Vegan Collagen

Vegan collagen sounds like a bit of an oxymoron… and it kind of is.

Technically there is no such thing as plant-based collagen because it always comes from animals. This means that all plant-based collagen is actually a collagen synthesiser, in other words, it stimulates the body to produce more of its own collagen. 

Don’t worry, we know this is a bit confusing so we’ll take you through it all in a bit more detail, as well as compare it with animal-based collagen and discuss what vegan collagen boosters are made of.

To top it all off we’ll provide a few of our top vegan collagen supplements, so you’re ready to kick start your collagen production straight away!

What is plant-based collagen?

Collagen is a protein structure found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals and fish. There are actually 16 different kinds of collagen found in the body, but 80-90% of collagen is one of the types I, II, or III. 

That being said, you might understandably be wondering what exactly plant-based collagen is, given that plants don’t have skin or bones! So vegan collagen supplements don’t contain any genuine collagen, instead many of them are better understood as collagen boosters. 

This is because they encourage the body to produce its own collagen by providing it with the tools it needs. For example, some vegan collagen powders will contain ingredients like the amino acids found in collagen, such as proline, and other nutrients like vitamins A, C, and zinc.

That all sounds pretty confusing doesn’t it, but really it’s not! So to summarise, technically speaking there is no such thing as purely plant-based collagen currently on the market. 

So when we are talking about vegan collagen supplements, we are talking about products that are designed either to support our own body’s natural collagen production or to mimic animal collagen.

What is plant-based collagen made of?

So now we know what plant-based collagen is and what it is designed to do, let’s look at what vegan collagen products are generally made from. All to help you decide which one is best for you.

As we have mentioned, lots of cruelty-free collagen powders and supplements are designed to possibly promote collagen synthesis by your own body. The body creates collagen by combining the amino acids that you get from eating protein-rich foods. 

So a lot of collagen boosters will provide you with some or all of these amino acids, as well as containing other things that the body needs for the process of collagen production; for example, vitamin C has been demonstrated as a necessary ingredient for collagen synthesis so many vegan collagen supplements will contain vitamin C.

Plant-based collagen supplements will often contain all of the amino acids contained within collagen. So, even if the body is not stimulated into producing its own collagen the supplements may mimic the effects of collagen.

A form of vegan collagen made from genetically engineered microorganisms, like yeast, has been developed by scientists. However, this isn’t available outside of medical practice just yet, but there is the possibility that it will become widely available in the future.

Does plant-based collagen have the same effects on the body as natural collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, so it has tons of potentially beneficial effects. However, because plant-based collagen isn’t actually collagen, it’s unlikely to have the exact same effect as natural collagen does. 

But because vegan collagen supplements may boost collagen production in your body, they could result in some similar benefits. 
Since collagen is found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues, it makes sense that a lot of the potential effects are localised to these areas. Some of the reported possible benefits of collagen are:

• Improved skin elasticity and hydration 
• May improve the condition of your hair, skin, and nails
• Better joint functionality and reduced joint pain 
• It May help with energy levels
• Can help to manage degenerative bone disorders 
• Could help with building muscle

Of course, not everyone will experience these benefits and it’s a lot trickier to tell with plant-based collagen what the effects will be. Your body may or may not be stimulated into producing more collagen. Either way, vegan collagen supplements contain lots of nutrients in them so they can still be a great addition to your diet.

Top vegan collagen brands to try

Fushi - Vegan Collagen Builder: We love these vegan collagen builder supplements, because they’re packed with beautiful quality ingredients like vitamin C and green tea extract. They’ve been formulated to promote healthy skin and support cell protection. 

Do vegan collagen skin care products work?

There are a lot of skincare products that claim to improve the condition of your skin in a number of ways, like hydration and elasticity, because they contain collagen. But the question is, do they actually work? Some research suggests that applying collagen topically could improve the appearance of your skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles. 

However, you might struggle to find good vegan collagen skincare products because genetically made vegan collagen isn’t yet available commercially. This means that the best method of vegan collagen skin care is to take supplements that may help to support your body’s collagen production, like this Vegan Collagen Builder by Fushi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does vegan collagen help hair growth?

It may do! We have more collagen in the body than any other protein, so it can have a number of beneficial effects on the hair and body. It has often been claimed that collagen supplementation can help hair to grow, but there aren’t enough scientific studies on this to conclusively establish whether there is much weight to the claim. There is a chance that the proteins in collagen may promote healthy hair but more research needs to be done in this field. 

Does plant-based collagen work the same as animal based?

It’s difficult to say! Since plant-based collagen isn’t actually collagen, because genuine collage can only be found in the connective tissues, skin, and bones of animals and fish, it’s unlikely that any vegan version will do the exact same thing. However, because plant-based collagen is designed to stimulate your own collagen production, or at least mimic the amino-acids found in collagen, it may have some similar benefits. 

Is vegan collagen good for kids?

Yes! Children can benefit from vegan collagen, especially if they are plant-based so aren’t eating lots of collagen rich foods. Since a lot of vegan collagen products are designed to stimulate collagen or to mimic the amino acids present in collagen, they will generally be safe for children to consume. However, it may not be necessary to give kids vegan collagen supplements because they are likely already producing enough collagen of their own. Before giving your children vegan collagen, make sure that you check the label of the product to ensure that it is safe for kids. 

Is vegan collagen suitable for old age?

Absolutely! Collagen production decreases as we age so vegan collagen supplements are a great thing to take as you age. This means that taking plant-based collagen supplements may be beneficial for the elderly because they may support healthy skin and bones. Collagen is also great for older people to take to potentially promote good heart health by potentially reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, which is a heart disease caused by a buildup of fatty substances in the arteries.