Marine collagen powder UK vs liquid collagen

Marine collagen powder UK vs liquid collagen

Collagen drinks have become quite the trend for many people in Europe and the USA recently, and it has piqued the interest of many looking to add to their beauty or wellness routines. But there are other collagen supplements out there, and you may find yourself asking "what's the difference between marine collagen powder and liquid collagen?". Well, the powder is somewhat more familiar to many as it has been on the scene longer in the western world. In this guide, we will answer all your questions about collagen powder and liquid collagen and give you the pros and cons of both. Read on for a comparison of marine collagen powder UK vs liquid collagen.

What is marine collagen powder UK?

Marine collagen refers to any collagen supplement that is sourced from fish. It comes from both the scales and the skin - parts of the fish that are a by-product of the fishing industry.

Collagen powder is a nutritional supplement presented in powder form, aimed at giving your body the nutrients it needs to stimulate the natural production of collagen. Collagen powder requires some preparation to consume - it must be thoroughly mixed into your food or drink. Whether you mix it into yoghurt or a smoothie, there are many ways to take collagen powder that incorporate your creativity and help you bring it into your daily routine.

What is liquid collagen?

As you might have already guessed, liquid collagen is the same source of collagen protein but presented in liquid form. The collagen particles are combined with a rich formulation of other vitamins and minerals and presented as a tasty, easily-digestible liquid.

Presented in the form of a quick shot of liquid or something you can dilute with water, it takes little to no preparation and can be easily added to your daily routine without any extra work.

Marine collagen powder UK vs liquid collagen

It goes without saying that the most obvious difference between the two is that one is a drink and the other is a powder. Both forms of the collagen supplement are made using the same collagen particles taken from fish (though there are products where the collagen comes from cows, pigs or chickens).

One simple comparison is the prep time to consume the supplement. Powder has to be incorporated into another drink or food, so it will take some time to prepare it. Liquid collagen is ready to consume as-is, so there is virtually no preparation to do besides opening the container and drinking it.

While both offer the same range of benefits for your beauty and wellness, there are actually some more nuanced differences between the two forms.

1. Dosage

Liquid collagen supplements often have a smaller amount of collagen per serving than powders. There is no recommended dosage for collagen at the time of writing, but <a href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-much-collagen-per-day">research</a> supports a recommendation of 10-20 grams per day. Most liquid products max out at 10 grams per serving (with some exceptions) while powdered forms often contain 15 grams or more.

For this reason, if you want to take a higher dosage of collagen each day, you might need to consume two servings of the drink per day or else opt for powder instead. However, there is an argument against choosing the powder option...

2. The chemistry

The collagen peptides in liquid collagen are generally considered to be more bioavailable than in any other form of collagen supplement, including powder. The amino acids can be swiftly absorbed into the bloodstream from the liquid, without any digesting having to take place, so they become available to your body almost instantly.

This speeds up the process of your body using those nutrients to trigger the production of collagen in the body. Thus, it may be preferable to opt for liquid collagen even if the dosage is a little lower.

3. Collagen source

It depends on the brand, but liquid collagen is usually formulated with marine collagen. This is abundant in Type I and Type II collagen, offering benefits for skin, hair, nails, bone, tendons, ligaments and the gut, as well as cartilage.

While we are talking about marine collagen powder, you can also find powders formulated using bovine collagen. This often has more Type III collagen content, which is good for muscles and blood vessels. There are, of course, liquid collagen supplements that use bovine collagen, but they are rare. If you want those benefits for your muscles and blood vessels, this might be worth considering.

Of course, if you are a pescatarian, then marine collagen is the only option anyway. Another thing to bear in mind is that certain contaminants have been found in bovine collagen. Marine collagen, particularly when sourced from wild-caught fish, is generally considered to be the purest form of collagen for supplements.

4. Additional ingredients

The other, complementary ingredients in a collagen supplement can support the uptake and effectiveness of the collagen for your desired results. Liquids tend to have a longer list than powders, including pleasing flavours to enhance marketability as well as skin-health heavyweights like hyaluronic acid.

However, you may want to avoid drinks with too much added sugar as these are empty calories that reduce the health benefits. Adding powder to your strawberry smoothie will make it equally delicious, but it is more work and has potentially fewer benefits.

5. Portability

If your time is very limited and you want an option that is quick and ready to go, liquid collagen is the obvious choice. The collagen is premixed into a tasty beverage, so you won't have to do the work of preparing a drink or food before you can consume it. Of course, this process doesn't have to take longer than a few minutes, but the difference is still there.

6. Sustainability

One concern you may have with liquid collagen is the single-use nature of each drink. The waste this produces can be a concern, so individually packaged drinks may seem to be less eco-friendly than a recyclable jar of powder.

However, many providers of liquid collagen take steps to minimise the packaging and the waste. If the containers that each beverage comes in are fully recyclable, the waste output is not as much of a problem as it would be with other products.

Which is more effective: marine collagen powder or liquid collagen?

Ultimately, it is down to you to weigh up the pros and cons listed above. However, many experts will agree that a high-quality collagen drink is the better option all around. Though the dosage may be lower, it comes in a more bioavailable form with a greater combination of complementary nutrients per serving. The packaging doesn't have to be an issue if it's recyclable, and it's quick to use with a great taste to it.

Of course, powders are not all bad. Their higher collagen dosage can be combined with a wide range of additional nutrients and come from a high-quality source. But when you are comparing two really good options, the liquid option generally ticks the most boxes for the busy, modern individual.

It is the convenience and bioavailability of liquid collagen that really set it apart. The speed and ease of absorption are absolutely crucial to the effectiveness of a collagen supplement, and the formulation of liquid collagen means your body can make use of those amino acids far more efficiently.

What benefits can I hope to experience from liquid collagen?

There are various full-body perks to taking liquid collagen every day:

Skin

By stimulating your body's natural collagen production, you can expect to see better skin hydration, fewer wrinkles and overall improved skin quality. This is particularly important as your own collagen production diminishes through the 40s and beyond.

Joints

Collagen is a fundamental building block for our joints, making the tissue firmer, more flexible and resistant to damage. Collagen supplements can help the body maintain better health in the joints for reduced stiffness, improved mobility and greater comfort.

Hair and nails

The amino acids in collagen supplements make up many of the required nutrients for healthy hair and nail growth. Keratin requires a range of amino acids to grow, so collagen supplements can promote stronger, healthier hair and nails.

The gut

Collagen supplements may support the stomach lining and also provide benefits for the tissues of the intestines. The importance of good gut health is becoming increasingly understood, and collagen might be a component of maximising it.

Muscles

Collagen is present in our muscles. Collagen supplements have been shown to help people engaging in strength training programs boost their muscle gain for more strength and health in the muscles.

Final thoughts

Liquid collagen and marine collagen powder both offer an array of benefits to the user. The main pro of choosing the powder option is that you might get a higher dosage of collagen per serving. But with liquid collagen, that content is absorbed into the body faster and more efficiently, and you can consume it without having to prepare your drink first.

What is most important is to always look for high-quality collagen from the purest sources. Consider your goals with taking collagen and how it would incorporate into your lifestyle then choose the option that works best for you.