The Weekly Sugar Rush - Should You Take Bovine Or Marine Collagen?
If you have read my last two Weekly Sugar Rush emails you will know that through May I am talking about collagen – how to get it naturally, what other ingredients you need to activate collagen production in the body. And this week - which is best? Bovine or marine collagen.
Before I carry on though just to answer the question – can you get a vegan collagen? No you cannot. Collagen comes from the amino acids of living creatures. You can make sure you are taking enough Vitamin C to activate your bodies own production. Eat lots of great leafy veg and lentils which will help support production. But there is no such thing as a vegan collagen.
So lets look at the difference between bovine vs marine collagen. Both have benefits, but they do differ in their source, type, absorption, and effects. Here's the breakdown:
Bovine Collagen
(from cow hides and bones)
Best For:
Tendon and ligament elasticity and hydration
Joint health
Gut lining support
Muscle recovery
Bovine collagen is great for anyone wanting to give their skeletal system more support. This might include athletes and endurance exercisers, women going through peri and post menopause, anyone with joint or skeletal issues, broken bones or who regularly gets injured.
Marine Collagen
(from fish skin and scales)
Best For:
Skin health (glow, elasticity, fine lines)
Hair and nails
Faster absorption, so good for quick replenishment
Marine collagen is smaller in molecular weight than bovine collagen so is absorbed faster and more efficiently—especially in the skin. It delivers more visible results on the skin.
If you are after collagen to reduce lines and wrinkles then the marine collagen is for you. If you want to stop getting injured and heal faster from exercise or operations etc then bovine collagen is your best bet.
Here is a table to summarise the comparison:
Feature Bovine Collagen Marine Collagen
Source Cows (hides, bones) Fish (skin, scales)
Absorption Speed Moderate Fast
Skin Benefits Great Excellent
Joint & Gut Health Strong Support Moderate Support
Taste/Smell Mild, neutral (good quality) Can be fishy (unless high quality)