Are liquid collagen supplements better than powder?
Are liquid collagen supplements better than powder?
Ready-to-drink liquid collagen is digested and absorbed into the bloodstream quicker than collagen that comes in powder form because it is formulated to maximise the speed by which the body processes and uses it.
Some people prefer taking collagen in liquid form over powder supplements, or vice versa. However, research demonstrates that liquid-form collagen is more efficient and has quicker results than a powder or pill collagen supplement.
Why liquid supplements are better than powder
There are several clear benefits from taking collagen in a liquid than in a powder or tablet form:
- It is considerably easier to swallow for people of all ages.
- It is more suitable for people with swallowing difficulties. It is often better for people with digestive problems.
- It is convenient and easy to take for people on the go.
- You can mix it with other things, such as breakfast cereal or yoghurt, or you can mix it into a drink.
- It is largely tasteless. Powdered collagen can have a chalky taste and feel, even if you think you have mixed it well.
- Above all, it is processed more quickly by the body and so has faster results.
Why liquid collagen absorbs quicker than powder
Most collagen supplements come hydrolysed into peptides. Hydrolysis is the process by which collagen fibres are broken down into peptides. Collagen peptides are tiny pieces of collagen. Liquid collagen supplements contain peptides that have been broken down into smaller particles than a powder. This means that they are easier for our bodies to process so that they enter the bloodstream faster. You must first digest collagen for it to enter the bloodstream. Liquids pass through the stomach in minutes from where the collagen proteins enter the bloodstream. It generally takes around 30 minutes before a pill is dissolved in the stomach before it begins being broken down.
Why liquid collagen is more effective than powders
The absorption rate for powders and pills can be as low as 39% to 53%. The rest of it simply leaves our body in the same other waste food products do. Contrast that with liquids, where up to 98% of the extract is retained within our system. In order for any medicinal, therapeutic or nutritional substance to be used by our bodies, it must first become suspended in a liquid - i.e. mixed with water. For a tablet or a powder, that process will happen in the stomach. The nearer a preparation is to already be in liquid form, the quicker and more completely it will assimilate and then take effect. Why this could matter for collagen supplements Studies have shown that the peptide profile in the blood is elevated after taking a daily collagen supplement for just four weeks. The research also found that collagen levels were at their highest an hour after taking the supplement. Levels then slowly fall over the following 24 hours. Rapid absorption by taking collagen in a liquid form may be one way of maximising the effect within the shortest timescale.
