March 22, 2020

Collagen Types

Overview

There are countless beauty and dietary supplements. You may know about collagen, but you may not know that there are several types and varieties of it. It makes sense when you think about the fact it can come from a few different animals, and different types serve different purposes. Collagen synthesis happens constantly in our bodies. Collagen is formed through chains of triple helix amino acids (like proline and glycine, which are essential) that act as building blocks throughout our bodies. It's also the most abundant protein in our body. As we age, we slowly produce less and less collagen naturally. When this happens, there are many health issues you may encounter. Thankfully, there are things you can do to remedy these issues, as well as improve your overall health. Collagen supplements have so many benefits that extend far beyond beauty-boosting. Yes, it can help to make your skin glow, but its health benefits also include assisting with joint health and joint pain, strengthening your connective tissues, improving bone health, and even helping with weight loss. Most people take collagen for their skin health, but as you can see from the list above, it can do a lot for your body. Read on to learn more about the different types of collagen, and what they can do for your health.

What are the 5 different types of collagen?

There are five main types of collagen. The biggest difference is where the collagen comes from. It would be rare to find Type V and Type X in a supplement form. The collagen types that can be found in many popular supplements are Type I, Type II, and Type III. These are the most common given their health benefits and ability to help with natural collagen production.

-Type I collagen is a protein and helps form our bones, skin, blood vessel walls, cartilage, and other tissues. It’s also the most abundant type of collagen found in the human body. It’s the strongest type, meaning it works the most effective to heal and rebuild in your body.

-Type II collagen is found in the body’s cartilage. This means that it is used to support joint and connective tissue health.

-Type III collagen is similar to Type I and is largely found in our skin and organs. It’s the second most abundant type of collagen in your body. Both Type I and Type III help with elasticity in the skin and gut support.

-Type V is what composes the cells in the placenta of a woman during pregnancy.

-Type X is typically found within our cartilage and is important for bone and joint cartilage growth.

Which form of collagen is the best?

This is something that is constantly debated. From hydrolyzed collagen to collagen peptides, collagen protein, collagen hydrolysate, to collagen powder, and more, there are a lot of supplements out there. Not to mention, you can also get collagen and boost your natural production from various food sources that are procollagen like bone broth and foods that contain Vitamin C. The many different collagen forms can get confusing because there are also different collagen varieties. There's marine collagen, porcine collagen, bovine collagen, and chicken collagen. The most common form of collagen supplement is collagen powder, which can be dissolved in hot or cold liquids. People often use it to add to their smoothies as well. Some types may have collagen molecules that are too big to easily digest, which is why many people prefer types that are hydrolyzed or in peptide form. As for which form is best, that might just be for you to decide. Different forms work best for different people. What's most important is what else is included in the supplement. For example, our Kalumi BEAUTYfood bars are made from wild-caught marine collagen. They contain nothing artificial, and all the ingredients are non-gmo. They contain ingredients like yacon syrup and sweet potato, which actually help your body to boost its natural levels of collagen. They are more convenient than other forms, and are great for when you're on the go and need something filling, healthy, and energizing. This can be compared to various other products, which use additives that are not clean and do nothing to boost the effectiveness of the product or help you to produce collagen naturally.

Which type of collagen is best for bones?

The truth is, there isn't much of a difference between the benefits of collagen, even though there are a few types, which we mentioned above. Overall, they do pretty similar things to your body. However, the quality of the collagen is one of the key differences that have a direct effect on its effectiveness and the results you will see. Land mammals have a higher risk of contamination from things like hormones and additives. If you get a marine collagen product that is wild-caught and non-gmo, then you know you are getting one of the cleanest and best options. Marine collagen is also widely regarded as one of the best types for your skin health. It has also been used in some circumstances for wound healing. It's also important to ensure your supplement doesn't have any additives like sugar or flavoring that can hinder the benefits of collagen. Type II is known to be the best type of collagen for bones and joints and issues such as arthritis. Type I and Type II are great for skin health, and type III is good for your gut health and potentially muscle growth as well. Regardless of which type you take, you can still experience a large variety of benefits.

What types of collagen are in collagen peptides?

It's actually possible for any of the types of collagen we talked about to be in collagen peptides. Collagen peptides simply refer to the form that the collagen is in, and how it was broken down. Peptides are much smaller collagen molecules that are easier to break down and digest, meaning you have a better chance of achieving results with your supplement. So if you prefer bovine collagen, for example, you can find it in peptide form. The same goes for any of the other types of collagen we talked about in this article. Again, it's really all preference of what works for your body and your specific issues you are trying to address. Some people have sensitive stomachs, and can only handle hydrolyzed or peptide forms of collagen. On the other hand, some people just prefer regular collagen powder. One isn't necessarily better than the other, there are just some small differences that you have to take into consideration when taking the supplement. Whatever you decide, just remember to always read the label of the product and make sure you are getting the cleanest and best possible nutrients. This will make the collagen more effective, and ensure you get the most out of your supplement.