IT’S LIKE MAGIC, BUT ACTUALLY SCIENCE.

WE START WITH COLLAGEN...

WE START WITH COLLAGEN...

The science is clear: collagen is a key component for the maintenance of healthy skin, hair, joints and gut. Sproos sources the highest quality collagen from sustainable and non-GMO sources. Our marine collagen is sourced from North Atlantic, wild-caught fish and processed in Canada. Our bovine collagen comes from North American grass-fed and finished cattle. We didn’t like the idea of any contaminants in our products and we knew you wouldn’t either.

AND THEN WE GO FURTHER

...AND THEN WE GO FURTHER

We didn’t stop there. We consulted with experts, like naturopathic doctors, to develop our unique line of collagen products. Our wide array of products make it easy to incorporate collagen into your daily routine. However you prefer to take your collagen – with your morning coffee or smoothie, added to water, or in a delicious real food nutrition bar – we’ve got you covered.

COLLAGEN 101

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

Collagen is a protein made up of long chains of linked amino acids. It’s actually the most abundant source of protein in our entire body. You can think of collagen as a foundational building block. It provides strength and structure for our connective tissues. Collagen is essential to the function of skin, blood vessels, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and the digestive system.


collagen fibre

Our bodies naturally produce collagen. This collagen production peaks in our early twenties, but naturally declines as we age, by about 1.5% per year, to be exact. By the time we are 40, our bodies are producing 25% less collagen. When we reach 60, collagen production has fallen by 50%! This collagen decline can contribute to many health issues that we associate with aging. These can include loss of skin elasticity, joint pain, slower exercise and injury recovery, loss of bone density and thinning hair. The good news is that many studies have shown that consuming collagen daily can help to mitigate and even reverse some of these issues.

Younger Skin Aging Skin

At this time, there are no plant-based sources of collagen. Supplements like vitamin C will help to support the body’s natural collagen production, but that impact is trivial when compared to the body’s natural collagen production decline over time. The only way to supplement with collagen in a meaningful way is from an animal source. Historically, our diets were naturally high in collagen since we made use of collagen-rich animal bones and skin in our cooking. These traditional diets provided us with gelatin, which is collagen in a larger molecular structure. However, most modern diets need a collagen boost. Unless you are a fan of substituting bone broth for your coveted morning coffee, it’s time to discover collagen supplements.

When taking collagen, we need to be sure that it’s in a format that our body can access and use. This is where hydrolyzed collagen peptides come into play. Collagen is “hydrolyzed” (or broken up) into smaller peptides for our body to use. How? The skin or hides, depending on the source, are heated with water. This creates gelatin – think like a soup or broth. Enzymes are then added to the gelatin to further break it down. This enzymatic process breaks down the amino acids in gelatin into smaller chains. These smaller chains (hello collagen peptides!) have lower molecular weight than gelatin making them easier for the body to use. High quality hydrolyzed collagen peptides are highly soluble and relatively flavourless.

TYPES OF COLLAGEN

So, now you’ve done the research and want to add collagen into your daily routine. But you are faced with one last decision: what type of collagen should I buy?

There are numerous types of collagen in the body, but over 90% of it consists of types I and III. Type I is by far the most dominant. You will also hear mention of type II collagen. Type II collagen is found in cartilage, so is a valuable contributor to joint health. Sproos sources its premium collagen from marine (fish), grass-fed (bovine) and chicken bone broth sources to ensure you can access the collagen that is the best fit for you.

Types of collagen


MARINE COLLAGEN (TYPE I)

As the name suggests, marine collagen is sourced from fish. It comes from the parts of the fish (scales and skin) that would usually be discarded during processing. Marine collagen is a source of type I collagen. Type I is the most plentiful collagen in our bodies. It can be found in our skin, tendons, bones, teeth, ligaments and connective tissues. Collagen is often associated with skin health and rightly so! Type I collagen is the main component of our skin and is a key building block for maintaining its elasticity and firmness. That’s why marine collagen has long been touted in the cosmetic industry for its skin enhancing benefits. Marine collagen is slightly more expensive than other types of collagen, but it has the greatest bioavailability. Gram for gram, marine collagen will deliver the greatest impact.

GRASS-FED COLLAGEN (TYPES I & III)

Grass-fed collagen comes the hides of cattle. It is also known as “bovine collagen”. Bovine collagen is an excellent source of collagen types I and III. Type I collagen is the most dominant type of collagen in the body and type III is found in our muscles, digestive system, blood vessels and skin. This makes grass-fed collagen great for all-round body health and recovery from injuries.

CHICKEN BONE BROTH COLLAGEN (TYPE II)

Chicken bone broth collagen, of course, comes from chickens. Chicken bone broth collagen is a great source of type II collagen. Type II collagen is present in our bodies in much smaller amounts than types I and III. Type II is found in our cartilage, making it a valuable contributor to joint health.

CHOOSING A COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENT

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Being an animal-derived product, ensuring ethical sourcing is a very important consideration when choosing a collagen supplement. We have carefully selected our collagen sources, so you can be confident the animals used are being raised as sustainably and ethically as possible. For us, that means avoiding farmed fish from S.E. Asia and cattle from Brazil (contributing to Amazon deforestation). Sproos Marine Collagen is sourced from wild-caught fish (cod, pollock and haddock) in the North Atlantic, processed in Canada and tested to meet the world’s most stringent standards for heavy metals. Our Grass-Fed Collagen comes from pasture-raised USA cattle, grass-finished and free of added hormones, antibiotics and pesticides. The chicken bone broth collagen in our Performance Multi-Collagen is sourced from cage-free chickens.

It’s also important to do the research into the quality of collagen you’re purchasing. Ensure you are getting meaningful amounts of collagen in each serving. In our products, every serving has at least 5-10g of collagen. You should also choose the collagen with the lowest molecular weight in order to get the best bang for your buck. The lower the molecular weight of the collagen, the easier it is for your body to use. Lower molecular weight = more body benefits. Our collagen averages under 3,000 Daltons to ensure maximum bioavailability and benefits.

PERSONAL CHOICE

To your body, collagen is collagen. What matters most is making collagen part of your daily routine. So when it comes to what collagen to buy, it boils down to personal choice and your main motivation for taking collagen. If you don’t eat meat or have a sensitivity to fish, the choice is easy. Beyond that, if you want to improve your skin, hair and nail health, then you should opt for marine collagen, hands down. If your goal is to support your overall body health and recovery, then grass-fed collagen is a great option for you. If you want the full spectrum benefits from all three main types of collagen then a multi-collagen blend is your winner.
  • JOINT, BONE & RECOVERY BENEFITS

    - Maintains joint health and flexibility

    - Reduces risk of joint deterioration

    - Strengthens ligaments and cartilage

    - Improves pain associated with joint degeneration

    - Injury and recovery support

    - Bone health support

  • SKIN & HAIR BENEFITS

    - Improves skin elasticity and hydration
    - Visibly improves overall skin tone and appearance – get that glow!
    - Reduces and prevents fine lines
    - Hydrates and smoothes dry, brittle hair

  • GUT BENEFITS

    - Optimizes immune function of the intestines
    - Helps maintain integrity, growth, and function of intestines
    - Helps repair digestive tract and prevent ‘leaky gut’