Collagen and Weight Loss

Understanding the difference between collagen and protein powder can help you make better choices for your wellness goals, whether that’s muscle growth, skin and joint support, or daily protein intake. Although both contain amino acids and count as proteins, they serve very different purposes in your diet and body.  What Is Collagen?  Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the body, found in skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, hair, and nails. It provides strength, elasticity, and support to connective tissues.   Unlike many protein powders (like whey or plant proteins), collagen:  Is not a complete protein, it doesn’t contain all nine essential amino acids.   Is rich in specific amino acids such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which help support tissues and structures throughout the body.   Why take collagen powder?  May support skin hydration and elasticity  Helps maintain joint comfort and mobility  Supports gut health  Offers structural amino acids that can decline with age  What Is Protein Powder?  In contrast to collagen, most protein powders  (including whey, plant-based, egg and casein) are designed to help you meet daily protein requirements and support functions like muscle maintenance, repair and growth. Protein powders differ based on their amino acid profile, digestibility, dietary preferences and goals.  Scientific research indicates that both animal and plant proteins can support muscle mass and strength gains when total protein intake is adequate, although animal protein often shows a modest advantage in lean mass development due to higher essential amino acid availability (Santini, M, 2025).  Protein powders are often used to support:  Reaching daily protein goals  Muscle recovery and strength gains  Weight management and satiety  Convenient nutrition when whole foods aren’t available  Which One Should You Choose?  When you’re choosing between collagen powder and a more traditional protein powder, it really comes down to what you’re trying to support in your life and body, not that one is “better” than the other for everyone.  If your main goal is to meet daily protein needs, support muscle recovery after workouts, or build strength over time, a more complete protein powder (whether that’s whey or a thoughtfully blended plant-based option) tends to fit those needs more directly. These powders are formulated with all the essential amino acids your body looks for when it’s rebuilding and repairing tissues after movement or exercise.  On the other hand, if you’re more focused on things like skin resilience, joint comfort, or connective tissue support, collagen protein can feel like a more tailored choice. Because it’s rich in specific amino acids that your body uses for structural proteins like collagen in skin and cartilage, many people find it helpful as a complement to their overall routine.  Some individuals choose to use both. For example, a general protein powder after workouts to support muscle and strength goals, and collagen at other times to support skin, joint, or tissue health. There’s nothing stopping you from combining them, as long as you’re keeping an eye on your overall protein intake and how you feel. Everyone’s body and priorities are a little different, so it can be worth experimenting to find what feels best for you.  Goal  Recommended  Muscle building and athletic performance  Protein powder  Skin, joints, hair, nails  Collagen powder  Balanced dietary protein  Protein powder  Targeted connective tissue support  Collagen    References  Santini, M. H., Erwig Leitão, A., Mazzolani, B. C., Smaira, F. I., de Souza, M. S. C., Santamaria, A., Gualano, B., & Roschel, H. (2025). Similar effects between animal-based and plant-based protein blend as complementary dietary protein on muscle adaptations to resistance training: findings from a randomized clinical trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 22(1), 2568047. https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2025.2568047  

Which format of collagen is best to take? So you know about all the wonderful things collagen does and why you should be taking it. Great! There seems to be a bit of an ongoing debate between powder collagen and liquid. Which reigns supreme? Which is absorbed better and overall better for you? We have taken a deep dive to answer those burning questions for you. But first... A bit about each of the most popular forms of collagen supplements Collagen powder Powder is the common form of collagen supplements; in fact, it is how it exists before it is dissolved into liquids. Collagen powders easily dissolve in both food and drinks. The collagen peptides, when extracted from the animal source, are made into a powder first. They are hydrolyzed for easier consumption and absorbability. TIP: Always look for hydrolyzed collagen peptides when choosing a supplement. Most studies look at usage with collagen powders, it is the form that has been most well studied and reviewed as well. From those studies, it’s been shown that collagen is effective... so we know powder is good in that way. How to use: Dissolve into beverages or foods of choice, blend into smoothies, or use in baking. Best for: Anyone that likes to mix collagen their way. Liquid collagen Pre-made collagen drinks contain dissolved powder plus potentially other ingredients to enhance the flavour. For this reason, liquid forms tend to have less collagen per serving than the powdered form...so to get the same amount as in powder you may need to consume more liquid. Up until now, most liquid options were created from marine collagen. However, Organika has liquid forms of both marine and our award-winning Enhanced Collagen from bovine collagen. How to use: Simply take the collagen drink as suggested. Depending on the product, it may be potent per serving (to be drank whole or taken by tablespoon). Best for: Anyone that prefers the convenience of pre-made liquid Collagen capsules Collagen capsules contain powdered collagen, so they provide the same benefits as the powdered form of collagen. It’s really that simple. How to use: Take as directed with water. Best for: Those that prefer taking supplements by capsule vs. food or drink. Your collagen questions answered Which form is best absorbed, powder or liquid? Any collagen supplements should be hydrolyzed. That means its large proteins have been broken down, to make them digestible and easy to absorb. It also makes collagen powder better able to dissolve into liquids. Since liquid collagen is powder dissolved into something – both are equally as absorbable. Are there added ingredients in one form over another? Liquid versions may have added ingredients, simply because they may include natural flavours to enhance the taste and create a desirable product you would want to consume directly. There are multi-ingredient blends available now. That just means, for your convenience, there is collagen combined with other supplements you may need. For example: Enhanced Collagen Sleep is pure hydrolyzed bovine collagen powder PLUS sleep supplements GABA and Melatonin. Blends are made for supplement taker conveniences. Which form is most effective? Taking collagen is effective as been studied. Both are effective, since both come from powdered supplements; powder is more potent. There are many liquid only collagen brands that push the false claim of higher bioavailability or that liquid is more efficiently absorbed, however there isn’t scientific evidence to support that claim. Most collagen studies use powder to show its effectiveness. The bioavailability is in fact improved by the hydrolyzed process (liquid or powder) not what form is consumed. How much collagen do I need from powder vs. liquid? Powder has more collagen per serving than the liquid forms. For example, if you take 1 tablespoon of the powder it is approx. 5 grams of collagen vs 1 tablespoon of the liquid collagen being approx. 1.5 grams of collagen. Therefore, you have to consume a lot more liquid to get the same amount of collagen from liquid. With powder you can use 1-2 scoops as directed, for liquid you would need to take the serving size X 2 or 3 times a day to get the same amount of collagen. What do the experts say? Many naturopaths agree – that while liquid supplements in general are absorbed faster, there is less collagen per serving, and collagen is not a quick fix medicine. You don’t need the super quick absorption (as you would a cough and cold syrup). Because of its potency and versatility, powder is great. If you prefer liquid, that is fine also. It is really a consumer’s choice. We also asked nutritionists that pointed out that since both the liquid and the powder are from the same hydrolyzed collagen source, they are both bioavailable and absorb well in the body. The collagen for both the liquid and the powder will be absorbed in the gut, so when choosing one over the other they work/absorb the same way. What really matters The form of collagen you take is entirely up to your preference. Collagen powder can give you more collagen per serving than a liquid collagen shot, but sometimes grabbing pre-made collagen water is more convenient. The most important thing when looking for a collagen supplement is the source/type and quality of the collagen. Learn more about collagen types here.   REFERENCES: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33742704/ de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol. 2021 Dec;60(12):1449-1461. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31411379/ Jhawar N, Wang JV, Saedi N. Oral collagen supplementation for skin aging: A fad or the future? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020 Apr;19(4):910-912.

Marine Collagen: Beauty from the Sea   You may be seeing marine collagen or hearing about it, but unsure what the difference between that and bovine collagen is, and/or which one you should be consuming. As expected, Marine collagen comes from fish and is rich in Type 1 collagen. The collagen from this source is pescatarian-friendly for those that do not consume bovine (which also has Type 1 collagen). However, there seems to be an ongoing debate over what is the best source of collagen and why some may opt for a marine source. We are diving into all things marine collagen and answering all your questions about it. Where does marine collagen come from? As the name implies, marine collagen comes from the sea – derived from fish scales, bones, and skin. Organika's Marine Collagen powder is sourced from Canada! It comes from the scales of wild-caught cod, pollock and haddock from the North Atlantic. What is marine collagen used for? What are the known benefits? Collagen, in general, is used to help with skin health (specifically with aging skin, wrinkles), stronger hair and nails, as well as promoting joint health. Rich in Type 1 collagen, marine collagen is linked with beauty benefits and tissue repair. Some of the most popular benefits of marine collagen include: Rejuvenated skin Improved skin texture and hydration Fuller and smoother hair Stronger nails Faster-growing hair and nails Reduced cellulite Why do some people prefer marine collagen? Some may consider marine collagen a more sustainable alternative. The fishing industry often has a lot of unused raw materials from the fish they catch, including the fish skins where marine collagen comes from. In that case, marine collagen can be a more comfortable choice as it may seem to offer a more economical and environmentally friendly option for various companies. Consumers may like to see that instead of wasting fish skins, companies can use the excess materials to create other products. Is marine collagen better than bovine collagen? This is the million-dollar question consumers are asking. The truth: although they come from different sources, fundamentally, the type of collagen from both sources is the same. Collagen is a large molecule, so for it to be efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body, it must first be broken down into smaller pieces, which you may have heard of as collagen peptides. Furthermore it must go through a process known as hydrolyzation: natural enzymes break down collagen into the smaller collagen peptides, without the use of heat or chemicals. High bioavailability in a collagen supplement is assured by the size of its peptide molecules, known as the molecular weight. The smaller the molecular weight, the easier it is for collagen peptides to reach the blood stream and be effectively used in the body. Both Organika’s marine and bovine collagen go through these processes for high bioavailability and ease of digestion. The nitty gritty: marine collagen naturally boasts a lower average molecular weight than any other collagen source - Organika's weighs in at an impressively low 2-2.5 kDa, compared to an average 40-45 kDa in most bovine collagens. However, bovine collagen can have a molecular weight comparable to that of marine collagen - all it takes is more rounds of hydrolization. This is how we achieve a molecular size of under 3 kDa for our bovine-sourced Enhanced Collagen Original! So essentially, what it comes down to is personal preference and dietary restrictions. It can also be beneficial to combine a variety of collagen supplements (bovine, bone broth, marine and even poultry-sourced collagen) for optimal health. Want options for Marine collagen? There is something for everyone – whether you prefer powder, capsules, liquid, or a water enhancer – there is a collagen option for you. Marine Collagen PowderHigh in type 1 collagen, which is essential for maintaining skin, hair and nail health. Hydrolyzed for easy digestion, our marine collagen powder is also tasteless, easily mixing into beverages or foods. Salmon Collagen Capsules Convenient capsules more your thing? Try our Salmon Collagen Capsules. Because they're higher in omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to beauty health you get support with joint pain associated with osteoarthritis. Note: some people prefer salmon capsules for marine collagen because of the omega-3s that have added skin and arthritis benefits. Liquid Marine Collagen If you prefer liquid or flavoured (with orange), you must try this beauty elixir. Made with marine collagen, 200 mg Vitamin C, and 500 mcg biotin, you are getting the ultimate beauty benefits. Effervess A convenient source of marine collagen and vitamin C in a fizzy tablet that will give your water (and your skin) a makeover. Enjoy a variety of flavours: Kiwi, Cranberry, Rose, Lavender and Honey Peach The contents of this article have been fact-checked and reviewed by Registered Holistic Nutritionists.