Hydrolysed Collagen vs. Traditional Collagen: What’s the Difference?

Struggling with dry skin, slow muscle recovery, or creaky joints? Collagen supplements like hydrolysed collagen and traditional bone broth both promise help for skin elasticity, joint health, and more.

This guide will break down the differences between these two types of proteins in clear steps. Grab a cuppa; let's make sense of collagen together.

Key Takeaways

• Hydrolysed collagen is broken down into small peptides, making it easy for your body to absorb quickly. It's good for skin, hair, and nails.
• Traditional collagen comes from foods like bone broth and helps build strong joints. It breaks down slower in your body than hydrolysed collagen.
• You can mix hydrolysed collagen in hot or cold drinks because it dissolves well. This makes taking your daily supplement easy.
• Eating foods with traditional collagen gives you more than protein; you get other nutrients too. But it takes more effort to prepare these foods compared to using a powder or capsule.
• Choosing between hydrolysed and traditional collagen depends on what health benefits you want and how you prefer to add them to your diet.

What is Hydrolysed Collagen?

Hydrolysed collagen is broken down from animal protein, like fish skin or chicken skin, into much smaller chains called peptides. These tiny pieces slip into your digestive system more easily than the bigger, jelly-like collagen fibres found in bone broth or jellies.

Definition and properties (Hydrolysed Collagen)

Hydrolysed collagen is collagen that has been broken down into tiny peptides. These small parts make it easy for your body to absorb and use fast. Many call it "collagen peptides" or "collagen hydrolysate".

This form mixes well in both hot tea and cold smoothies, so you can team it with your favourite drink without fuss. Fish type I collagen, like NATICOL, stands out for its great absorption.

As a protein supplement, these peptides are top-notch at binding water. That means they help keep skin plump by holding onto moisture—think bouncy cheeks instead of dry lines. Because the molecules are smaller than classic forms, they move quickly through the digestive system; no waiting about like old-style jellies or bone broth! Hydrolysed collagen comes from animals; it's not one for vegetarians or vegans but packs a punch in hair and nail health as part of daily dietary supplements.

How it is made (Hydrolysed Collagen)

Collagen hydrolysate comes from collagen-rich foods like animal bones or fish skins. Factories use a process called hydrolysis to break down large collagen proteins into smaller pieces called peptides.

This can be done with acid, alkali, high heat and pressure, but most often it uses special enzymes. These enzymes cut the long protein chains into bite-sized bits, making them easy for your gut to absorb—think of scissors cutting up a string of pearls.

The resulting hydrolysed collagen usually has a low molecular weight around 4,000 daltons; fish versions like NATICOL hit an even lower range at just 2 to 4 kDa.

“Enzymatic hydrolysis is key for gentle processing and better absorption.”

Manufacturers select sources such as cattle hides, pig skin or marine fish based on desired properties. Bovine-derived powder comes mostly from cows; marine options come from fish skins.

Some experts say nano-hydrolysed types are chopped so finely their fragments become extra tiny for faster uptake in your body—a bit like instant coffee compared with regular ground beans! These finished powders dissolve well in both hot and cold drinks due to their reduced size and altered structure—making them handy whether you fancy tea or cold smoothies after the gym.

Boosting hair and nail health with hydrolysed collagen

Smaller collagen peptides in hydrolysed collagen slip through your gut faster, so the helpful amino acids like glycine and proline reach your hair roots and nail beds quickly. Studies show that a daily scoop of 2.5 to 10 grams may help thicken weak nails and promote stronger hair growth within months.

Collagen supplements can be easily added to coffee, smoothies or even soup, making it simple to stick with your routine.

Collagen peptides also kickstart new collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production inside skin cells. This feeds both hair follicles and nail beds with what they crave for strength.

Good hydration from regular use helps fight dry scalp or brittle tips too. Even the European Food Safety Authority recognises hydrolysed options as safe protein sources for healthy tissue repair after injury or sports knocks.

For many over 35s who season their diet with vitamin C-rich citrus fruits alongside their morning pill habit, results often come quicker than waiting for paint to dry!

What is Traditional Collagen?

Traditional collagen is the full protein found in bones, chicken skin, and connective tissues. Your body uses it for building strong joints, keeping skin firm, and staying active as you age.

Definition and properties (Traditional Collagen)

Traditional collagen is a natural protein found in animal connective tissues like skin, bones, and tendons. It forms strong fibrils that hold everything together, much like glue for your joints and skin.

These big collagen molecules take time for your body to break down compared to smaller hydrolysed types.

You get this type of collagen through foods such as bone broth or chicken skin. It is packed with amino acids, gelatine, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus—all key players in keeping you moving smoothly.

Eating it also helps you feel full longer, which supports weight management without any fuss. As one old saying goes,

“Good broth will resurrect the dead.”

In its natural form, traditional collagen works well with other nutrients found in whole foods; it's not just about the protein itself but the teamwork inside each serving.

Natural sources of traditional collagen

Achieving adequate collagen consumption helps maintain a youthful skin appearance and healthy functioning joints. For natural sources, consider the following:

1. Bone broth stands out. This is achieved by allowing bones to simmer over a lengthy period, which extracts the collagen into the liquid, making it conveniently consumable or a recipe ingredient.
2. The skin of a chicken isn't only delicious; it's also collagen-rich. Incorporating it into meals can effortlessly increase your consumption.
3. The skin of fish serves two purposes. It provides both collagen and omega-3 fatty acids, elements beneficial to health.
4. Using gelatine in desserts can be an inventive method of increasing collagen intake. Gelatine derives from collagen and can assist digestion.
5. Collagen-dense foods, such as these, provide the protein but also deliver other essential nutrients, including health-supporting minerals.
6. Preparing meals with these conventional sources may require a little extra effort compared to using a supplement, but the enhanced health benefits and flavour contributions make it worthwhile.

These alternatives simplify the task of ensuring sufficient collagen intake through a nutritionally balanced diet for anyone striving for improved skin elasticity and joint vitality.

Key Differences Between Hydrolysed and Traditional Collagen

Hydrolysed collagen breaks down into tiny pieces, so your body takes it in more easily than its “old-school” cousin. These changes come from how each one is made and what happens inside you after you gulp down that daily scoop or pop a capsule.

Molecular structure

Conventional collagen molecules are giants, with a molecular weight around 360,000 daltons. These proteins form big triple helix chains called collagen fibrils. They stay tough and strong but do not dissolve easily in water or mix well in drinks.

Collagen from bone broth is a classic example—thick, sticky, and slow for the body to use.

Hydrolysed collagen goes through a special chemical process called hydrolysis. This breaks down those giant molecules into tiny fragments called peptides, as light as 4,000 daltons or less.

Nano-hydrolysed types shrink even further into the 2–4 kDa range; marine collagen type I (NATICOL) is one standout here. The smaller size boosts solubility so these peptides whisk away in water like sugar does in tea.

The human body absorbs hydrolysed collagen much faster than old-school versions.

Just like breaking spaghetti before cooking makes it fit better in the pot, chopping up normal collagen helps your gut grab those amino acids fast.

Absorption rate and bioavailability

Smaller size peptides in hydrolysed collagen, compared to the bigger molecules of type I and type II collagen, make a big difference. These tiny chains slip through your gut lining fast and get into your blood with ease.

Studies show that hydrolysed collagen is absorbed as both free amino acids and small proteins after you swallow it. This happens right in the small intestine.

Traditional sources like bone broth or chicken skin contain full-size collagen molecules. Your body finds these harder to break down; absorption feels slow and not as efficient. Most health experts suggest daily doses of 2.5–10 grams of hydrolysed collagen powder for better results on skin hydration, joint pain relief, or even muscle recovery after sports injury.

Collagen supplements with smaller peptides help spark new elastin fibres and boost your body's natural collagen production quicker than old-school pills or food alone.

Processing methods

Better absorption is often linked to how collagen gets processed. Let's roll up our sleeves and peek at the methods behind these supplements.

To make hydrolysed collagen, companies use hydrolysis. Enzymes break down big protein chains into tiny pieces called peptides. Sometimes strong acids, alkalis, or high heat come into play.

This process cuts down molecular size, helping your body take in those amino acids fast after a scoop of collagen powder or sip of a drink mix. Nano-hydrolysed types go even further, using more steps to chop peptides so small they work like ninja warriors inside your tissues.

On the flip side sits traditional collagen found in foods such as bone broth or chicken skin. Chefs pull out this type by slow-cooking bones and connective tissues with water over many hours; no fancy chemicals needed here—just patience and a pot! It keeps its natural shape but stays bigger than those supplement forms, making digestion slower during meals rich in collagen-rich foods.

Processing route decides if you get pure gel for soups or fine powders made for quick shakes and capsules. Some prefer old-school kitchen methods; others opt for modern tech used by brands like Lean Greens who want easy-to-mix blends on supermarket shelves across the UK.

Benefits of Hydrolysed Collagen

Hydrolysed collagen mixes easily in your drink, gets to work faster than regular collagen, and is packed with the key amino acids your body craves—curious about what this means for your skin or joints? Keep reading.

Enhanced skin health

Daily use of hydrolysed collagen powder can make your skin smoother and plumper. After age 25, natural collagen production drops, so lines and wrinkles start to show up more. In a 2016 double-blind study, women aged 35 to 70 who took 5 grams of Naticol marine collagen daily for eight weeks saw fewer wrinkles and firmer skin.

Hydrolysed collagen peptides help the body build new type I and III collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid—these are like scaffolding for firm skin.

These smaller molecules absorb quickly after you take them as supplements or in drinks. Collagen peptides support skin hydration even in cold UK winters by locking water inside the skin cells.

Clinical studies back this up; LD Campos found that people had better elasticity and less wrinkle formation with regular use in 2023. Many choose doses between 2.5 grams to 10 grams each day for anti-ageing benefits like these, making hydrolysed collagen popular with those wanting healthy ageing without needles or surgery.

Improved joint and cartilage support

Hydrolysed collagen gives extra help to your joints and cartilage. In a study with 147 athletes who had arthritis pain, taking 10 grams of collagen hydrolysate each day for 24 weeks cut down joint pain more than a placebo.

That is quite something, especially if you struggle with knee osteoarthritis or regular joint discomfort.

Collagen peptides from hydrolysed collagen support healthy cartilage repair and bone strength. Type II collagen mainly lives in your cartilage, helping movement feel smoother and less stiff.

If you have sports injuries or achy knees after long walks, these protein supplements may boost recovery time too. Many people use these supplements hoping for easier bending, better mobility, and fewer groans getting out of bed in the morning!

Joint support comes next when considering more benefits of taking these versatile collagen supplements.

Faster muscle recovery

Hydrolysed collagen, also called collagen peptides, works faster for muscle recovery than traditional types. The body absorbs these small protein pieces quickly after exercise. This quick absorption helps repair torn muscles and supports tissue repair in active people or those over 35.

Athletes often pick collagen hydrolysate powders to help sore muscles feel better sooner and speed up healing from sports injuries.

The amino acids glycine and proline play a key role in this process by building new muscle fibres and aiding protein synthesis. Clinical research links regular use of peptide supplements to stronger musculoskeletal support, quicker rehabilitation after workouts, and less joint pain for older adults as well as athletes.

People looking to boost lean muscle formation or recover from a tough gym session may turn to these powdered supplements mixed with water or juice for best results.

Joint support comes next when considering more benefits of taking these versatile collagen supplements.

Benefits of Traditional Collagen

Traditional collagen can help your skin stay springy and smooth, especially as you get older. You might also notice less stiffness in your knees after a stroll through the park, thanks to regular spoonfuls of bone broth or collagen-rich foods.

Natural support for skin elasticity

Bone broth and animal skin, like the crispy part on chicken or fish, pack type I and III collagen. These support your skin's stretchiness and firmness. Collagen makes up about 80 percent of your skin's structure, working with elastin to help keep it springy instead of saggy.

Eating these foods gives you a steady stream of amino acids that feed your body's collagen production. The gelatine from homemade broths also helps lock in water for better skin hydration.

If you want extra benefits, fish skin often comes loaded with omega-3s too, which work together with collagen to boost how your skin looks and feels each day.

Contribution to overall joint health

Type II collagen from bone broth, chicken skin and animal cartilage can support joint function. This form contains key minerals like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus; these help keep bones strong and stable.

Gelatine, made by boiling down animal tissue, supports your gut lining which may help joints get more nutrients for repair. “A healthy gut is like a well-oiled machine for your whole body,” as my Nan used to say.

Traditional collagen supplements need to be digested before the body uses them; their bigger molecules break down slowly. This slow release gives you steady amino acids that rebuild cartilage over time.

Eating foods rich in natural collagen helps maintain smooth movement in knees or hips, especially if aches arrive after 40 or with an old torn tendon acting up on rainy days! It's all about giving your connective tissues what they crave every day so don't leave it just for athletes or people living with rheumatoid arthritis—joints love a regular dose of those building blocks too.

Choosing Between Hydrolysed and Traditional Collagen

Choosing the right collagen type can feel like picking apples from a big tree—each has its perks, but not every fruit suits your basket. If you're curious how collagen supplements fit into your routine, stick around as I share a few tricks for making the best call for your skin health and joints.

Identifying your health goals

Think about what you want from collagen supplements, as this will help guide your choice. Those seeking wrinkle reduction, improved skin elasticity, or better nail and hair health may benefit more from hydrolysed collagen.

Its smaller collagen molecule size means quicker absorption and higher bioavailability, so it helps with joint pain and muscle-building too. People with osteoarthritis often lean towards hydrolysed forms for targeted relief.

If you're keen on whole-food nutrition or boosting nutrient density in meals, traditional sources like bone broth tick the box. Collagen-rich foods are great if satiety is top of your list—helpful for weight management efforts after age 35.

Some people prefer the natural support from type II or type III collagen found in chicken skin or slow-cooked meats for gut health. Using both types can cover more ground; one form provides foundational protein synthesis while the other supports specific needs like faster muscle recovery or joint support during physical activity.

Understanding dosage requirements

Hydrolysed collagen supplements often come in powders, capsules, or drinks. Experts suggest taking 2.5 to 10 grams a day for skin hydration, wrinkle reduction, and joint health. Studies using Naticol marine collagen showed gains in skin elasticity at just 2.5 or 5 grams per day.

Some people use up to 10 grams daily for more support with ageing skin.

Traditional collagen intake looks quite different and depends on whole-food choices like bone broth or chicken skin. The amount of type II or type III collagen you get changes each time you eat these foods.

Most adults start losing about 1.5% of their natural supply every year after age 25; so many add supplements after that point to help maintain muscle recovery and strong bones as they age.

Always speak with your doctor before changing how much you take since too much can sometimes lead to an upset stomach or bloating, no one wants that after their Sunday roast!

Conclusion

Both forms of collagen help your body in their own way. Choose hydrolysed for quick support with skin, joints, and easy mixing in drinks. Pick traditional sources like bone broth if you want a natural boost with extra nutrients from your food.

Mixing both can give you the benefits of each type. Speak to your doctor before adding new collagen supplements or powders to your daily routine.

Discover more about how hydrolysed collagen can transform your hair and nails by visiting this detailed guide.

FAQs

1. What's the difference between hydrolysed collagen and traditional collagen?

Hydrolysed collagen, often found in supplements like capsules or powders, is a form of collagen that has undergone a chemical process called hydrolysis. This breaks down the protein into smaller molecules, known as peptides, making it easier for our bodies to absorb compared to traditional types of collagen.

2. Can both types of collagen help improve skin health?

Absolutely! Both hydrolysed and traditional collagens can contribute to skin hydration and elasticity. They are also believed to aid in wrinkle reduction by boosting your body's own production of this essential protein.

3. Do these collagens have any benefits beyond skin health?

Yes indeed! Collagen isn't just about beauty; it plays a role in joint health too. Consuming either type may help with joint pain relief and bone strength enhancement since they're key components of connective tissues.

4. Are there specific foods I should eat for natural sources of these collagens?

Sure thing! For traditional collagen, think chicken skin or bone broth while marine sources are great for Type I collagen. Citrus fruits rich in vitamin c can boost your body's own synthesis too!

5. Can athletes benefit from consuming these forms of collagen?

You betcha! Hydrolysed collagen is becoming increasingly popular among athletes due to its potential benefits on muscle recovery and tissue repair after intense workouts.

6. Does taking a supplement mean I don't need to worry about my diet anymore?

Hold your horses there! While supplements can be beneficial, maintaining a well-balanced diet packed with essential minerals, vitamins (like vitamin c), amino acids, and other nutrients is still crucial for overall wellness.

Summary of Key Differences:

• Hydrolysed collagen is processed into smaller peptides that improve collagen absorption and collagen synthesis for faster skin hydration and wrinkle reduction.
• Traditional collagen comes from collagen-rich foods such as bone broth, providing a whole-food source that supports joint health and overall nutrition.
• Hydrolysed collagen offers targeted benefits for tissue repair and is ideal in collagen powder or capsule form, while traditional collagen delivers extra nutrients through natural food sources.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. Consult a healthcare professional before using collagen supplements. Dosage and usage may vary based on individual needs.

About Lean Greens: Lean Greens was founded in 2012 by Tim and Sam Goodwin. The company helps busy people eat more vegetables easily. It has grown to be a trusted nutrition brand across the UK. The brand creates supplements that support a healthy lifestyle. Its first product was Super Greens powder, which set the standard for an easy, tasty greens drink. Lean Greens has introduced other products like Drift Off, Amber Boost, and Collagen Greens. Each product meets real-life needs with quick and tasty use. Operating from the UK, Lean Greens has sent out over three hundred thousand orders. The community values the brand for providing reliable nutrition without gimmicks. The company contributes to industry knowledge and speaks at major wellness events.