Collagen Powder vs Pills: Which One Should You Take?

Collagen is everywhere these days… and its popularity has created a seemingly endless sea of options to choose from. Between collagen powders, pills, capsules, creams, infused beverages, bone broths, and more, you’ll find no shortage of variations when it comes to choosing a collagen supplement for your needs.

But this vast popularity can also make it feel pretty overwhelming when it comes to choosing the best product and method for you. How can you tell the difference between the good, the bad, and the ugly?

In recent years, clinical studies continue to show that the most effective way to boost your body’s collagen is with an ingestible method, like collagen peptide powders and capsules.

These two forms of collagen continue to be the two most popular types of products for this reason… and we totally agree!

If you’re going to invest time and money in taking a collagen supplement, you need to be sure that it’s going to be fully absorbed, so that you can enjoy the maximum benefits for your hair, skin, nails, gut, and joint health.

Let’s take a closer look at our two favorite ways to take collagen and discover exactly what you need to know to choose the best method for your unique wellness needs. 

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

Chances are that you’ve probably already heard a lot about collagen supplements and their many benefits. But if you’re new to the world of collagen, you’re certainly not alone! Understanding the importance of collagen is actually pretty simple.

Collagen is your body’s main structural protein and is made up of essential amino acids, sometimes called the building blocks of proteins. Collagen is basically like the “glue” that hold your entire skeleton together. That means your hair, skin, nails, teeth, bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, and more all rely on collagen for their strength and elasticity. 

Collagen makes up approximately 90% of your connective tissue, as well as at least 70% of your skin.

Simply put, it’s the most abundant protein in your body. Unfortunately, as we age, we begin to drastically lose collagen. This can result in visible signs of aging like thinning hair, aching joints, and sagging skin.

Besides the natural aging process, collagen protein can also be broken down and destroyed by modern lifestyle factors like toxins, environmental pollution, smoking, alcohol, refined sugar, processed and fried foods, and excessive sun exposure.

Adding a high-quality collagen supplement (like our Keto Collagen) can reintroduce some of this vital collagen back into your body, allowing it to intelligently redistribute it wherever it is needed most. 

Collagen supplements may help promote:

• Smoother, plumper, more supple skin
• More comfortable mobility and support for your joints
• Strengthened nails and hair
• A healthier gut
• Healthier teeth and bones
• Overall healthy aging support
• ... and more! 

There are many different kinds of collagen, from marine collagen to bovine collagen and eggshell membrane collagen. If you’d like to learn about the five main types of collagen that we've included in our Multi Collagen, check out this article here: "Can You Name These 5 Essential Collagen Types?"

Why choose hydrolyzed collagen supplements?

While researchers continue to explore the many benefits and uses of collagen, there is still much debate over the effectiveness of certain foods or cosmetics for boosting collagen.

While the verdict is still out as to how beneficial foods like bone broth actually are for increasing collagen production, collagen peptide supplements continue to stand out as the clear winner for wellness benefits. 

This is mostly due to the fact that collagen is difficult for the body to break down during the digestion process. In fact, when it's in its full-length, unhydrolyzed form, collagen is usually too large to pass through the intestinal wall. That means that in its original form, collagen is usually not very effective as an oral or topical supplement. 

All high-quality collagen powder and pills are “hydrolyzed” (broken down) so that the collagen is much more bioavailable and easier for your body to digest and absorb.

That’s why it’s so important to always choose a collagen supplement that is hydrolyzed (like Primal Collagen). These shorter chains of amino acids will be more easily absorbed into your bloodstream, meaning you get the benefits you crave!

HELPFUL TIP:  You may have seen the terms 'collagen peptides' and 'hydrolyzed collagen' on many collagen product labels. You will often see these two terms used interchangeably or in varying ways, but remember, they are actually the same thing!

COLLAGEN POWDER VS PILLS: WHO SHOULD CHOOSE POWDER?

Many health and fitness enthusiasts will argue that a collagen peptide powder is the most effective and beneficial type of collagen supplement for a number of reasons. The most popular of the two choices, it is incredibly versatile, simple to use, and easy for your body to absorb.

Collagen powders are derived from various animal sources, with the most common sources being bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane. This means that in either powder or pill form, there will not be any fully vegan options. 

Collagen peptide powders are generally very neutral in taste, smell, texture, and consistency, allowing them to effortlessly dissolve into pretty much any hot or cold liquids of your choice.

They are the most diverse option, allowing for endless options for recipes and giving you the most control and creativity over your collagen consumption. When it comes to dietary supplements, it’s all about whatever works best for you and your own personal preference!

Most people take their daily collagen powder by mixing a scoop or two into a drink, such as water, juice, smoothie, tea, or coffee. However, you're not limited to drinks as the powder form is also great when added to food! Many people add it to oatmeal, salad dressing, soup, healthy baked recipes, yogurt, and more.

They are available in flavored and unflavored variations, with most people opting for the more natural, unflavored versions to make their collagen easily disguised into any smoothie or liquid. You can also find "keto" variations, like our Keto Collagen powder, that contain helpful wellness ingredients like MCT oil!

You might be best-suited for a collagen peptide powder if you…

• LOVE your daily smoothies
• Want to supercharge your daily cup of coffee or tea
• You have a little extra time and motivation to mix or blend your supplements and get creative
• You want to add your collagen in with a blend of other supplements for a supercharged mix (like an add-on into your daily smoothie bowl with green powder, for example)
• You like to change and control your supplement doses (you want to be able to control exactly how much collagen you’re getting more easily)
• You have trouble swallowing pills
• You want the maximum amount of collagen per gram

COLLAGEN POWDER VS PILLS: WHO SHOULD TAKE PILLS?

The answer to this question is... It depends! Collagen capsules are in some ways arguably the quickest way to get your daily collagen, because you simply need to swallow your daily pills. However, an instant-mixing collagen peptide powder offers another equally convenient option, depending on your preferences.

Just like collagen powder, collagen pills are also derived from the same various animal sources, with the most common sources being bovine, marine, chicken, and eggshell membrane. This means that there will not be any fully vegan options for capsules either for traditional collagen supplements. 

Collagen pills (like our Multi Collagen capsules) are consumed by swallowing the serving size listed in the instructions daily with a glass of water (or your preferred beverage) at around the same time each day.

Because taste and texture is no longer a concern with collagen capsules, it’s more common to find “multi collagen” blends that combine all 5 essential types of collagen (types I, II, III, V, and X).

This is perhaps one great advantage of collagen capsules if you’re looking to include one or more of the less prevalent types (like type X & V).

All in all, collagen pills provide an amazing option for busy folks who want to take their collagen on-the-go and for those who are very picky about their foods.

You might be best suited for a collagen capsule supplement if you…

• Aren’t a big fan of smoothies
• Are very pressed for time
• Don’t care too much about getting creative with your supplements
• You like to keep things really simple
• You are very picky with tastes, textures, or smells
• You want to take your collagen with the rest of your morning vitamins 
• You want to be able to take your collagen on the go

WHICH IS BETTER: COLLAGEN PILLS OR POWDERS?

At the end of the day, everyone is different and has different preferences. That means that just because a collagen powder might be the better choice for you, it may not be for another wellness enthusiast with slightly different needs.

Besides the capsule used to contain the collagen in pill form, there is not a big difference between these two collagen supplements. It all comes down to what feels best for you and what fits best into your lifestyle.

Both collagen powder and collagen pills (capsules) are amazing additions to a healthy routine aimed at giving your hair, skin, nails, gut, and joint health an extra boost. 

The key factors that really matter are…

A) Choosing a high-quality product

B) Staying consistent with your collagen routine

Whether you decide to opt for pills or powder, these two things will be the true deciding factors behind whether you see great results using collagen supplements or not.

Remember, consistency is KEY and not all collagen products are created equal

Always look for “hydrolyzed” collagen products that are third-party lab tested, so that you’re sure there are no added antibiotics or contaminants in your supplement.

It’s also best to look for USA-made collagen that’s manufactured in a world class facility that abides by the highest manufacturing standards.

The best collagen supplements (both pill and powder) are made with just a handful of natural, clean ingredients from food-derived sources (real animal ingredients). This means avoiding powders that add artificial sugar or flavoring and instead opting for unflavored variations. 

If your collagen is sourced from bovine, make sure to choose products that use grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle (like our Primal Collagen). When reading the label, it’s also important to avoid products that use artificial fillers or synthetic additives, in order to steer clear of unnecessary chemicals.

THE KEY TAKEAWAY?

Supplements are there to help us feel our absolute best by caring for our bodies from the inside out and investing in our personal wellness.

Be honest with yourself when choosing your collagen supplement and choose the one that feels right to you, and the one that you know you can stick with each day (versus the one that you think you should be taking).

Remember, supplements are all about self-care and when we take care of ourselves and do the inner work that we deserve, we are bound to see results on the outside as well.

We hope you found this article on the many benefits of collagen pills and powders helpful! What do you want to see from us next? Leave us a comment or connect with us on social media @PRIMALHARVEST to join our Primal Harvest Tribe community.

AND REMEMBER...

IT'S ABOUT YOU.  IT'S ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.  IT'S ABOUT RECONNECTING.