I use a collagen supplement every day. I mostly use it for joint mobility and overall joint health, and I definitely notice a difference but I don’t mind saying that my skin looks and feels better when I take collagen consistently. That’s the trick with collagen, you have to take it every day for this stuff to be effective.

So my big winner is COLLAGEN HYDROLYSATE from GREAT LAKES GELATIN COMPANY. I mix 2.5 scoops in my coffee (18g of collagen) every morning. I also add a little oat milk or coconut milk creamer for extra flavor and a little sweetener (but that’s for another conversation).

So there it is….

Yes, you can buy this on Amazon but I saw this on the shelf at Trader Joe’s many many times before I bought it (They sell a 7oz. can for $9.99 by the way) but I BOUGHT because I did some googling on the best collagen supplements available and Great Lakes kept coming up on various lists at number 2 or number 3. I chose Great Lakes because its a high quality product, the collagen is hydrolyzed (more bio-available), it comes from grass fed cows, the mix-ability is hands down the smoothest and simply the best. PLUS, the amino acid profile is just as good as Vital. They both offer 19 aminos in each serving. Plus I can always grab it a Trader Joes.

So not to say that other collagen brands are bad, this is the one I prefer. I highly recommend Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate but again, do your own research. On your search for the most amazing collagen money can buy, you want to keep an eye out for the following attributes (This is what you WANT in a high quality collagen supplement)

Hydrolyzed collagen- also known as peptides, the collagen is broken down into smaller, easy to digest particles.
Check the source- Type I and Type II collagen comes from Cows. You would be better off taking a collagen supplement that comes from grass fed and pasture-raised cows.
Amino Acid profile- The more Aminos the better. All collagen products are missing the amino acid TRYPTOPHAN (which is why you’ll see label warnings that tell you that collagen supplements are NOT an adequate source of protein) but… all products and brands seem to offer a slightly different lineup of protein players. Thats why I like Great Lakes. The amino acid profile lists 20 different aminos in each serving.
Mixability- In many cases, you won’t know until you try it but I’ll tell you right now, I’ve tried a lot of them and Great Lakes is the best. Vital Proteins is a close second. You DON’T want an ugly clumpy chunk of goo swimming around in your coffee. Trust me. It’s gross.

A little more about collagen… in case this information leaves you thoroughly confused….

Collagen is the main structural protein that forms the connective tissue of our body—such as bone, skin, cartilage, and tendons. It is widely believed that if humans ingest collagen from outside sources it will support and optimize our health and address physiological needs posed by aging and exercise. Some studies have found that taking oral collagen supplementsmay “increase skin elasticity, hydration, and dermal collagen density,” all things that decrease as we age.¹

It’s paramount that you do your research and prioritize quality when choosing a specific collagen supplement. Products that use bovine collagen should be using grass-fed cows only. For marine collagen, opt for supplements derived from wild fish.

Remember that research on collagen supplements is fairly new and not enough studies have been done to support the many claims that can be found on bottles. Always speak to your health care team before trying something new.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/best-collagen-powders-4682620

Thank you Verywellhealth.com

Thank you Greatlakesgelatin.com

and thank you Trader Joes.