Collagen is a protein that’s found in the connective tissues. Humans create their own Collagen naturally, as do other animals, which is why Collagen is by default a non-vegan ingredient. Collagen can be found in our skin, bones, gut lining, joints, nails and hair. In our mid 20s onward, the Collagen which our body naturally produces, slowly starts to diminish. As we continue to age, we lose about 1-2% of our bodies Collagen each year. Factors such as prolonged sun exposure and UVA rays, in particular can damage the Collagen fibres that support our skin as they penetrate deep into the dermis where the Collagen and elastin live. Pollution and cigarette smoke also contributes to the break down of Collagen, leading to premature aging and wrinkles, resulting in our skins structural integrity being compromised.

Collagen is a protein that’s found in the connective tissues. Humans create their own Collagen naturally, as do other animals, which is why Collagen is by default a non-vegan ingredient. Collagen can be found in our skin, bones, gut lining, joints, nails and hair. In our mid 20s onward, the Collagen which our body naturally produces, slowly starts to diminish. As we continue to age, we lose about 1-2% of our bodies Collagen each year. Factors such as prolonged sun exposure and UVA rays, in particular can damage the Collagen fibres that support our skin as they penetrate deep into the dermis where the Collagen and elastin live. Pollution and cigarette smoke also contributes to the break down of Collagen, leading to premature aging and wrinkles, resulting in our skins structural integrity being compromised.

Collagen hydrolysate is a gelatin which has been broken down to remove the bonds between the proteins using a hydrolysis process. The smaller molecular weight of these peptides make it very easy for our body to absorb quickly (over 90% absorption rate). Collagen hydrolysate dissolves in both hot and cold liquids and does not gel at all. It can be considered as a super supplement due to its effectiveness, versatility and multitude of uses.

Add it to hot or cold drinks, shakes, recipes, meals, health bars, yoghurts and so on. Collagen hydrolysate is one of the best ways to boost your protein intake whilst also benefiting your gut health, connective tissues, skin condition, joints & bones. 

It can be considered more of a “nutritional supplement”, and not only is it easier to incorporate into your diet, it has a greater bioavailability compared to gelatin making it the preferred choice for anti-aging, joint pain, sports supplementation, skin health and injury recovery.

The team at Nutraviva we believe in healthy eating, thus have no GMOs, pesticides or other chemicals in our bovine sourced collagen products. We only source the best ingredients from the best locations, like our grass fed and finished bovine sourced collagen. 

The cattle used for our products are strictly pasture raised rather than being fed grain, and have not been given growth hormones or other chemicals. When it comes to our food and food supplements it is important to consider not only what we eat, but what our food eats.The digestive system of ruminants (cattle) is designed to eat grass, not grain, and cattle need to be able to roam naturally on pastures rather than held in feedlots. Grain fed beef requires the continually feeding of antibiotics to reduce the instance of bloat from grain. They also have increased risk of disease and infections from being restricted in movement and confined in close proximity and can be fed growth hormones to maximise their growth for market.Cattle that are grass fed and finished (pasture raised) are healthier and have an improved nutrient composition than grain fed cattle as diverse pasture grasses are a more natural diet for cattle than corn or soy (primary ingredients in grain fed in feedlots). Part of the reason for this is the availability of a variety of beneficial secondary compounds that are found in diverse pastures which cattle then graze upon. Diversity of pasture means that the animals can maintain their health and reduces the instance of interventions for disease or illness. A healthier food source results in healthier cattle which then produces a higher quality collagen hydrolysate product.

A good strategy is to seek out a product that has been third-party verified to contain what the label says it contains and to be free of contaminants. Nutraviva independently tests our Collagen Hydrolysates and Bone Broth products through Eurofins Laboratories for quality assurance and transparency. This information can be found on our product technical data pages on our product pages. We are also a HACCP food safety accredited company meaning we are  assessed every year to ensure our product processes are independently verified. 

Nutraviva Bone BrothBone Broth – CollagenBone Broth - Gelatin Bone Broth Benefits  

Bones contain an abundance of minerals as well as 17 different amino acids, many of which are found in broth as proteins like Collagen and Gelatin. Though the exact nutritional content varies based on the bones used, cooking time, and cooking method, the following nutrients are consistently found in most bone broths.

With 28 different types, Collagen makes up about 30 percent of the protein in your body and is the main component of connective tissues like cartilage, ligaments, tendons, bone, and skin. It is also present in the blood vessels, cornea, and lens of the eye. The name collagen comes from the Greek “kólla,” meaning “glue” and the suffix “gen,” which means “producing.” In fact, early glue was made from collagen more than 8,000 years ago, likely by boiling the skin and sinews of animals. In addition to providing structure, Collagen also plays an important role in tissue development and regulation.

When collagen is simmered, it forms gelatin. The hydrolysis process of collagen is irreversible and results in the breakdown of long collagen protein fibrils into smaller protein peptides. Gelatin is what gives bone broth or stock its jelly consistency once cooled.

Glycosaminoglycans are complex carbohydrates that are involved in many biological processes. They can attach to proteins in order to form proteoglycans, which are integral parts of connective tissue and synovial fluid, the lubricant that surrounds joints. If the connective tissue, such as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, is still attached, the bones in broth will provide our bodies with the whole spectrum of gags, including keratan sulfates, dermatan sulfates, chondroitin sulfates, and hyaluronic acid, which are the raw materials for skin, bone, and cartilage formation.

Glycine is an amino acid that makes up more than a third of Collagen. It also acts as a neurotransmitter, binding to glycine receptors present throughout the nervous system and peripheral tissues. Signaling through this receptor is particularly important in mediating inhibitory neurotransmission in the brainstem and spinal cord.

Proline is an amino acid that makes up about 17% of collagen. The addition of hydroxyl groups to proline significantly increases the stability of collagen and is essential to its structure. Proline is not typically thought of as a neurotransmitter, but it is able to bind to glutamate receptors and glycine receptors.

Glutamine is yet another important amino acid found in bone broth and is the most abundant amino acid in the blood. It is one of the few amino acids that can directly cross the blood-brain barrier. Intestinal epithelial cells and activated immune cells eagerly consume glutamine for cellular energy.

Bone marrow is found inside the center cavity of the bone and consists of two types, red and yellow. Both types contain collagen. Red bone marrow is the site of manufacturing for new immune cells and red blood cells, while yellow marrow consists of healthy fats. It is thought that important nutritional and immune support factors might be extracted from marrow during cooking, but the bioavailability of these factors has not been studied.

Beneficial minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc are also present in bone broth. 

There are many fish collagens emerging in the market, but not all are sourced in a sustainable and environmentally conscious manner. Overfishing is an ever-present threat to the health of our oceans and exacerbates the impact of climate change by the negative alteration of marine ecosystems. Farmed freshwater or marine fish are confined and intensively farmed, often requiring antibiotics for maintaining fish viability and production targets; plus contribute to river waterway and ocean pollution.

Nutraviva Marine Collagen is a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified marine collagen powder. This certification means that the North Atlantic Cod that is used for processing our Marine Collagen is wild caught and that sustainable fishery practices are applied. This includes ensuring that destructive fishing practices are not used, operators can only use approved gear types, target particular monitored fish stocks only, bycatch is minimised, and that marine biodiversity is maintained. This certification provides consumers with the assurance that their chosen product is sustainably sourced, and that fish stock security and ocean health is not negatively impacted.