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Taking collagen protein powder can help build and improve muscle strength, promote bone density, and improve motor control to help you make the most out of your workouts. 

We’ve picked out some of the more popular brands available in the market to help you find the best collagen protein powder that will suit your needs.

Best Collagen Protein Powder – The List

1. Super Collagen Protein Powder – Obvi

Collagen Protein Content (per scoop): 9g 

Sugar (per serving): 0g

Obvi’s Super Collagen Protein Powder’s unique formula brings back luster to your hair, skin, and nails, strengthens the joints, and helps you maintain a healthy weight, helping you achieve the best version of yourself with renewed confidence.

Obvi’s formula uses hydrolyzed, grass-fed bovine collagen with an absorption rate of 90%, which is the highest of any collagen from grass-fed bovine beef. Each scoop also contains type I (1) and III (3) collagen, which are considered building blocks of the skin, hair, and connective tissues. 

If you’re following certain diet types, Obvi’s collagen protein powder is keto-friendly, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, and free from fillers.

Pros

• Made in the USA 
• Soy-free
• Gluten-free
• Non-GMO
• Keto-friendly
• 100% money-back guarantee
• Free shipping (for orders over $75)

Cons

• Flavoring can be too sweet for some consumers 

2. Collagen Protein Powder – Elm & Rye

Collagen Protein Content: 20g (per serving)

Sugar (per serving): 0g

Named the healthiest protein powder ever created by Discover Science, Elm and Rye’s protein boasts its masterfully-crafted formula made with BCAAs, turmeric, collagen, mushroom complex, and ashwagandha — a powerful blend designed to increase muscle mass, promote weight loss, and optimize muscle recovery.

While mostly touted for their therapeutic health benefits, ashwagandha and turmeric can also significantly increase muscle mass and strength. On the other hand, the mushroom complex ingredient helps improve exercise and athletic performance and speed up post-workout muscle recovery.

All of Elm and Rye’s non-vegan protein supplements are made from 100% pasture-raised and grass-fed cows, so you can be assured of their quality. They also have a vegan option to cater to vegan and vegetarian diets. 

Pros

• Made in the USA 
• Uses quality ingredients
• Sources collagen from 100% pasture-raised and grass-fed cows.
• Provides a vegan option
• Products undergo stringent third-party testing

Cons

• Relatively more expensive than most brands

3. Multi Collagen Protein – Ancient Nutrition

Collagen Protein Content (per scoop): 9g 

Sugar (per serving): 0g

Multi Collagen Protein is the only collagen-based supplement brand made with a proprietary fermented eggshell membrane collagen – a scientifically formulated ingredient designed to provide fast-acting results, supporting joint, gut, and skin health.

The ingredient blend contains collagen types I, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, X, XII, and XXII, as well as clinically-studied SBO probiotics, which aim to support a healthy gut microbiome, and vitamin C to provide antioxidant properties and help the body absorb and retain nutrients.  

With the blend considered, it yields unique benefits like faster recovery from exercise-induced discomfort and thicker and healthier hair.

Peer-reviewed, scientific studies back all ingredients used, and the products are third-party tested for efficacy, safety, and transparency.

Pros

• Collagen sustainably sourced from pasture-raised and grass-fed cows 
• Allergen-free (Gluten, grain, dairy, soy, and nut)
• Unflavored for maximum versatility
• Keto-friendly
• Paleo-friendly
• Raised without hormones and antibiotics
• Non-GMO
• BPA-free
• Free shipping over $99

Cons

• Taste a bit strong 
• May require consistent usage to see results
• Powder needs prolonged stirring/blending to be dissolved completely

4. Naked Collagen Peptides Protein Powder – Naked Nutrition

Collagen Protein Content (per scoop): 9.5g 

Sugar (per serving): 0g

*Essential Amino Acids

^Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)

Naked Nutrition’s Naked Collagen Peptides bares it all and have nothing to hide. Its lone ingredient – bovine hide collagen peptides sustainably sourced from pasture-raised cows in Europe, lets you enjoy the benefits of collagen in its pure, unadulterated form.

Naked Collagen is designed to maintain optimal collagen levels in the body. It helps help the skin stay smooth, hydrated, and firm; It keeps finger/toenails strong and healthy, strengthens hair, and allows it to retain more moisture. It can also strengthen the joints and promote better bone density.

True to its concept, Naked Collagen is free of additives and artificial sweeteners. The powder is flavorless and dissolves completely, making it easy to mix in any food or beverage. 

Pros

• Made in the USA 
• One ingredient only (collagen sourced from pastured-raised European cows)
• Soy-free
• Gluten-free
• Non-GMO
• Keto-friendly
• 100% money-back guarantee
• Free shipping (for orders over $75)

Cons

• May require continuous usage to see results

Benefits Of Taking Collagen Protein

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, found abundantly in humans and all mammals. It’s an important building block in bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles and plays a big role in your hair, skin, and nail health. 

Collagen is built from amino acids, as with all protein structures. It contains 19 amino acids and 8 essential amino acids, the principal ones being: 

• Glycine – Glycine promotes optimal cellular growth and health and prevents muscle loss/breakdown by boosting creatine levels in the body. It can also protect the liver from alcohol-induced damage, improve sleep quality, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cryoprotective, and immunomodulatory properties.
• Proline – Proline works with other amino acids and vitamin C to form collagen, which is important in building tissues. It’s also integral to wound healing, antioxidative reactions, and immune responses.
• Hydroxyproline – Like proline, hydroxyproline is a major collagen component and contributes to its stability. When used topically, it helps decrease fine lines and wrinkles and is added as an ingredient to anti-aging skincare products to help increase skin penetration.
• Arginine – An amino acid naturally found in red meat, poultry, fish, and dairy, it’s integral in making proteins, is commonly used for circulation, and has been shown to protect the kidney against toxic or ischemic injury.

Collagen Protein And Muscle Building

Most athletes and bodybuilders opt for whey protein as opposed to collagen protein when it comes to building and strengthening muscle mass. This is mostly due to its high leucine content, which significantly increases muscle mass. 

Conversely, collagen may not offer the same leucine content but promotes the synthesis of muscle proteins such as creatine, whose components include arginine and glycine. 

It also creates a positive nitrogen balance (the difference between nitrogen excreted from the body and nitrogen ingested in the diet); since nitrogen is predominantly contained in proteins, taking collagen would create a better nitrogen balance in the body.

Otherwise, a negative nitrogen balance would manifest through physical and emotional stress, fevers, and eventual malnourishment. 

Other known health benefits include: 

• Facilitates faster recovery from injuries – Collagen is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects, especially on injuries, thanks to its high glycine content. Several studies have found that the hydrolyzed form of collagen allows a faster resynthesizing of tendons and soft tissue. It has also been shown to reduce pain associated with joint pain, osteoarthritis, and tendonitis.
• Repairs connective tissues – Collagen also appears to be more effective than whey in rebuilding connective tissues and structures in the body.
• Strengthens bone density – Studies have shown that daily collagen supplementation can help the bones become denser and slow down the aging process that makes them brittle. Researchers have found that hydrolyzed collagen supplements can decrease the risk of age-related bone loss and degradation and increase bone formation.
• Promotes a healthy gut – Collagen protein helps rebuild and strengthen the digestive tract’s lining, thanks to its amino acids glycine and glutamine, which are essential for its repair, and improves the permeability of the intestinal lining. 
• Beautifies the skin – Collagen helps the skin retain moisture, giving it a more supple look and feel. It also helps support structures that prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making it a popular ingredient in many cosmetic products.

While a collagen supplement offers a trove of health benefits, collagen contains only 8 of the 9 essential amino acids, which the body cannot produce independently. A person needs to get these essential amino acids from outside sources, such as animal products like meats, low-fat dairy, whey, casein powders, and plant-based protein sources.

Takeaway

Collagen protein powders can do wonders for one’s health, especially when it comes to skin health, better hair and nails, and maximized gains during muscle-building/strengthening workouts. 

When looking for a collagen-based product, invest in a well-established brand that banks on ingredient quality and purity to ensure the best results. You can also ask your healthcare provider to discuss collagen’s pros and cons for your health.