IT’S LIKE MAGIC, BUT ACTUALLY SCIENCE.
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 wild-caught fish and processed in GMP certified facilities. 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
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.
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.
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.
MARINE COLLAGEN (TYPE I)
GRASS-FED COLLAGEN (TYPES I & III)
CHICKEN BONE BROTH COLLAGEN (TYPE II)
CHOOSING A COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENT
THINGS TO CONSIDER
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
COLLAGEN BENEFITS
-
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’