Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. There is no additional cost to you whatsoever.
Collagen is probably the most plentiful protein within the human physique and a serious constructing block of connective tissue present in pores and skin, bones, muscle groups, ligaments, tendons, and lots of different physique elements. Most notably, although, collagen advantages the elasticity and hydration of the pores and skin. As we age, and the physique produces much less collagen, dry pores and skin and wrinkles are the consequence. Enter the newest must-have product within the unending seek for the fountain of youth: collagen dietary supplements. Enter the newest argument about what “environmentally pleasant” actually means.
Quality Collagen Beverage or Kardashian Kool-Aid?
While some individuals ensure collagen-rich foods like egg whites, fish, rooster, soy, garlic, and sure herbs are a constant a part of their food regimen, others want to get their collagen in just some handy gulps. Kourtney Kardashian touts the large advantages of a sizzling collagen beverage as a morning ritual she religiously observes. And something with a Kardashian stamp means thousands and thousands of others are following swimsuit, together with one brave journalist who claims this Kardashian Kool-Aid made her extra enticing, if just for the day.
U.S. customers had been anticipated to spend $293 million on collagen dietary supplements in 2020, up from $50 million in 2014. The collagen market is anticipated to succeed in $16.7 billion by 2028. And why not? It is believed that collagen has quite a lot of well being advantages. Along with slowing pores and skin’s getting older, collagen is promoted as offering aid for joint ache, boosting muscle mass, stopping bone loss, and bettering coronary heart well being. There are additionally unsubstantiated claims that collagen is sweet for mind well being, intestine well being, temper, hair, nails, and weight reduction.
But what’s actually in a collagen beverage or collagen dietary supplements? How secure are they? Are they environmentally pleasant? And is there no such factor as simply getting older gracefully anymore?
Where Does Synthetic Collagen Come From?
If including collagen to your food regimen is one thing that pursuits you, you will need to perceive the place this complement comes from and whether or not it can actually do a physique good. If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, or just attempting to embrace a extra plant-based food regimen, collagen might put a wrench in your efforts.
AminoFacts, an unbiased nonprofit that strives to convey transparency to sourcing and manufacturing processes round meals grade amino acids, has reviewed main collagen and collagen-boosting dietary supplements and are making it recognized that:
- Many collagen merchandise, if not all, are hydrolyzed and undergo a chemical course of that breaks down the collagen protein into peptides for quicker absorption however leads to harsh chemical brokers like hydrochloric acid.
- Collagen dietary supplements are made with supplies derived from animal elements and lots of have fillers and different components.
- The manufacture of collagen makes use of the inedible elements of slaughtered animals, like hooves, hair, pores and skin, feathers, and enamel from cows, chickens, pigs, and different creatures.
The contents of collagen merchandise will sound unappetizing to most individuals, however the elements are much more disturbing to those that help animal welfare or follow a plant-based life-style. Not figuring out the place collagen merchandise come from solely to find later that you’ve got ingested one thing you don’t basically agree with might be devastating. Very few collagen merchandise disclose how they treat the animals from whom the merchandise are sourced.
AminoFacts is asking on collagen producers to be extra clear concerning the animal sources used of their manufacturing course of, significantly for the plant-based and socially and environmentally aware customers who’ve nice considerations about what’s of their meals and — it follows — what goes into their our bodies.
For producers who want convincing of the worth of such transparency, the vegan meals market was valued at $14.2 billion in 2018. Some researchers anticipate that quantity to climb to over $31 billion by 2026.
The Greenwashing of Collagen Products
Labels on collagen merchandise don’t all the time point out the supply of the collagen. In reality, studying the labels shouldn’t be insightful normally. They usually embrace obscure advertising and marketing language like gluten-free, dairy-free, or keto- and paleo-friendly — all classes that collagen falls into naturally with none particular processing. Words like these are greenwashing their product by making environmental claims that may be deceptive to conscientious customers.
If you imagine collagen dietary supplements are the subsequent neatest thing in your search to enhance your physique, look, and thoughts, there are plant-based alternate options which can be really vegan and formulated to assist the physique produce its personal collagen. Described as collagen enhancers or boosters, these alternate options are made following the pure methodology of fermentation that creates amino acids from plant supplies in a course of a lot gentler than animal hydrolysis. Such merchandise additionally have a tendency to supply extra transparent labeling so you may really feel higher about what you’re shopping for and utilizing, whether or not you’re gulping it like a Kardashian or popping some nutritional vitamins.
Originally revealed on February 22, 2021, this text was up to date in January 2022.
