Q&A: Marine Collagen vs. Beef Collagen: Which One Is Better for You?

Collagen is a protein that plays a vital role in your body, especially in your skin, hair, bones, joints, and muscles. As you age, your collagen production declines, leading to signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagging skin, joint pain, and muscle loss. To combat this, many people turn to collagen supplements to boost their collagen levels and improve their health and appearance. But not all collagen supplements are the same. There are different types and sources of collagen, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this blog, we’ll compare two of the most popular sources of collagen: marine collagen and beef collagen. We’ll look at what they are, how they differ, what are their advantages and disadvantages, and which one is better for you.

What is marine collagen?

Marine collagen is a type of collagen that comes from fish, such as cod, salmon, and tilapia. It is extracted from the skin, scales, and bones of fish using a process called hydrolysis, which breaks down the collagen into smaller peptides that are easier to absorb and use by your body (Mama Natural, n.d.). Marine collagen is mainly composed of type I collagen, which is the most abundant and important type of collagen for your skin. It also contains some type II collagen, which is beneficial for your cartilage and joints (Wellness Nova, 2021).

What is beef collagen?

Beef collagen is a type of collagen that comes from cows or cattle. It is derived from the bone marrow or connective tissue of bovine animals using a similar hydrolysis process as marine collagen. Beef collagen contains mostly type I and type III collagen, which are also essential for your skin health. It also has some type II collagen, but less than marine collagen (Wellness Nova, 2021).

How do they differ?

Marine collagen and beef collagen have some similarities and differences in terms of their structure, function, source, bioavailability, sustainability, and taste.

Structure

Both marine collagen and beef collagen are made up of amino acids that form a triple helix structure. However, marine collagen has a lower molecular weight and smaller particle size than beef collagen. This means that marine collagen has a higher bioavailability than beef collagen, meaning that it can be absorbed and utilized more efficiently by your body (Mama Natural, n.d.).

Function

Both marine collagen and beef collagen provide similar benefits for your skin, hair, gut, and bone health. They can help improve your skin elasticity, hydration, firmness, and reduce wrinkles. They can also support your hair growth and strength, gut lining integrity, bone density and mineralization (Natural Force, n.d.). However, marine collagen may have some advantages over beef collagen in terms of their function. For example:

• Marine collagen may be more effective in improving cartilage and joint health, as it contains more type II collagen, which is the main component of cartilage (Wellness Nova, 2021).
• Marine collagen may also have more antioxidant properties than beef collagen, as it contains more arginine, an amino acid that can help scavenge free radicals and protect your cells from oxidative stress (Natural Force, n.d.).

Source

The source of marine collagen and beef collagen is obviously different: fish versus cows. This may affect your preference depending on your dietary restrictions or ethical concerns. For example:

• If you are vegan or vegetarian, you may not want to consume any animal-derived products, including marine or beef collagen.
• If you are pescatarian, you may prefer marine collagen over beef collagen, as it comes from fish rather than land animals.
• If you are allergic to fish or shellfish, you may want to avoid marine collagen, as it may trigger an allergic reaction.
• If you are concerned about animal welfare or environmental impact, you may want to choose a source of marine or beef collagen that is ethically sourced, sustainable, and free from hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs.

Sustainability

Another factor to consider when choosing between marine or beef collagen is their sustainability. Both sources have their pros and cons in terms of their environmental impact.

• Marine collagen may be more sustainable than beef collagen, as it uses the by-products of the fishing industry that would otherwise go to waste, such as fish skins, scales, and bones (Mama Natural, n.d.). However, this also depends on the fishing practices and the species of fish used for marine collagen production. Some fish may be overfished or endangered, which can harm the marine ecosystem and biodiversity.
• Beef collagen may be less sustainable than marine collagen, as it contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions and land use of the livestock industry, which is one of the major causes of global warming and deforestation (Natural Force, n.d.). However, this also depends on the farming practices and the quality of the beef used for collagen production. Some beef may come from grass-fed, organic, and regenerative farms, which can reduce the environmental impact and improve the animal welfare.

Taste

The taste of marine collagen and beef collagen may also influence your preference. Both types of collagen are usually odorless and tasteless when processed properly. However, some people may still detect a slight fishy or meaty taste or smell in some products, especially if they are not well filtered or mixed with other ingredients. This may affect your enjoyment of the collagen supplement, especially if you are sensitive to these flavors or aromas. If you are looking for a high-quality collagen supplement that is virtually tasteless and odorless, you may want to try SKINNLY Marine Collagen Peptides or SKINNLY Beef Collagen Peptides. These products are made from pure and natural sources of collagen that are carefully processed to ensure their potency and purity. You can easily mix them with any beverage or food of your choice without altering the taste or smell.

Which one is better for you?

There is no definitive answer to which type of collagen is better for you, as it depends on your individual needs, goals, preferences, and budget. Both marine collagen and beef collagen can provide similar benefits for your health and appearance, but they also have some differences that may make one more suitable for you than the other. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between marine collagen and beef collagen:

• Your dietary restrictions or ethical concerns: If you are vegan or vegetarian, you may want to avoid both types of collagen. If you are pescatarian, you may prefer marine collagen over beef collagen. If you are allergic to fish or shellfish, you may want to avoid marine collagen.
• Your skin and joint health goals: If you want to improve your skin elasticity, hydration, firmness, and reduce wrinkles, both types of collagen can help. However, if you want to improve your cartilage and joint health, marine collagen may be more effective than beef collagen.
• Your environmental impact: If you want to choose a more sustainable source of collagen, marine collagen may be better than beef collagen. However, this also depends on the fishing and farming practices and the quality of the fish and beef used for collagen production.
• Your taste preference: If you are sensitive to fishy or meaty flavors or smells, you may want to choose a type of collagen that is well filtered and mixed with other ingredients to mask any unpleasant taste or odor.

References

• Mama Natural. (n.d.). Marine Collagen vs. Beef Collagen: What You Need to Know. Retrieved June 30, 2023, from https://www.mamanatural.com/marine-collagen-vs-beef-collagen/
• Natural Force. (n.d.). Bovine vs. Marine Collagen: Which Should YOU be Taking? Retrieved June 30, 2023, from https://naturalforce.com/blogs/nutrition/bovine-collagen-vs-marine-collagen
• Wellness Nova. (2021, July 25). Marine Collagen vs Bovine: A Simple But In-Depth Breakdown. Retrieved June 30, 2023, from https://wellnessnova.com/marine-collagen-vs-bovine/