Whether you’re interested in collagen supplementation to support healthy hair, skin, nails, or joints, one of the most asked and Googled questions is: how much collagen to take per day? The short answer is it depends. Keep reading to learn more about collagen supplements, the different types, how they work, and the answer to your most pressing question, how much collagen you should take per day.
What is collagen?
Collagen is one of the main proteins in the body. It comprises amino acid chains, and it's an essential component in skin, bones, and connective tissues. Collagen is said to support healthy hair, skin, nails, and joints. *
Here's the thing: Our body doesn't necessarily need collagen per se. It already has an abundance of it when we’re young. But, as we get older, the body's collagen production slows down, beginning in our early twenties. Environmental and lifestyle factors such as UV light, pollution, diet, water intake, and sleep can also contribute to collagen loss and lead to wrinkles, hair health issues, and more. That's where collagen supplements come in to support your body in producing more collagen and keep it looking youthful and glowing.
Animal-based collagen vs. vegan collagen
There are many different types of collagen supplements. Typically, collagen supplements you find at health food stores are made with either marine-based or bovine-based collagen peptides. In other words, they feature ground-up fish skins or cow hides. If you follow a vegan diet, care about sustainability, or simply don't want to consume animal-based collagen, you can still boost your skin's collagen production with a plant-based alternative.
Although plant-based collagen is often referred to as vegan collagen, there is no such thing as vegan collagen because collagen comes from animals. Copina Co's collagen boost blends, for example, work differently. They are made entirely of vegan, plant-based ingredients that help boost your body's natural collagen synthesis. *
We believe in getting our collagen straight from the Earth, so we worked with a herbalist to incorporate science-backed plant botanicals that have shown to contain amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that support the body's collagen production. * So you reap all the same hair, skin, nail, and joint benefits without consuming animal products. Our blends are also gluten-free, non-GMO, and 100% vegan to boot.
Here's the scoop on the plant-based ingredients featured in our collagen boost blends:
- Tremella mushroom extract, also known as tremella fuciformis or snow mushroom, is an edible medicinal mushroom used in Eastern medicine for centuries. It contains amino acids needed for collagen production, supports skin hydration, and helps fight aging.
- Bamboo extract is a rich source of silica, a naturally occurring mineral found in plants, which supports the body's collagen production as well as healthy hair, skin, and nails.
- Hyaluronic acid is your skin's BFF. Not only does it help boost collagen production in the body, it also helps the skin retain moisture, fight aging, smooth wrinkles, increase elasticity, and improve skin radiance.
- Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, is an adaptogen traditionally used to increase vitality, improve digestion, stimulate hair growth, and promote longevity.
- Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb that's been shown to promote calmness in the body and nervous system.
- Matcha is a whole-leaf green tea that is full of antioxidants. Its superpower is providing sustained energy without the crash coffee tends to give. We source ours from Japan.
So if you want to take your skincare regime up a notch, keep in mind that what you consume matters too. Beauty goes beyond just topical products like fancy serums and moisturizers (although we love those too!). Beauty is created from the inside out. Consider Copina Co's collagen boost blends an essential part of your self care ritual as you treat your body well and cultivate radiant, supple skin.*
How much collagen per day
Given that we lose collagen as we age and due to environmental factors, how much collagen should you take per day to compensate for inevitable collagen loss? The answer: Everybody is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all dosage.
It also depends on what type of collagen you're taking. With our blends, because you're not actually taking animal-based collagen but natural, plant-based ingredients from the Earth that are safe to consume, the recommended amount will differ.
Our top tip is to follow the dosage recommended on the product label. With Copina Co's collagen boost blends, we recommend taking a few servings per day. That said, your body knows best. So pay attention to how the boost blends make you feel when you consume them and adjust accordingly. And as always, if you're unsure, check with your healthcare provider first.
How to incorporate collagen into your routine
The best way to get your daily dose of collagen boost is through your diet. Consider adding more collagen-boosting foods into your meals such as citrus fruits, berries, garlic, leafy greens, and beans. Or, our favorite way, is to incorporate plant-based collagen boost blends into our daily routine. Here are three easy (and delicious!) ways to do it:
- Combine with hot water or milk. The easiest way to incorporate our collagen boost powders into your daily routine is by simply mixing them with 7 ounces of hot water or your favorite plant-based milk. For best results, use a blender or hand frother to mix, and voila. You've got a beauty-boosting drink ready in no time.
- Add to smoothies or coffee. Water and milk aren't the only drinks you can add the collagen boost powders to. Feel free to get as creative as you like. They also pair well with smoothies and coffee. Chocolate mocha beauty smoothie, anyone?
- Mix into baked goods, snacks, or desserts. If you're craving something a little heartier, the collagen boost powders also work great mixed into your favorite baked goods, snacks, or desserts like breakfast vegan collagen boost waffles, peanut butter ball snacks, and chocolate chip matcha cookies for dessert.
