These days, many of us focusing on our wellness can’t get enough of collagen, and it’s no wonder why! From aiding in digestive support to supporting glowy skin, collagen has a long list of benefits (more on that later) that guide us toward total body health, both internally and externally. 

Collagen itself is a protein, but there’s a lingering association between collagen and animal products. When people think of collagen supplements, they may think of bovine, porcine, and marine collagen boosters. Plus, any list of must-try collagen-supporting foods features animal-based options like bone broth, eggs, and chicken. Unfortunately, these choices aren’t exactly top choices for those on a plant-based lifestyle or simply looking to decrease their animal product usage. 

If that sounds like you, we have some good news: we’re here to tell you that plant-based collagen boosters do exist! Here’s everything you need to know about vegan collagen boosters:

What Can Collagen Do For Me?

Let’s start by addressing why you might want to keep a focus on your collagen levels. 

We previewed above that collagen has numerous benefits that keep us healthy. It’s the most abundant protein in the body, providing structural support to the tissues, muscles, joints, tendons, skin, and more. In fact, one-third of the protein in our bodies is collagen. 

But there isn’t just one type of collagen — there are up to 28 identified types of collagen in the body! Of these twenty-plus types, there are three main collagen types that you’re likely to see mentioned in collagen supplements and products:

• Type I is the most abundant collagen type and is found in the skin, tendons, bones, and organs like our heart and lungs. 
• Type II is found in the cartilage tissue.
• Type III is found in the intestinal walls and our blood vessel walls.

All of these collagen types work together to play a large part in our well-being, including:

• Supporting gut health by positively influencing the health of the intestinal wall
• Maintaining the skin’s elasticity and smoothness
• Encouraging a healthy inflammation process response

And although we can rely on collagen to keep our health in check, we can’t always count on having the same levels of collagen throughout our lives. Collagen production begins to waver around the age of 20, and the body starts producing about 1% less collagen every year. Lifestyle choices like smoking, sun exposure, and poor diet can also contribute to less collagen production. 

So knowing how important collagen is — coupled with the fact that we may face decreased collagen levels — we’re left with the question: how do we support collagen production? Enter: collagen boosters.

Plant-Based vs. Animal Collagen Boosters: What’s the Difference? 

The difference between plant-based and animal collagen boosters goes beyond how it’s sourced, and each type of collagen has its own benefits:

• Porcine collagen is sourced from pigs and is most similar to human collagen. It’s been studied as a possible form of osteoporosis treatment and is less likely to cause an allergic response compared to bovine collagen.
• Bovine collagen is sourced from cows and is widely known for providing collagen type I and III support.
• Marine collagen is sourced from fish and mainly provides type I collagen support. Additionally, it’s a great alternative to porcine and bovine collagen for people who follow religious dietary guidelines. 
• Plant-based collagen is sourced from yeast and bacteria that’s been genetically modified. The biggest benefit here isn’t hard to guess — as a non-animal product, this collagen type is friendly for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone else that prefers plant-based supplements.

However, it’s important to note that plant-based collagen isn’t widely available to the public at this time. Instead, you can get the next best thing in the form of vegan collagen boosters.

Try NatureWise Mixed Berry Vegan Collagen Booster 

Meet NatureWise Mixed Berry Vegan Collagen Booster: a blend of all-natural, non-GMO, and gluten-free ingredients in one easy-to-mix powder. The superstars of this formula are glycine and proline, two organic compounds needed to boost your body’s natural collagen production. These two amino acids (along with a third amino acid, hydroxyproline) make up nearly two-thirds of the many amino acids in collagen! 

This vegan collagen booster also includes Vitamin C and Vitamin E to enhance support for your skin, nail, joints, and bone health. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help support the integrity and health of your cells and positively affect type I collagen production. Similarly, vitamin E is an antioxidant that can play a role in supporting a healthy inflammation response. Additionally, vitamin E can aid in improving blood circulation, which encourages collagen production. 

Mixed Berry Vegan Collagen Booster or Enhanced Collagen Peptides?

Mixed Berry Vegan Collagen Booster joins Enhanced Collagen Peptides to expand the NatureWise collagen collection and provide a plant-based way to amplify collagen production. These two supplements offer the same benefits of promoting collagen production and encouraging healthy skin, hair, joints, and bones. However, there are a few differences to note.

The biggest difference is that Enhanced Collagen Peptides are made of 100% grass-fed, non-GMO bovine collagen. As a result, this collagen supplement specifically includes type I and type III collagen meant to activate support internally (i.e. your gut and joints) and externally (i.e. your skin, nails, and hair). This formula also includes DigeSEB® Super Multi-Enzyme Complex and AstraGin® to aid in more comfortable digestion and drive maximum amino acid absorption for natural collagen production, respectively. 

In the end, your decision may come down to whether you want your collagen booster to be plant-based or not, since both options provide maximum collagen support. Try one or both!