Our founder answers everything you want to know about marine collagen
Our founder answers everything you want to know about marine collagen
Thick hair. Radiant skin. Strong, split-proof nails. The best collagen powder in Australia delivers real, visible results. But we get it, you want to know exactly how ingestible marine collagen works. What happens on the inside that shows on the outside? So, we’ve called on our founder Anna Lahey to answer everything you ever wanted to know about collagen supplementation.
Anna created Vida Glow after personally experiencing the visible results of taking marine collagen daily. She saw a change in the plumpness of her skin, her brittle, breaking nails strengthened, and her hair thickened so much her hairdresser noticed the difference. So why does marine collagen have these transformative effects on hair, skin and nails? Anna explains…
What is collagen?
Anna: Collagen is a protein that our bodies naturally produce. It acts as a building block, giving our skin, hair and nails their structure and firmness. The rate that our bodies produce collagen starts to gradually decline from around the age of 25. This is when we start to see the early signs of ageing, for example - fine lines. It’s at this time that your collagen supplement becomes so important.
What is marine collagen?
Anna: Marine collagen is a collagen supplement derived from the skin of fish. We use the skin that would otherwise be discarded as waste by the food industry. The skin is put through a process called hydrolysation, which transforms it into collagen peptides. The smaller the collagen peptide, the easier it is for your body to absorb. Higher absorption means it’s more effective in replenishing and restoring collagen to a deeper layer of skin, hair and nails. This is when you start to see significant results.
What are the benefits of marine-based collagen and is there a difference between bovine, porcine and marine?
Anna: Studies have noted that marine-based collagen can be absorbed 1.5 times more efficiently than other collagen sources. The key difference that sets marine collagen apart from bovine and porcine collagen is the size of the peptides. Once hydrolysed, marine collagen peptides are much smaller than bovine or porcine collagen, meaning the bioavailability is higher.
"When our collagen levels decline, we begin to see the formation of fine lines, hair thinning and brittle nails. This is when COLLAGEN supplementation is soimportant."
How does collagen supplementation work?
Anna: Once ingested, marine collagen is absorbed and distributed into the bloodstream, via the blood vessels, to a deeper layer of skin called the dermis. Once it reaches the collagen matrix it stimulates fibroblast proliferation, generating the production of fresh collagen. When you ingest hydrolysed collagen peptides, you are increasing the pool of specific amino acids that are needed by cells in the body to produce collagen. As a completely natural protein, marine collagen is an effective, non-invasive solution to visibly improve the appearance and health of skin, hair and nails.
Anna: Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body. It’s responsible for giving our skin, hair, nails and joints their structure, elasticity and firmness. When our collagen levels decline, we begin to see the formation of fine lines, hair thinning and brittle nails. This is when collagen supplementation is so important. By supplementing with a highly bioavailable collagen peptide powder, you are directly providing high amounts of necessary amino acids and peptides that the body needs to form collagen.
When will I start to see results?
Anna: Clinical trials of our marine collagen show long-term skin benefits with daily use. After 8 to 12 weeks of consistent supplementation, our marine collagen is proven to increase skin firmness and elasticity, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
When did you see results?
Anna: After 6 weeks of regular collagen supplementation, I noticed a dramatic decrease in hair loss. After 8 weeks, my brittle and breaking nails were strong and glossy. And at 10 weeks my skin had a visible glow. I’d never experienced such tangible, long-lasting results from any ingestible I had taken in the past.
What is hydrolysation?
Anna: Hydrolysation is a process where natural enzymes break down a collagen source into its smallest and purest form. For example, our marine collagen is broken down during hydrolysation from a molecular weight of 300,000 Daltons to as low as 2,000 Daltons.
A hydrolysed collagen powder with a low molecular weight will deliver greater results. It’s one of the most important things to look for when choosing a collagen supplement.
What does bioavailable mean?
Anna: Bioavailability is a measure of the body’s ability to absorb an ingredient. The more bioavailable a supplement is, the more efficiently the body can put it to work to produce results. Our collagen peptide powder is highly bioavailable with an absorption rate of above 90%.
What is a Dalton and why is it important in collagen supplementation?
Anna: A Dalton is a unit of mass. It’s used to express the weight of a collagen molecule before and after it’s hydrolysed. When choosing which supplement is right for you, it’s so important to assess what weight in Daltons your collagen is. The lower the Daltons the more effective a product will be. Our hydrolysation process reduces the weight of our marine collagen to as low as 2,000 Daltons.
What happens if I stop taking marine collagen?
Anna: Once you stop taking marine collagen consistently, the body’s collagen production will slowly revert back to where you were before you started supplementing.
Is there such a thing as vegan or plant-based collagen?
Anna: At this stage, there are no plant-based sources of collagen. As a brand we are always looking to innovate and create product solutions for our customers, and we are actively interested in a lab-grown vegan collagen. As an alternative, clinical research has shown that Vitamin C and antioxidants can promote collagen health. Anti-G-Ox is an example of a vegan product rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Our vegan customers can also take Hyaluronic Complex.
Where is our marine collagen sourced?
Anna: We source our collagen responsibly from open-water farms in Europe. These marine ecosystems are monitored to strict European Standards ensuring purity as well as minimal environmental impact. We use a range of specific fish species to complete the complex amino acid profile necessary to deliver clinical results from collagen supplementation. The fish we use are supplied for human consumption and meet our stringent quality demands, as well as those of the food and hospitality industry.
Is our marine collagen sustainable?
Anna: As the global number one marine collagen brand, we are setting the industry benchmark for low-impact collagen sourcing. We source our marine collagen responsibly under the strict sustainability standards of Global G.A.P, The Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Best Aquaculture Practices. These internationally recognised agencies establish stringent guidelines to ensure our suppliers are environmentally and socially responsible.
How do I know Vida Glow marine collagen is safe?
Anna: Our collagen is the highest grading form of pure marine collagen available. Each batch of collagen undergoes multiple rounds of safety tests including microbiology, stability, and heavy metal checks. Rigorous testing takes place at our world-class facility in France, and then independently by a NATA accredited lab in Australia. These quality checks are put in place to confirm our formulas meet all standards across a range of criteria set by international regulatory agencies.
Can I take marine collagen when pregnant or breastfeeding?
Anna: Whilst many of our customers have been able to take our products throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, clinical testing has only been done on non-pregnant women. Our formulations have been tested for quality and safety, however, we still advise speaking with your healthcare practitioner to check that our products are right for you. I personally was able to take marine collagen safely during my three pregnancies and breastfeeding.
How many servings should I be taking every day?
Anna: Your supplement routine should be tailored to your specific needs. To protect youthful skin, thick hair and strong nails, we recommend 1 serving a day. If you’re experiencing the first signs of ageing – fine lines, weak nails and thinner hair, we recommend 2 servings per day. For those seeing deeper wrinkles, very fine hair, dull complexion and brittle nails, we recommend 3 serves per day.
Is there a maximum of how much collagen I should take in a day?
Anna: We do not recommend consuming more than 10g of collagen daily. Studies show that if you take a collagen with a low molecular weight, there is no need to take more than 10g a day.
Will marine collagen affect my menstrual cycle?
Anna: Not in the slightest. Collagen is a completely natural protein and there is no evidence showing a relationship between the two. However, if you have any concerns, please visit a healthcare professional.
Can men take marine collagen?
Anna: Absolutely! There are no differences in the way our bodies absorb and benefit from supplementing with marine collagen.
At what age should I start taking marine collagen?
Anna: Our natural production of collagen begins to slow in our twenties, which is when we start to see the first signs of ageing. We recommend starting your daily collagen routine around the same time to preserve healthy skin, hair and nails.
And that’s it! We hope we’ve left you feeling more informed and confident to tailor a collagen routine to suit you.
