If you’ve been following Lively – or have spotted Vital Proteins® on Instagram (@vitalproteins) – you’re probably well on your way to becoming a collagen pro. In recent years, we’ve addressed users’ most frequently asked questions about hydrolyzed collagen and the varying types of collagen, among other topics. But one question we keep seeing over and over again: How much collagen is too much to take? Keep reading for a refresher and find out our answer to this particular inquiry.
Remind Me Again: What Is Collagen?
What is collagen? Collagen is the body’s most abundant protein and helps give structure to our hair, skin, nails, bones, ligaments and tendons. Thanks to collagen, we’re better able to move, bend and stretch. Collagen is also behind helping hair shine, skin glow and nails stay strong.**
So, what is collagen made of? Collagen is a protein made up of amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine — all of which help our body's connective tissue, skin, hair and nails stay as healthy as possible.**
As we age, and the more stress we put on our body, the greater the impact on collagen production. At a certain age – around 25 to be exact – our body’s natural collagen production begins to decline. Collagen is responsible for helping to promote strong hair, skin, nails and joints.** This is why we recommend supplementing your diet with our products in an attempt to help boost these health benefits.
How Do I Use Collagen?
We have plenty of collagen products to fulfill every need and lifestyle. On its own, unflavored Collagen Peptides or Marine Collagen are by far the most versatile forms of collagen, as they both dissolve easily into hot or cold liquids and have no distinguishable flavor. Feel free to mix in a scoop or two into your iced coffee, hot tea or add to your favorite recipe. Then, unlike our Collagen Peptides, our Beef Gelatin dissolves in hot liquids and solidifies in cold liquids. It’s ideal for thickening soups and stews.
For more examples on best usage tips for Vital Proteins products, read our how to use collagen guide.
What Types Of Collagen Are There?
There are 3 main types of collagen: type I, II and III. (Psst! Our product line offers options to cover all of these!)
type i collagen
Type I is the most prevalent type of collagen in the body. This is the type of collagen you’re probably thinking about if you’re interested in preserving the levels of collagen in your skin, hair or nails. Because it is so prevalent in the connective tissues, we often see the decrease of type I collagen resulting in characteristics such as sagging skin, fine lines, brittle nails and thinning hair. But type I collagen isn’t just a beauty-related substance. It’s also a major component of the tendons, organs and bones. Our recommendation? Collagen Peptides.
type ii collagen
Though somewhat less prevalent in the body than type I, type II collagen is extremely important. It is the main component of cartilage and is extremely healthy for the skeletal system. Active people who need to rely on their joints may also benefit from adding type II collagen into their diet. Our recommendation? Cartilage Collagen.
type iii collagen
The third commonly found type of cartilage, Type III, is generally found in reticular fibers, such as in the bone marrow. It’s usually found alongside Type I collagen in the body. Our recommendation? Marine Collagen.
How Much Collagen Should I Take Daily?
type iii collagen
The third commonly found type of cartilage, Type III, is generally found in reticular fibers, such as in the bone marrow. It’s usually found alongside Type I collagen in the body. Our recommendation? Marine Collagen.
How Much Collagen Should I Take Daily?
Collagen is not one-size-fits-all, especially when considering how different everyone's lifestyles are. That's why we launched the first-ever Collagen Calculator!
Using information like your age, sex and protein diet, our proprietary on-site equation, which was developed based on published research, helps to determine your recommended daily collagen intake. A perfect-for-you collagen serving size is a few prompts away. Just add in your information and we'll take care of the rest!
Can I Take Too Much Collagen?
As is the case with all our Vital Proteins products, we recommend following our suggested serving size, which is 1-2 scoops. If you’re thinking of going above that, we recommend consulting first with your doctor.
Looking for more answers? Read How Much Collagen Should You Take A Day.
What Is The Best Collagen I Should Be Taking?
We offer a wide variety of collagen products catered to you and your lifestyle. From Vital Performance to Blueberry Moon Milk Collagen Latte™, there are many options to choose from. So if you're ready to meet your match, find your perfect pairing based on your preferences here. Otherwise, we encourage you to start by shopping some of our more popular canisters, below!
