which are essentially building blocks within the human body. Collagen supplements have really started to gain popularity now that we have more information on their effects on our bodies. There are many types of collagen and many benefits of collagen that almost anyone can see (and feel) results from. Collagen helps strengthen our connective tissue and bones, improves skin elasticity, helps with anti-aging, improves joint health and joint pain, and some people have found it helps with gut health. Collagen production decreases by 1% every year after the age of 20, making collagen supplements imperative to your health and natural collagen production. The great thing about collagen supplements is that there are no known side effects, meaning it's safe and effective for almost anyone. Read on to learn about two of the most popular types of collagen supplements, collagen peptides and marine collagen. 

Marine Collagen:

Marine collagen simply means it's derived from fish scales and fish skin. This collagen source has the best bioavailability out of all other standard sources. This means it has a smaller particle size that is more easily absorbed by your body. Due to its bioavailability, it is absorbed 1.5 times faster than other sources.¹ This is why people who are looking for more beauty benefits from their collagen supplementation typically prefer marine collagen. The more quickly it's absorbed, the more quickly you can see results. The health benefits of marine collagen are the same as with other collagen supplements. However, it is a cleaner, premium source of collagen. It is also the only pescatarian-friendly option for collagen supplements. 

Collagen Peptides:  

Collagen peptides are simply broken down in a different way than regular collagen supplements. The amino acid chains that create the molecules are shorter than those in other collagen supplements. Similarly to marine collagen, they are more bioavailable than other types of collagen. Essentially, the particles are broken down slightly more than with marine collagen, making absorption extremely easy for our bodies.²

Types of Supplements: 

So, which type of collagen should you be taking? There are a few different varieties that have a few different benefits. The different sources of collagen are bovine collagen, porcine collagen, marine collagen, and chicken collagen. Due to the fact that collagen supplements are derived from animals, there are no vegan options. Besides the different sources of collagen, there are also different types such as hydrolyzed collagen, collagen protein, and collagen peptides.  Regardless of which type you choose, you want to make sure it's high-quality and doesn't have additives or sweeteners. For example, if you choose bovine as your source of collagen, make sure it's grass-fed. If you choose marine collagen, make sure it's wild-caught. This way you can ensure everything you put into your body is clean and will benefit you. While collagen powders and pills are popular options, another thing to consider is our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars. They contain 8 grams of marine collagen, and 11-13 grams of protein. It's much easier to grab a bar and go than use a powder to mix into a smoothie or make homemade collagen bone broth, for example. Plus, they’re made entirely of clean ingredients that will boost your energy and work with the collagen to give you glowing skin.