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5 Surprising Benefits Of Vegan Collagen

Vegan collagen is a bit of a hot topic at the moment. As vegan and plant-based lifestyles become more and more popular, interest in and sales of supplements that allow people to live this way are soaring. While not quite as debated as protein, collagen is among the most common topics of conversation in this space, due to both how vital it is for the body and the fact that it seems to be impossible to get enough of without eating meat.

A quick look online will tell you that, in the past few years, numerous vegan collagen blends and supplements have flooded the market. While they all look very different, they all make the same claim: that you can get enough collagen while following a plant-based lifestyle, if you use supplements. The question that remains, then, is how?

Well, in today’s article, we hope to clear that up for you. We’ll explain what vegan collagen is and how it works, and even list 5 surprising benefits of vegan collagen. This should give you all the information you need when it comes to buying your own supplements.

Table of Contents

What Is Vegan Collagen & How Does It Work?

The term “vegan collagen” is a bit of a misnomer, as it isn’t technically real collagen. True collagen comes from animal sources, like cows and fish. In reality, the term vegan collagen refers to plant-based boosters that help stimulate your body’s own natural collagen production. Common boosters of this kind include things such as vitamin C, zinc, copper, silica, and amino acids, as well as extracts from plants like bamboo and seaweed, and even certain fruits.

Unlike traditional collagen, vegan alternatives avoid animal by-products entirely. This means not only are they usually more environmentally friendly, but they are also suitable for people who don’t use any animal products. This makes them a staple of a vegan diet, as people who live a plant-based lifestyle are often lacking in natural collagen.

Unfortunately, as vegan collagen is not a specific compound, it is impossible to make a blanket statement on the optimal daily dosage to use, as this will depend entirely on what the particular vegan collagen blend you use contains.

5 Surprising Benefits Of Vegan Collagen

Supports Skin Health

The most popular benefit of vegan collagen is its ability to help improve the health of your skin. It does this as common ingredients in vegan collagen blends, like vitamin C, zinc, copper, and amino acids, are crucial for collagen synthesis to occur and for producing the enzymes that build collagen fibers in the skin. Many also act as antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which would otherwise break down your natural collagen and elastin.

This slows the signs of aging, improves skin elasticity and hydration, gives the skin a plumper, firmer, smoother appearance, supports the skin’s structure by strengthening the connective tissues, and reduces fine lines, to promote healthier, younger-looking skin. This is while also protecting the skin from environmental damage and improving the healing and regeneration of wounds (1).

Improves Joint & Bone Strength

The collagen fibers we just looked at in the skin also form the framework of the cartilage in the joints and the matrix that strengthens and forms bones. They are essential for supporting cartilage integrity and flexibility and enabling it to cushion the bones and prevent wear-and-tear, while also reducing joint stiffness. Many vegan collagen boosters also support the tendons, the body’s other major connective tissue, further stabilising the joints.

As collagen also makes up about 30–40% of bone protein and provides the main structure that calcium and other minerals are deposited on, boosting collagen production also helps you maintain bone density and resilience directly. This combination of effects greatly protects the bones from degradation, minimising the risk of injuries and the development of conditions like arthritis and bone loss, and speeds up the healing process (2).

Learn about the incredible properties of Hyaluronic Acid Here

Supports Gut Health

Many vegan collagen boosters contain ingredients that soothe the gut lining and reduce inflammation, as collagen is a key structural protein in both the intestinal wall and the connective tissue that keeps the gut lining intact. This aids tissue repair and soothes irritation, reducing the risk of leaky gut syndrome and speeding up the repair of micro-damage in the digestive tract.

Some vegan collagen boosters also enhance hydration, which supports the mucus layer that protects the gut lining, and contain prebiotic compounds that nourish healthy gut bacteria. This further reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the digestive system, which supports conditions like IBS or gastritis, balances your gut microbiome, and aids digestion and nutrient absorption (3).

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Boosts Hair & Nail Growth

Many of the benefits we have already examined also help boost hair and nail growth. This is particularly true of any blends that contain silica, biotin, or plant-derived amino acids. These support the production of keratin, which is the primary compound that both hair and nails are made of, while also strengthening the hair follicles and nail bed, reducing brittleness, splits, and breakages in both, and minimising hair loss.

Some vegan collagen boosters also improve blood vessel health, circulation, and nutrient and oxygen delivery to the hair follicles and nail beds, which further promotes growth and reduces shedding. Others also double as antioxidants that shield hair follicles and nail cells from the damage caused by free radicals and inflammation, slowing thinning and dullness (4).

Promotes Overall Cellular Health

Due to the diverse nature of the better vegan collagen blends, many don’t just stimulate collagen production, they also support immune health and your overall well-being. This is particularly true of those that contain popular compounds like glycine, lysine, vitamin C, zinc, copper, berries, and polyphenols.

These vegan collagen blends are capable of offering benefits like reduced inflammation and oxidative stress and damage, improved tissue repair and wound healing, enhanced cellular hydration and communication, and better mitochondrial function, which improves energy metabolism and cellular vitality.

This makes them a great option for people looking for ways to delay the signs of aging.