Collagen Pills vs Powders: Which Is Better, Peptides or Capsules?
When it comes to skin, hair, nail, and joint care, collagen supplements are the way to go. But, with options like collagen pills and powders available, how can you know which type and brand will give you the anti-aging results you've been longing for? In this article, we'll highlight the difference between collagen powder vs pills.
Collagen is a crucial protein and a key macronutrient that serves as a building block for the body. Its unique amino acids—glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline—contribute to improved skin elasticity, stronger hair, and better joint health. Collagen supplements are available in different forms, such as pills, powders, and liquids. Choosing the right form depends on your specific health goals, dosage needs, and personal preferences, making it essential to understand the benefits and applications of each type.
Choosing the best collagen supplement can be tricky. While both powder and capsule forms are popular, they differ significantly in dosage, convenience, and usage. Understanding these differences can simplify your decision-making process and help you pick the most effective option for your needs.
What Is Collagen Supplement?
Collagen supplements are an effective and easy way of keeping the levels of collagen in the body, which starts to decline with age, in check. This is because collagen, which is one of the most abundant proteins found in the human body, is the major component of the connective tissues of the skin, bones, cartilage, joints and tendons.
Collagen is primarily made up of three types of amino acids namely; glycine, proline and hydroxyproline, all of which aid in maintaining the elasticity of the skin, health of the joints and density of the bones. But with time, people tend to lose the ability to produce collagen with studies estimating that the average decrease is around 1% every year.
This is why including a collagen powder in a regimen on top of the daily food intake has alleviated concerns of old age, visible marks on skin; pain in joints and weakening of hair. Sources of food that contain collagen are bone broth, gelatin and animal connective tissues but for the population that does not eat these foods, supplementation is a better option.
Types of Collagen Supplements (Powders and Pills)
Collagen supplements can generally be found in three basic forms : in the form of pills, powders and liquids. Each form offers distinct advantages and can be selected depending on one’s inclination, way of living and particular health purposes.
Collagen Pills
Collagen pills (tablets or capsules) are defined as hydrolyzed protein powder in capsule form. This type of food supplement is well known for its purity and additional ingredients are kept to the minimum. The capsules are easy to swallow and perfect for people who do not like or want the hassle of taking flavored supplements. Deficiency of protein in a unit dose tends to be the case because the tablet sizes are small. To achieve the same level of supplementation as one scoop of collagen powder, it may take several capsules for the consumption of such dosages encapsulated in a single serving making it limiting for people wanting a higher daily dosage.
Collagen Powder
Collagen powder offers a versatile and higher-dosage option compared to pills. Typically available in both flavored and unflavored varieties, collagen powder can be easily mixed into beverages like coffee, smoothies, or water. This form allows for the inclusion of additional skin-enhancing ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid (HA), and natural sweeteners. The flexibility of collagen powder makes it a popular choice for those looking to incorporate a larger dose into their daily diet while customizing their intake.
Comparing Collagen Pills and Powders
Both collagen pills and powders are popular supplements for boosting skin, hair, joint, and nail health. However, they differ in terms of ingredients, convenience, absorption rates, and cost. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed choice based on your preferences and health goals.
Similarities Between Collagen Powder vs. Pills
Even though collagen capsules vs. powder seem to be different, they do have some similarities. So, before digging into their differences, let's talk about their similarities.
Absorption
Currently, there seems to be no difference in the absorption rate between collagen capsules vs powder. Both collagen powders and pills seem to be equally effective and with the same absorption rate.
Taste
Collagen pills or powder can both be flavorless. This can be ideal for people who don't like to take flavored supplements. It makes adding to other beverages or foods easier without affecting the final product's taste.
Differences Between Collagen Powder vs. Pills
Now that we've gone over the differences between collagen pills vs. collagen powder let's go over their differences.
Ingredients
One of the biggest differences between these collagen supplements is that collagen powder has more wiggle room when it comes to other ingredients.
While it is a matter of personal preference, collagen powder can be a better alternative for your overall complexion due to the fact that this form of collagen supplement often comes backed with other skin-loving ingredients that can not only boost collagen absorption but also target other ailments along the way.
Protein Per Serving
Another major difference between collagen peptide capsules vs. powder is the amount of protein they have. Since collagen pills are smaller, it means you get a lower amount of collagen per serving.
In most cases, collagen pills won't have more than one gram of collagen per serving. This means that in order to get the same amount as a powder, you would need to take 10-15 servings in pill form per day - an unrealistic and potentially damaging number of capsules.
If you're looking at collagen as a way to increase your amino acid intake, we highly recommend powder form.
Overall Experience
While some people have no issues swallowing supplements in pill or capsule form, others cannot do it. Research shows that 40% of adults have trouble swallowing pills, meaning that powdered collagen might be a more suitable option.6 Since you can place collagen powder in any beverage (or certain foods), collagen powder is a far easier way to increase your collagen consumption.
Costs
Finally, while this might vary between each company, collagen powder vs. pills seem to have different prices per serving. The prices between collagen peptide pills vs. powder might vary if they have other ingredients (like vitamin C).
And, it also depends on how much collagen you need. As mentioned above, you might need to take several servings if you are purchasing collagen in pill form, which can lead to a more expensive option.
Which Collagen Supplement Is the Most Effective Between Pills and Powders?
We've already seen the possible benefits of collagen supplements. But, when you need to choose one type of supplement, which is the winner between collagen pills vs. powder?
Some people seem to believe that collagen pills might be more easily absorbed than collagen powders but currently, there is not enough evidence to determine whether one is better than the other. Regardless of the choice, collagen powder and collagen pills seem to be more effective (in some cases) than solely relying on topical collagen.
Reasons to Choose Collagen Powder
While it comes down to personal preference, here are some reasons you might want to opt for collagen powder instead of pills:
-
Struggle (or dislike) swallowing pills
-
Want to add collagen to your diet as a primary source of protein
-
Prefer adding your collagen to meals or beverages
-
Want to take a larger dose of collagen per day
If you decide that collagen powder is the best option for you, Taut® Premium Collagen Powder is an excellent option. One sachet provides 1,500 mg of marine collagen peptides sourced from Red Snapper in the Indian Ocean. Other reasons you might want to include this as a part of your daily routine are:
-
It combines elastin peptides and 5 mg of hyaluronic acid to improve skin elasticity
-
It provides a potent dose of powerful antioxidants, like grape seed extract
-
It doesn't have any preservatives, and it is gluten-free and dairy-free.
Reasons to Choose Collagen Pills
Some people are already used to taking several pills daily, so adding another one won't hurt their routine. Here are some reasons you might prefer to add collagen pills to your daily routine:
-
You want to travel light
-
You dislike the taste of powders (regardless of whether they are unflavored or not!)
-
You are already used to taking several supplements on a daily basis
What If I Don't Like Powders and I Can't Swallow Pills?
Now, what happens if you feel that powders and pills are not the best option for you? In this case, liquid collagen may be your best bet!
Liquid collagen is an easier-to-take, more potent alternative that tastes delicious. Unlike most collagen supplements, collagen drinks are easily absorbable by the body. They're designed to support the overall structure and health of your skin, leaving you with a glowing complexion.
Taut's Advanced Liquid Collagen Supplement Formula contains 13,000mg of marine collagen peptides, responsibly sourced from Red Snappers in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, our formula also contains grapeseed extract, vitamin C (for its collagen-absorbing properties), HA, and elastin peptides to improve skin elasticity, ceramide, DNA, and vitamin B6.
If you're looking for the most potent liquid collagen formula designed to target fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the early signs of aging, and improve skin tone and texture, look no further than RenewSkin Co.'s advanced formula.
How and When to Take Each Supplement
Knowing when and how much collagen to take can make a huge difference in the results that you achieve. whether you choose to take collagen powder supplements or pill/capsule alternatives, it's important that you:
-
Choose the correct supplement
-
Take the correct dose
-
Take it at the best time of the day
Here, we'll tell you the best way to take most collagen supplements for beautiful, glowing skin:
When to Take Collagen Supplements
Knowing the "when" can be challenging. While some people might say that it is better to take collagen supplements in the morning, we highly recommend you take your collagen in the evening. This is because at night, the body goes through a rest and repair process - and the skin is no exception.
How Much Collagen Should You Take?
Evidence suggests that to get the most out of collagen, you should take between 3 to 15 grams per day.
One benefit of collagen is that it contributes to the daily intake of protein. According to the ISSN, the recommended protein intake is 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.7 So, if you are having trouble reaching your daily intake, adding one or two servings of collagen can help with muscle mass, bone health, and your complexion, as well as the strength of your hair and nails, among other things.
How to Take Collagen Supplements
Collagen pills are very straightforward to take. Simply read the label on your product and take the number of pills that the manufacturer recommends on a daily basis.
You can do more with collagen powders. Here are some ways for you to incorporate collagen powder into your routine.
- Mix it with water.
- Add it to your morning coffee.
- Mix it with your favorite recipe of overnight oats.
- Mix it with a cup of matcha.
- Add it to your favorite soup.
- Add it to a smoothie.
- Mix it with some Greek yogurt and berries.
Should you add collagen in your coffee? Find out the pros and cons here!
Experience the Most Intense Skin Transformation with RenewSkin Co.
Collagen supplements can be a great way of helping improve skin, hair, nails, and joints. While still more research is needed to determine its effect and dosage long-term, the current finding seems promising. There are different supplements, such as powders, pills, and liquids. But, when it comes to deciding on one, are collagen pills or powder better?
Ultimately, the decision relies solely on personal preferences. They both have their pros and cons. When it comes to choosing one, make sure to select the one that is going to help you stay consistent in your collagen intake. After all, the greatest benefit seen with collagen supplements is when you add them consistently to your daily routine.
Looking for an easy and tasty way of introducing collagen to your routine for a more vibrant, beautiful, and youthful complexion? Look no further than RenewSkin Co.'s anti-aging Ms. Marvelous program.
Designed to reduce the early signs of aging, our Ms. Marvelous program comes with three boxes of Taut Advanced Liquid Collagen Formula, one box of Taut Collagen Masks, and one box of 60 Taut Collagen Powder Sachets. Made with collagen hydrolysate, our potent formula contains an optimal dose of vitamin C, grapeseed extract, and hyaluronic acid among other skin-loving ingredients.
Unlike powders and pills, this collagen supplement program will provide you with results in just 21 days. Say goodbye to fine lines and hello to red carpet radiance!
References:
- Decreased Collagen Production in Chronologically Aged Skin
- Hydrolyzed collagen and skin aging: a review
- Collagen peptides boost nail growth and reduce brittleness
- Collagen in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Repair: A Review
- Collagen for Joint Health: Composition and Science
- Pill Swallowing by Adults With Dysphagia
- ISSN Position Stand: protein and exercise