Can Collagen Be Vegan?
Theres been a lot of talk in recent years about vegan and plant-based diets and how they can benefit our overall health as well as the planets. But while swapping cheeseburgers for Impossible Burgers and skim milk for almond milk (or whichever nut were milking now) is easy enough, finding suitable alternatives for your collagen supplements and skincare can feel like more of a challenge. As a vital protein source for our bodiesand one that we produce less and less of as we agecollagen can help reduce wrinkles and skin sagging, and even improve the structure of our bones and ability to heal from an injury. Collagen actually makes up about 80 percent of the total protein found in your skin, explains naturopathic physician Dr. Tricia Pingel. This means that if you dont have enough collagen in your body, youll experience joint pain and discomfort and stiff muscles and tendons. Plus, youll show more signs of aging.  It therefore makes sense that as our bodies own production of it slows down, wed want to supplement it with external collagen. But, as Golde cofounder and CEO Trinty Mouzon Wofford points out, typically, collagen supplements are derived from animal products, so youre ingesting literal collagen, usually from beef or fish. That doesnt mean you have to sacrifice your vegan lifestyle just to keep your supple complexion intact though. Contrary to popular belief, there is no natural vegan source of collagen. Collagen is 100 percent animal-based; however, our bodies create their own collagen, when given proper nutrition, and this is where vegan-based collagen products come in, Dr. Pingel says. So, although you may not be able to find pure collagen that isnt animal-derived, you can boost your own collagen production from within by using plant-based ingredients. Unlike animal-derived collagen, plant-based collagen supplements (also known as collagen promoters) do not provide a direct source of collagen to the body, notes Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Instead, they are made up of ingredients that promote the bodys natural production of collagenusually silica, phytoceramides, amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants, especially vitamin C since the human body naturally uses vitamin C to produce collagen.  As the natural building blocks of collagen, these ingredients, when taken as supplements, will help boost collagen production in the body. Think of it like giving someone the ingredients they need to make a recipe rather than cooking them the meal, Dr. Engelman adds. Since it's a rich source of silica, bamboo is among the plants known to stimulate collagen production, which is why when Golde was creating its Coconut Collagen Boost , Mouzon Wofford was sure to incorporate it. Bamboo is the world's richest plant source of silica , a trace element that's an essential building block for collagen, she says. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen over time, so giving your body a boost can strengthen your skin to increase elasticity and hydration.  For anyone whose body can make collagen effectively, vegan collagen boosters will enhance that natural production by providing the necessary building blocks needed. A 2015 study revealed that the vitamin C found in vegan collagen sources significantly induced collagen synthesis in women of all ages, but especially in those under age 50, Dr. Pingel notes. While animal-derived collagen provides collagen directly from the source, vegan alternatives can still have value. Since plant-based collagen supplements cannot provide the body with a direct source of collagenit can only promote the bodys production of itit is generally considered less effective, explains Dr. Engelman. The blend of antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids makes a healthy supplement for your body, but it will not have as strong of an effect as animal-derived collagen since its efficacy depends on your bodys ability to take the collagen-stimulating ingredients and actually produce collagen with them (which depends on factors like age and individual metabolism).  But these plant-based ingredients can be helpful in many other areas. Because vitamin C, amino acids, and minerals are critical in many areas of your body for overall health, the vegan precursors actually can provide a greater benefit than animal-based collagen products and foods, Dr. Pingel says.  Vitamin C , for instance, both supports many of the immune systems cellular functions and strengthens your skin barrier by blocking environmental damage. Plus, you can avoid the inflammatory effects that animal-based foods can have on the body. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Because vegan collagen is formed from healthful plant-based ingredients, the benefits extend well beyond collagen production. In fact, according to Dr. Pingel, it can strengthen joints, muscles, and bones, increase energy, support the immune system, improve seasonal allergy symptoms, improve sleep, reduce anxiety, protect the liver, support wound healing, and of course, help slow the signs of agingjust to name a few! Although treating skin from within is a philosophy that only really extends to ingestible vegan collagen, there can also be advantages to using it topically. Its important to understand the distinction between plant-based collagen supplements (taken orally) and vegan collagen (currently only available as a topical formula that mimics true collagen), Dr. Engelman says. True vegan collagen is a newer development, and its comprised of plant protein fibers that together mimic the amino acids found in animal-derived collagen, meaning it can provide a direct dose of collagen to the body.  While more studies still need to be done, this variety of vegan collagen appears to be more promising than plant-based collagen promoters, but it is currently only produced as a topical product and remains expensive and unattainable for many. Meanwhile, options like Goldes Coconut Collagen Booster and Grown Alchemists Dermal Smoothing are more affordable and accessible. Both topical collagen and ingestible collagen have their pros and cons, Dr. Engelman says. Vegan collagen supplements will be labeled as such, and they will typically indicate that theyre comprised of vitamin C, amino acids, and other plant-based nutrients. But as Dr. Pinger notes, you can also find these ingredients (and their collagen-building benefits) in food. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, berries, garlic, kale, bell peppers, papaya, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and strawberries, she says. Foods rich in the minerals zinc, copper, and silicon include pumpkin seeds, cacao, sesame seeds, spinach, almonds, cashews, chickpeas, oats, lentils, sunflower seeds, Swiss chard, spirulina, shiitake mushrooms, and figs.    This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io