Collagen is all over the place – you’ll hear the beauty benefits touted by influencers on social media and see collagen supplements on the shelves at your local pharmacy. And the benefits of taking collagen are well documented – with over 30% of the human body made up of the stuff, it makes sense that consuming collagen is essential to the wellness of your skin, joints, muscles, and bones.
But the collagen supplement market isn’t always straightforward. Do you actually need supplements, or can you get enough collagen to support your body from a healthy diet alone? What do terms like integral collagen and collagen peptides actually mean? What does the research say, and what are the ethical concerns surrounding collagen?
Today we’re breaking down all of your questions about integral collagen, including:
- What is integral collagen?
- How can integral collagen keep your body stronger and healthier?
- What kind of integral collagen supplements are available on the market, and which ones are best for you?
So let’s dive in.
What is Integral Collagen?
Integral collagen is one of the ways collagen is created as a supplement. Much like collagen peptides, integral collagen often comes in an easy-to-dissolve powder. Integral collagen is a type of hydrolyzed collagen, which is collagen that is broken down into smaller chains of amino acids.
These smaller chains are easier for the body to dissolve and absorb while taking supplements. Collagen supplements help the body stay healthy, contributing to bone, joint, skin, and hair health.
Integral Collagen vs. Gelatin
Gelatin is formed when cooking bone broth, a more natural way of increasing your collagen consumption. Bone broth is created by simmering animal bones and ligaments for several hours, the water working to dissolve the collagen and minerals in the bones.
Bone broth contains gelatin, which is “cooked” collagen. This type of collagen is much less processed than integral collagen. When consuming gelatin, your body may have a harder time absorbing its nutrients in its current form.
On the other hand, integral collagen is hydrolyzed, increasing your body’s chances to dissolve it.
The main item that gelatin brings to the table over hydrolyzed collagen is a lot of other nutrients. There are vitamins and minerals in gelatin besides collagen that mix into it as the bone broth is simmering.
Integral Collagen vs. Collagen Peptides
Integral collagen and collagen peptides are very similar. They can be used interchangeably to refer to hydrolyzed collagen. Hydrolyzed collagen breaks down the amino acid chains, helping your body dissolve them. They are also both available in powder form or pill form.
Integral Collagen Side Effects
Collagen is a relatively new player on the field. Research is still being done about how exactly a collagen supplement works in the body. Research is still coming out about many facets of this supplement, and the preliminary studies are positive.
Looking at collagen’s effects, it maintains skin health, hair and nail health, and can reduce joint pain.
General Side Effects
There are a few known side effects of taking a collagen supplement.
- Hypercalcemia, or high calcium levels, can occur. Collagen, especially marine collagen, contains calcium. This can become an issue if you are taking a calcium supplement at the same time.
- Lingering Taste. While most collagen supplements are unflavored, they can leave an unpleasant, lingering aftertaste.
- Collagen supplements can suppress your appetite. Feeling satiated and overall lower hunger levels is a side effect of integral collagen.
- Food Allergies. Collagen is created from animal products. If you have a related food allergy, make sure to check the ingredients to make sure it is safe for you to take it.
How to Avoid Negative Side Effects
When thinking about starting a collagen supplement, be sure to discuss its potential addition with your healthcare provider. They can inform you about any interactions this supplement may have with other supplements, herbal remedies, prescription medications, or over-the-counter medications. Before trying a collagen supplement, make sure to consult with your doctor to make sure a supplement is right for you.
Once you know this supplement will not interact negatively with anything else you are taking, using the correct dosage will help mitigate any side effects you might have.
Starting the supplement at a lower than normal dosage and gradually increasing it gives your body time to get used to your new routine.
Collagen and Heavy Metals
One concern with collagen, and other bone-based dietary supplements, is heavy metal toxicity. Animal bones contain trace amounts of toxic metals like lead and cadmium, and mercury. After thorough investigation, studies found that the quantities of metals found in the collagen batches were so small that the risk was minimal.
Many companies test every batch of collagen for these toxic metals, ensuring the safety of their product.
Is a Collagen Supplement Right for You?
A collagen supplement is a great way to increase your body’s overall health, but it is not the only way! Even if you decide to start using a supplement, keep in mind that eating well and exercising are important parts of your body’s health as well.
Collagen supplements come with a lot of benefits. Collagen does amazing things in the body. As the body’s most abundant protein, it is the glue that holds the body together.
Collagen is created naturally by the body. Unfortunately, as we age, the body produces less and less. That, alongside many other lifestyle factors, influences our body’s collagen levels. Joint, skin, and bone problems can worsen as the body’s collagen levels drop.
Taking collagen is not only a solution to lower collagen levels in the body — it can benefit anyone!
Potential Benefits vs. Potential Side Effects
There are not many known short or long-term side effects of taking a collagen supplement. It is a safe and easy addition to your routine, and collagen supplements come with a wide variety of benefits.
Since collagen is so widespread throughout the body, it holds a lot of sway in the body’s overall structural health. Taking a collagen supplement can increase your skin health and clarity, as well as strengthen your hair.
Adding it to Your Daily Routine
Integral collagen often comes in either powder or pill form. For best results, consistency is key. If you are interested in a collagen supplement, try our Multi Collagen Peptide Powder. It is great in coffee and smoothies and easy to add to your daily routine.
Collagen Supplementation and Your Lifestyle
Collagen supplementation is not the only way to maintain healthy collagen levels. The body naturally produces collagen, and a healthy lifestyle can boost the body’s natural production. Staying hydrated and eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and other anti-inflammatory foods help the body maintain its collagen production.
The Best Collagen Supplements on the Market
When it comes to supplements, not all of your options are created equally. At Dr. Emil Nutrition, all of our supplements are formulated by Dr. Emil Hodzovic – yes, he’s a real person! Our supplements are made in the USA at a Certified GMP facility, and they’re formulated 100% free of hormones, dairy, gluten, and GMOs, so that you can feel confident in the supplements you choose to add to your routine.
Here are a few of the collagen products that our community can’t get enough of.
Multi Collagen Plus Capsules
With five types of collagen for maximum skin, hair, nail, and joint support, our Multi Collagen Plus capsules pack a powerful punch. With just three fast absorbing capsules a day, you can help your body retain its youthful glow. It’s a bestseller for a reason… and we recently won 'Best of the Best' and 'Best Value' rankings from Best View Reviews too!
🛍️ Bundle and save when you snag our bestselling Multi Collagen Plus and Bedtime Burn PM fat burner together in one powerful bundle >>
Multi Collagen Plus Biotin & Vitamin D
Biotin and collagen are the ultimate beauty dream team. They go together like peanut butter and jelly, like wishes and shooting stars, like Jim and Pam. So if you want to supercharge your beauty routine, consider trying this variation of our bestselling Multi Collagen Capsules with even more good stuff packed inside.
Multi Collagen Peptides Plus
When you drink your collagen peptides, they are significantly easier to absorb. Our collagen peptide powders come with 20 grams of hydrolyzed protein, perfect to mix in to hot or cold drinks or even a collagen smoothie.
In addition to our original unflavored Multi Collagen Peptides Plus Hyaluronic Acid, we offer a whole line of collagen peptide powders optimized for different benefits and in a variety of tasty flavors:
- Multi Collagen Peptides + Lean Fuel for weight management and metabolism support
- Multi Collagen Peptides + Immune Mushroom for focus, energy, and immune support
- Multi Collagen Peptides + Gut Health so the supplement doesn’t upset your stomach
- Multi Collagen Peptides + Sleep to get the most out of your beauty rest
- Multi Collagen Peptides + Matcha for sustained energy support
- Hot Cocoa Collagen for when you want a tasty boost for your winter wellness routine
- Pumpkin Collagen to make your favorite crave-worthy fall drink recipe healthier
How to Choose the Right Collagen Supplement for You
Collagen is a versatile supplement that packs a lot of benefits, and depending on which of those benefits you’re after, different supplements might work better for your unique goals. So while there are certainly top-tier integral collagen supplements that will be a good fit for most people, the “right” collagen for you ultimately depends on:
- Your specific wellness goals
- Your lifestyle
- What actually pays off for you
Here’s how to ID an integral collagen option that’s a good fit for your routine.
1. Think about your health and wellness goals… and what’s standing between you and achieving them.
The first step in picking a collagen supplement is figuring out what you want to achieve. Like mom always used to say, you can’t achieve a goal if you don’t set one! Once you have a specific realm of wellness to focus on, you can narrow your integral collagen search down to supplements that really fit the bill.
💅 If your goal is glowing, youthful skin and stronger nails, focus on collagen types I and III—these types are the building blocks for skin, hair, and nails.
🦴 If your priority is joint or bone health, type II collagen is key, as it helps maintain cartilage and keeps your joints flexible.
🍎 And if you’re looking for overall wellness, multi-collagen blends combine several types to cover all bases, so you get a full-spectrum approach in one supplement.
Knowing your goal will help you narrow down the thousands of options out there!
2. Consider what form of collagen you’ll actually be able to stick with.
Collagen supplements come in several forms, each with its own advantages.
Powders are versatile and easy to mix into your morning coffee, smoothies, or even soups, and they tend to be absorbed quickly.
Capsules are convenient, especially if you’re already juggling a supplement routine and want a simple on-the-go option.
Some formulas include added ingredients like hyaluronic acid, biotin, or vitamin D, which can supercharge benefits for your skin, hair, nails, and joints, which makes them an attractive choice if you want to get as many benefits as possible from the simplest routine you can.
Ultimately, the form of collagen that will help you reach your goals is the one you can stick with. For example if you’d love to be the kind of person who can whip up a nutritious smoothie every morning but you simply rarely have enough time to break out the blender, capsules might be less fun, but they’re the easier on-the-go choice.
3. Check the source.
Collagen can be derived from bovine (cow), marine (fish), or chicken sources. That might not seem super important, but the source of your collagen can affect absorption, flavor, and ethical considerations.
🐟 Marine collagen, for instance, is highly bioavailable and great for skin and beauty benefits
🐄 Bovine collagen offers strong support for joints and bones
If you have dietary restrictions, allergies, or prefer to avoid certain animal products, paying attention to the source ensures the supplement fits your lifestyle!
4. Make sure your supplements are third-party tested.
Quality matters. Reputable brands test every batch for purity, heavy metals, and contaminants, ensuring you get a supplement that’s both safe and effective. Look for labels that confirm third-party testing or certification since these provide reassurance that what’s on the bottle matches what’s inside.
5. Keep track of how your collagen supplement is working out for you!
Even the best collagen supplement won’t give instant results. Start with the recommended dose and allow your body time to respond. Track improvements in your skin, hair, nails, and joints over a few weeks.
Adjusting your dosage or switching formulas based on your results can help you find the perfect match for your body’s needs.
Integral collagen can be a powerful tool in your wellness routine.
While more research needs to be done to understand how collagen supplements work within the body, the reviews speak for themselves: integral collagen and collagen peptides can be an effective part of any wellness routine. Whether your goals include glossy hair, youthful skin, or healthy joints, Dr. Emil has a doctor-designed supplement to help you on your journey. Good luck!
