NOT ALL COLLAGEN IS CREATED EQUAL ~ withinUs Team

With the growing popularity of collagen products on the market we understand it can be overwhelming trying to understand the difference between them all. How can you tell which product is premium quality, clean, and most effective?

We plan to break it all down for you in this blog by answering questions such as:

- How many grades of collagen products are there?

- What is the difference between high-grade collagen and premium-select grade collagen?

- Are there different types/grades of marine collagen?

- Is there such thing as plant-based collagen?

- Is there a difference in serving size for different collagen sources/products?

- What is the difference between a collagen supplement and bone broth? 

Research is key when choosing a supplement, this is why we provide easy access to independent/clinical studies conducted on withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen. Our Health Canada approved study results can be found directly on our website, and if you have further questions our team members are very knowledgable, and always available to help answer them for you.

At withinUs™  Natural Health, we are proud to provide only premium-select grade products to our customers and retailers. We help educate our customers by providing 100% transparency, sharing information, and scientific research and independent clinical trials on premium-select grade marine collagen. We truly believe that knowledge is power, and objective information should be the deciding factor when choosing what goes into your body. Below we have listed a few key factors in identifying high quality collagen products.

SOURCE

Premium-Select Grade Collagen

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein found within the body, and therefore all sources of collagen are animal derived – there are no plant based (vegan) collagen sources. We repeat: there are no plant based collagen sources.

The most common collagen sources are:
- Bovine – sourced from cow skin or bones
- Porcine – sourced from pig skin or bones
- Avian – sourced from chicken skin or bones
- Marine – sourced from farmed or wild fish skin or fish scales, or a combination of both

From the above list of collagen sources, wild-caught fish scales is considered the highest, premium-select grade.withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen is sourced from wild-caught fish scales and is the highest grade of collagen available on the market, period.

What makes withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen Premium-Select Grade?

- Sourced exclusively from sustainable, wild-caught fish scales. 
- Fish scales are a very pure, clean, abundant source of collagen. 
- 1.5 times more bioavailable than ALL other sources/types of collagen (including fish skin). 
 - Ultra-Pure - stringently tested for impurities and contaminants, including lead and 
mercury. 
- Dissolves crystal clear in hot or cold liquids - our collagen is in granular form 
(not powder), which dissolves quicker and easier than heavy powders overall. 
- Virtually tasteless and odourless - easy to add into your daily routine.
- No heat, chemicals, or acids are used to break down withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen, rather the use of natural enzymes to break down the collagen into a peptide, this process is called hydrolyzation. 

- NO additives, fillers, or stabilizers.
- Informed Sport certified. 
- Non-GMO project verified.

Why is the source important?
The source is important to consider when choosing a collagen supplement for two main reasons:

1. Bioavailability
2. Purity

1. Bioavailability (aka absorption rate):
Bioavailability is the scientific word to describe how effectively a product is absorbed into the bloodstream.

When it comes to bioavailability, many companies talk about the low molecular weight/level of their products, as well as the product being hydrolyzed. Both factors affect the bioavailability, but the source is also a component in determining bioavailability. Independent clinical studies prove that marine collagen sourced specifically from fish scales has superior bioavailability in comparison to other collagen sources (including fish skin marine collagen). The rate at which fish scale collagen is absorbed into the bloodstream is 1.5 times more effectively than all other collagen sources. It is worth noting that withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen also has a low molecular weight of 3000-5000 Daltons, and is also hydrolyzed using a natural enzymatic process (no chemicals or heat).

TruMarine™ Collagen vs Bone Broth 
We often get questions about how bone broth differs from collagen supplements, as bone broth boasts similar benefits. Bone broth has become popular in the past few years due to its benefits, but are these benefits comparable to taking a premium collagen supplement? The quick answer to this question is NO. 
To build on this, bone broth is made by boiling/simmering the bones and connective tissues of animals (mainly chickens, cows, and fish). During this process, bones and connective tissue are boiled for a long period of time, allowing the nutrients to break down and excreted into the broth.

This process can also excrete negative components found in the bones, such as toxins that have leached into the animals bones from their food and environment. 
Bone broth does contain collagen, but due to the high molecular weight of collagen in bone broth, it is not not easily absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that you would need to consume a lot of bone broth to equate to consuming 5 grams of withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen which is absorbed quickly and easily into the bloodstream.

TruMarine™ Collagen vs Gelatin
Contrary to common belief, collagen and gelatin are not the same. 
The main difference between collagen peptides and gelatin products is the molecular weight of the final product.

withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen has a low molecular weight, meaning it is broken down into amino acid chains that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. In comparison, gelatin has a higher molecular weight, making it more difficult to absorb. The higher molecular weight, and larger amino acid chains of gelatin material is also the reason that it produces a gelatinous texture when added to liquids.

2. Purity
The source of collagen also affects the purity of the final product. Collagen products sourced from land animals have a greater risk for impurities such as oils and toxins that are leached into the skin and bones where the collagen is sourced from, which can affect the final product. This is also true with collagen sourced from fish skin, as this is where the oils are found. Impurities affect the colour (i.e. yellow), smell, and taste of the final product, which is why many collagen products on the market are flavoured, sweetened, or are in capsule form.

SERVING SIZE

Why is there a drastic difference in serving size between withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen and others?

The daily recommended serving of withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen is 5 grams (1 scoop/stick pack). We see many other collagen products recommending anywhere from 10 to 20 grams per day. 

This all circles back to bioavailability. Due to the superior bioavailability (absorption) of our product, only 5 grams are required to experience benefits (1 scoop/stick pack). Some collagen products on the market recommend altering serving sizes based on body weight, this is not applicable to our product. Health Canada approved studies prove that 5 grams of withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen is necessary to experience benefits - for men and women of all weights and sizes. For lower grade products, such as those produced from bovine/porcine/avian/fish skin collagen, a larger serving size is necessary for product to effectively absorb into the bloodstream and initiate collagen production. 

THE BENEFITS

Ultra-Pure withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen is characterized by its unique amino acid composition, offering a high concentration of specific amino acids essential for collagen regeneration and production within the body. These amino acids are broken down into amino acid chains, and these specific chain builds are rare to find in other food and supplement sources. The specific amino acid chains found in withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen provide the body with many benefits associated with health and beauty.

JOINT AND BONE HEALTH
Collagen promotes joint health by helping to repair joint matrix degeneration and improves long-term joint comfort and mobility.
In comparison to other supplements recommended for pain related to joint degeneration, withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen is proven to help improve overall joint health, as opposed to temporarily relieve pain. Collagen works from within the joints, enhancing joint comfort and mobility, and ultimately reducing joint pain. withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen improves joint health by strengthening cartilage and overall joint structure. 

withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen also helps maintain bone health and bone mineral density, which reduces the risk of pain and stiffness associated with osteopenia and osteoarthritis.

SKIN HEALTH

withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen also slows down the aging process by providing the body with the nutritional building blocks it needs from within. Marine collagen contains a higher level of the amino acids, glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline than other sources. These key amino acids have been clinically proven to promote healthy tissue growth by the cells themselves.

In addition to slowing the aging process, withinUs™ TruMarine® Collagen helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduces UVB-induced skin damage, and increases skin hydration and suppleness - all are paramount for overall skin health. 

It is important to know exactly what you are putting into your body- what it is made from, where it comes from, and bioavailability. We are proud to be a transparent company, offering as much information possible to our customers, making your research easy.

Knowledge IS power, so take the time and do the research. Your body will thank you!

If you have any questions, our withinUs™  team would be happy to answer and always enjoy hearing from our customers. Feel free to comment below or email us directly at: team@withinus.com