What are Bovine Collagen Peptides?

When it comes to Nutritional supplements, it can be difficult to find the answers to the most sensible questions all from one reliable source; that is why here at Wellgard we have created our very own Collagen breakdown guide for your convenience.

In our newest edition to the Health Insiders Blog, you will find a collection of popular questions regarding Bovine Collagen to help you get familiar with what Bovine Collagen is, what it’s good for, how it’s used and many more helpful questions - all answered in one place.

What are bovine collagen peptides?

Collagen refers to an essential protein in the body that is responsible for improving our overall bone, gut, hair, ligament and skin health. The protein is made from a range of amino acids including Arginine, Glycine, Hydroxyproline and Proline.

Our protein levels do not always stay as effective at helping to manage our overall health, due to the constant rate of change our bodies are subject to as we age. As a result,  the Collagen in our bodies begins to drop its production levels and therefore causes a struggle for the body to regulate any remaining  Collagen around the body; to the sources that need it the most.

When our Collagen levels drop significantly it means that we are less able to support our body as efficiently as we used to; due to a lack of amino acids helping produce vital Collagen. This is not a process that can necessarily be stopped or slowed down, but there are healthy alternatives to offer a viable solution for the sake of our overall health.

A popular alternative is to implement a source of nutritional Collage taken from sources that can still produce healthy Collagen. One of the most popular sources is Bovine Collagen Peptides, a natural protein mainly derived from cows. Bovine Collagen peptides are supplements that are derived from the Bovine connective tissue from cowhides.

Bovine Collagen is a common supplement that is derived mostly from Cows that can be linked to many health benefits including improved skin health and improved bone strength.

Bovine Collagen is safe and easy to add to your diet, as our Gold Standard Collagen can be mixed into any hot or cold drink of your choice without texture or taste changes.

What is bovine collagen good and used for?

Bovine Collagen supplements have been clinically trialled and tested to help establish the overall benefits and good that they can offer our bodies

1. Bovine Collagen can help plump and re-hydrate the skin:
   

   One of the main benefits of Bovine Collagen may be linked to reducing signs of ageing, wrinkles, prompt skin elasticity and increase skin moisture all within a noticeable 8-week minimum timeframe.
   
   

2. Support bone health and form healthy tissue:
   

   Bovine Collagen has been believed to relieve symptoms of Osteoarthritis, which is a common type of Arthritis caused by the breakout of protective cartilage supporting our bones. The Bovine Collagen has been lab-tested in which it was reported to help increase the formation and mineralization of healthy bones and tissue.
   
   

3. Support nail health and hair growth:
   

   Bovine Collagen has been widely noticeable at improving the overall strength and growth of our hair and nails. Collagen can help improve nail growth and reduce symptoms of brittle nails and can increase the rate at which nails and hair grow and strengthen naturally over time.
   
   

4. Support muscle strength:
   

   Collagen is a concentrated source of the amino acid Glycine which can help the body produce creatine. When our body is not producing high enough levels of amino acids, like creatine, Bovine Collagen supplements can; help us maintain a strong muscle mass and improve our overall exercise performance. 
   
   

5. Support digestion and gut health:
   

   Bovine Collagen is an excellent nutrient source for re-building the rapidly dividing cells that are found in the exterior lining of the gut. It can help prevent a leaky gut as it works to support the overall connectivity tissues and lining of the gut to aid in healthy digestion. 

What is Bovine Collagen made from & how?

Collagen is naturally produced by the body, but it can also be obtained from foods and nutritional supplements; like Bovine Collagen.

Most nutritional supplements are derived from a variety of animal and plant resources. The most common are Bovine animals that include Antelope, Bison, Water Buffalo and the most common source - Cows. Even though it is safe to consume Bovine Collagen, it is important to make sure it comes from a healthy source.

Due to Bovine Collagen being typically derived from Cow Hides it is a good idea for the animals to have been raised and fed healthily to ensure there are no contaminants to the Bovine Collagen.

At Wellgard we ensure that we set out and maintain our high standards when it comes to our Bovine Collagen. Our Gold Standard is 100% Pure Bovine Collagen Peptides, is Kosher, Halal and free from Hormones.

Grass-fed Bovine Collagen is a good way to ensure the Collagen source is organic and had an ethical quality of life. However, Grass-fed Collagen is next to impossible to guarantee; due to the colder months not providing any/ less natural crop and grass. Therefore a healthy and alternative feeding source may be necessary and can therefore never ‘guarantee’ any Bovine Collagen to be 100% Grass-fed!

How is Bovine Collagen made from Cowhides?

Bovine Collagen is made in a very simple process that ensures the collected Collagen is healthy and safe to be added and created into nutritional supplements.

The first step in the process is to collect Cow, or similar cattle bones or byproducts to get ready to boil. Once gathered, the animal bones are boiled in water; which mimics a typical home-cooked bone broth. This is the purest way of collecting Bovine Collagen.

Once the boiled down bones have been extracted- the retrieval of the Collagen still needs to go through an extensive evaporation and milling process. Only then - when the Collagen has dried and resembles a pure powder form can it then be added or made into the form of a supplement.

The powdered form allows for the Bovine Collagen to be versatile when it comes to the type of supplement it can become; Collagen powder, capsules, gummies or supplements.

Other varieties of nutritional Collagen do exist, another popular source being Marine Collage which is sourced from fish skin, bones and scales. However, the most popular nutritional Collagen is still Bovine Collagen not only for the process of how it is made is easier, but it has also gone through the most rigorous testing and controlled research.

What is Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen?

There are two common types of Bovine Collagen supplements: Gelatine and Hydrolyzed Collagen.

Gelatine is a cooked Collagen that is typically in a powdered form to make it suitable to mix into desserts, gel-based sweets, gravy and many other similar foods. The powdered form helps liquids turn into a gel-based consistency. Think of jelly; the watery mix requires Gelatine Collagen to thicken it up into an edible gel.

Whereas Hydrolyzed Collagen is a source of Collagen that has been broken down into smaller proteins that the body finds more comfortable to consume. Hydrolyzed Collagen is a very convenient and versatile Collagen, as it can be easily added to both hot and cold drinks/ liquids.

The quickest method of nourishing the body with Collagen supplements is when it can be consumed safely and directly by adding the recommended daily serving of 2.5 - 15grams of Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen powder into your morning coffee or drink of choice.

Hydrolyzed Collagen can get working and be absorbed into the bloodstream much easier and faster than Gelatine Collagen. Hydrolyzed Collagen is also taste- and smell-less, therefore, meaning it will not impact the taste of your morning smoothie or any other drink you add your daily dosage of Collagen into.

Furthermore, Hydrolyzed Collagen completely breaks down and absorbs into your chosen liquid drink resulting in no texture inconsistencies or clumping!

In regards to Collagen-based beauty and skincare products; they will also typically include this exact protein in their formulations due to the many benefits for the skin without causing any inconsistencies with the product formulation when applied to the suitable areas.

How is Bovine Collagen Hydrolyzed?

Collagen comes from a protein group rather than existing as a singular protein inside the body. It is formed of naturally occurring proteins that can be located in the connective tissues and flesh inside of mammals including humans. Bovine Collagen is sourced by boiling down Cattle, Yaks and similar warm-blooded mammals bones. 

Bovine Collagen can be broken down into Gelatine, which can then be broken down even further into a Hydrolyzed Collagen state. These can then be suitable forms to add to food and nutritional supplements.

The overall molecular weights of hydrolyzed collagen range from anywhere between 500 to 25000 Da, and is a Polypeptide composite formed by further hydrolysis of denatured Collagen or Gelatine. The size and mass of the molecules in Hydrolysate have been reduced on purpose by Hydrolysis in proportion to the Gelatines own molecules peptide bonds.

This will therefore allow the Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen to dissolve in water and no longer cause a gelling effect like powdered Gelatine will when mixed with water to create gel-based foods and supplements. Instead, Hydrolyzed Collagen will retain its active surface characteristics.

Below we have included the steps in processing Hydrolyzed Collagen and represented them in a simplified bullet-point layout:

• Demineralization,
• Extraction of collagen to gelatine form,
• Enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain hydrolyzed collagen
• Ion exchange, filtering, evaporation, sterilisation, and finally
• The drying stage.

Above are all the steps involved in processing hydrolyzed collagen.

Extensive Collagen research and testing have raised some questions regarding the process of Hydrolyzed Collagen; leading to the possibilities of alternative methods to break down the Collagen or Gelatine to produce Bioactive peptides.

Why is it called Bovine Collagen Hydrolysate?

When Bovine Collagen has gone through the entire Hydrolyzed process, to become nutritional Collagen, it is referred to as Bovine Collagen Hydrolysate as a means of labelling the type of Collagen and process it has gone through.

Alternative methods of procuring Collagen to be ready to be added to foods and liquids may not have gone through the same Hydrolysis process; meaning that the ‘end product’ may differ significantly.

The most noticeable difference is the end product’s consistency; if the Collagen is in a water-soluble powder, it will be labelled and identified as Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen. However a Gelatine Collagen can also be finished into powder form, but this type will react with a liquid base (due to its molecule mass) and cause the liquid base to turn into a gel consistency. 

Hydrolyzed Bovin Collagen in its purest powder form will be ready to be created into nutritional supplements that can also be mixed easily into any hot or cold drink. The liquids’ taste, texture and even the smell of the liquid topped up with pure Bovine Collagen powder will not be changed or altered at all. Its unique molecular mass and chemical bonding mean that the Hydrolyzed Collagen will dissolve into your drink of choice instantly ready for safe and immediate consumption.

When looking for Nutritional Bovine Collagen, it is best to opt for supplements that will be versatile, and mix conveniently into your drinks; these types of Collagen supplements should always be labelled as Hydrolyzed or Hydrolysate Collagen.

What Type is Bovine Collagen?

There are at least 16 types of Collagen that exist within the body and they all have a very specific role to plan in regards to keeping our bodies healthy and thriving.

When our bodies are not as effective at producing and regulating our Collagen levels to help keep our blood vessels, bones, gut, joints, muscles and skin healthy; we might have to rely on an alternative Collage source.

Collagen rich foods are a healthy source of Collagen, that can be implemented into a healthy diet. However, the most popular method of increasing vital Collagen levels is through Nutritional Collagen supplements.

Collagen supplements, like the popular Bovine Collagen, provide different types of Collagen to help keep the body healthy and boost overall immunity by strengthening bones, tendons and the entire digestive system. 

However, the benefits of Collagen for the body will heavily depend on the Type of Collagen. The Collagen that we source from Cows, and similar animals, just so happen to resemble the Collagen in our bodies the most; this is of course Bovine Collagen! 

There are three Types of Collagen, Type I, Type II, and Type III that comprise the majority of all the Collagen found within the Human Body. However, Bovine Collagen supplements only typically contain Type I and Type III.

Type I and Type III Collagen exist together in the body and therefore provide similar functions. Both Types I and III will be responsible for particular health benefits and overall supporting the structure of the body. In addition to both Types also playing a critical role in our overall gut health.

Whereas, the other Type II Collagen is often found in the bodies cartilage and has a singular motive at promoting joint health. Furthermore, Type II is typically found in Marine Collagen along with Type I but lacks the essential Type III that is found in Bovine Collagen.

What is Type I and III Bovine?

Type I and Type III Bovine Collagen are primarily responsible for our overall bone, gut, hair and skin health.

Bovine Collagen Type I is responsible for your bodies bones, hair and skin. Whereas Type III is focused on our intestines and is responsible for repairing our gut lining. Due to Bovine presenting higher levels of Type III Collagen over Type I, anybody with intestinal concerns may find this source of nutritional Collagen the best at aiding support of the intestines.

This is due to Type III Bovine Collagen being the most effective at focusing the vital proteins towards the intestinal area to help keep them healthy and functioning properly.

Type I Collagen is the most abundant protein in the vertebrate that assembles into fibres that are responsible for the structural and mechanical makeup of the bones, blood vessels walls, cornea, skin, tendons and other connective tissue.

Type III is the second most abundant type of Collagen that can be found in the body; equally as important to Type I for simultaneously supporting the overall health of our bodies makeup.

Type III Collagen is released by fibroblasts, and similar cell types, that are primarily responsible for repairing and soothing inflammation inside the body. It is found in the blood vessels, bones, digestive system, muscles and the uterus typically alongside Type I Collagen.

Type III is focused on supporting hernias, kidney fibrosis, liver diseases, lung injury, and any vascular disorders. As well as supporting gut healing, building lean muscles mass and promoting bone health.

Even with over 16 different Types of Collagen present in the body, approximately 80 - 90 per cent of the Collagen found in the body consists primarily of Types I, II and III. Bovine can offer all the essential Types of Collagen that the body can benefit from the most - all in one  supplement.

Here at Wellgard, we hope to have answered all of your questions regarding Bovine Collagen thoroughly to offer you valuable insight into the wonderful world of nutritional Collagen supplements.

If you are interested in getting your hands on your very own Collagen supplements then please do ahead and check out our Gold Standard Collagen powder that has been incredibly beneficial for our customers. Our positive reviews talk for themselves!

Don’t delay, get your Boinve Collagen today!