Algae Outperforms Collagen for a Better You and a Healthier Earth

November 01 2021, by Catharine Arnston, 12 min reading time

Do you think it’s wise or healthy for you (or the earth) to start your day with a beverage made of crushed animal bones, animal hides, connective tissue, and ligaments? You may not be aware that you are doing this but this is what collagen powder is made of.

Collagen powder is all the rage these days due to its skin, ligament and health benefits. But it’s not a sustainable food. And as you’re going to quickly find out, algae offers all the same benefits as collagen plus about 100 more. Even better? Algae is the most sustainable crop in the world.

There is no question that collagen is critical for your health and beauty. It has many important functions, including providing your skin with structure, reducing joint pain and strengthening your bones <1>.

But collagen powder isn’t the best source for collagen. Algae is.

chart of different sources of protein, algae, collagen and animal — Algae is a natural, sustainable, toxin free source of protein that supports your collagen needs

If the fact that collagen powder is made from pulverized animal parts didn’t gross you out, you also need to know most collagen powders are highly processed and riddled with chemicals, toxins and synthetic ingredients <2>. This is equally concerning to us, and it should be concerning to you too.

The good news is there are far healthier, safer options- like algae.

Algae is a natural, sustainable, toxin free source of protein that supports your collagen needs and protects the environment too. Want to up-level to something that gives you all the same beauty and health benefits as collagen powder but none of its downsides? Keep reading to find out why!

picture of someone eating toxins and how algae solves problems with food, health, greens, beauty, sports and the earth. — Algae is the most nutrient-dense and sustainable food in the world!

What is Collagen?

Collagen in your body is made up of three amino acids: glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline and the word “collagen” originates from the Greek word, “kólla” meaning glue. In fact, this is precisely collagen’s role in the body- it’s the glue that keeps everything held together <3>. This naturally occurring protein is part of your skin, tendons, bones, muscles, cartilage, connective tissue, and organs <4>.

Women holding weights and chart showing algae supporting skin, joints and bone health. — Algae helps support bone, joint and ligament health.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is so important that our bodies even produce collagen naturally. However, our own collagen production decreases as we age or when are stressed or have a poor diet <5>.

When this happens, you might see your skin lose its elasticity and lead to wrinkles, your hair might not grow as quickly, you might have less flexibility because of stiffer tendons, less strength because of atrophied muscles and gut issues. These situations and others are when additional collagen could certainly help but collagen powder is not your best solution…

algae builds collagen chart. Algae increases skin collagen and algae protects skin collagen — Look no further, algae is the safest and cleanest way to boost your beauty from the inside out!

What is the Problem with Collagen Powder?

The problem with most collagen powder (like a lot of other supplements on the market) is that it is made with synthetic ingredients and processed with heat and harmful chemicals. Most collagen products are produced using hexane, a petroleum-based chemical that is toxic and not only pollutes your body and the environment, it can lead to other health problems <6>. And the heat used to make it damages the nutrients. This sounds counterproductive, if you need the collagen to correct a problem right?

Problems with Processed Collagen Powder:

Is not sustainable
Is not vegan
Is not a complete protein
Is not a balanced protein
Is not chemical-free (contains harmful chemicals, including pesticides/herbicides)
Does not contain chlorophyll
Does not naturally contain the 3 vitamins/minerals the body needs to use it
Does not contain any additional vitamins or minerals
May contain unnecessary ingredients, including emulsifiers, dyes, or artificial flavors

Another downside to collagen is that it is not a complete protein and the aminos it does contain, are not balanced like the aminos in algae are. Your body needs complete protein to form muscle, transport nutrients, and build and repair tissue <7>. To be considered a complete protein, the food needs to contain all nine essential amino acids, which collagen does not (but algae does).

chart showing algae tablets are superior, sustainable and a safer way to build collagen in your body.

Collagen powder is also very low in the amino acid methionine, and the branched-chain amino acids, leucine, isoleucine and valine, making it a poor choice for muscle integrity and building <7>. This means collagen supplements should not displace complete protein foods in the diet and should not be used as one’s main source of protein.

Lastly, if the reasons above weren’t enough to make you second guess collagen powder, remember that collagen powder is not sustainable (algae is). For one, it’s not a vegetarian or vegan source of protein (remember it’s made from animal parts), it requires significant processing with high heat which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and it uses far more resources to grow and produce than other plant proteins like algae <8>.

sustainable algae tablets picture — Algae helps to restore the health of the earth and the ocean!

Why algae is a better choice for your body’s collagen needs…

All collagen starts off as procollagen. Your body makes procollagen by combining two amino acids- glycine and proline, both found in spirulina and chlorella algae. This process only happens with the help of vitamin C (also found naturally in ENERGYbits® algae). Bonus fact: spirulina contains more glycine and proline than a large egg white <9>.

3 pictures of girl holding algae tins in front of her eyes — Algae is a complete protein, containing all of the essential amino acids that your body needs.

You don’t HAVE to eat collagen to produce collagen. You can build collagen by taking algae or you can help your body produce its own collagen by making sure you get plenty of Vitamin C, Zinc, Copper, and amino acids- lysine and proline which are all necessary nutrients involved in collagen synthesis in our bodies. Did you know that not all collagen powders have these vitamins/minerals naturally? They have to be added. But algae tablets like our ENERGYbits® contain all of them, naturally…

Vitamin C, without Vitamin C, the body can’t form collagen, making this antioxidant an essential cofactor in collagen synthesis. Research shows the presence of Vitamin C directly triggers DNA to regulate and maintain the intercellular amount of collagen, therefore having a direct effect on anti-aging <10>.

Zinc is also acofactor in the production of collagen, it plays a vital role in collagen synthesis. It is essential to cell repair and helps protect collagen in the body from damage. Zinc deficiency can reduce the amount of collagen produced, therefore getting adequate amounts is important!

Copper is an essential mineral in collagen production and is also required for the formation of red blood cells, bone, and connective tissue. Copper activatesan enzyme (lysyl oxidase) that is required for collagen maturation, which helps to form the fibers that support your tissues <11>.

Algae has all of these critical nutrients in it naturally.

chart showing amounts of amino acids in algae vs. collagen powder. Algae has 430% more essential amino acids

And another plus is that algae is a complete protein. Not only does algae contain the three nutrients needed for collagen production, algae ALSO contains ALL the essential amino acids that make it a complete protein and are needed for collagen production. Research confirms how effective algae is at building collagen in the body.

A recent study showed that spirulina may increase growth factors in dermal fibroblast cells, which are the cells responsible for creating collagen <12>.

chart showing algae tablets help reduce skin aging. — Algae helps support youthful looking skin and prevents wrinkles.

Additional studies have shown that consuming chlorophyll increased the precursor to collagen in the skin <13>. The good news? RECOVERYbits® chlorella algae tablets contain the highest concentration of chlorophyll in the world. Not only is chlorella cleansing to the blood and to the skin, it also chelates heavy metals and toxins from the cells <14>. Chlorella algae also contains vitamin K2 which has been proven to protect the skin’s elastin which helps prevent wrinkles.

lady laying in spa with RECOVERYbits chlorella algae tablets — Take your spa and beauty treatments on the go with RECOVERYbits chlorella algae!

That’s why taking ENERGYbits algae tablets instead of collagen powder are so much better for you. Algae provides you with all the same benefits as collagen for your skin, joint health, bones and gut health. But since algae also contains 40+ other vitamins and minerals, essential fatty acids and chlorophyll, you’ll enjoy even more health and beauty benefits especially when you take it for longevity and optimal wellness.

man and woman doing yoga outside with algae — ENERGYbits algae is a one stop shop for optimal health for all ages.

Why algae tablets are more effective than collagen powder:

Algae tablets contain more protein than collagen powder (up to 430% more essential amino acids)
Algae tablets offer all the same benefits for skin, joints, bones and gut health and more!
Algae is a complete protein (collagen powder isn’t)
Algae is sustainable (collagen powder isn’t)
Algae is vegan (collagen powder isn’t)
Algae has one ingredient (collagen powder is a mash up of 1,000+ ingredients/bones)
Algae has chlorophyll (collagen powder doesn’t)
Algae has forty vitamins/minerals in it naturally (collagen powder doesn’t)
ENERGYbits® algae tablets are not exposed to high heat (collagen powder and other algae tablet brands are)
ENERGYbits® algae do not contain heavy metals, pesticides, or toxins

Bottom Line

Clean and effective protein starts at the source, and the best source is algae. It’s the original food, the first life on earth and contains ONE ingredient. Collagen powder is not the only option for great looking skin, and lubricated joints. Algae is a cleaner, safer source.

That’s why ENERGYbits® algae tables are a one-stop-shop for overall health! The safety, purity and efficacy of algae has been proven in tens of thousands of studies. Algae is 100% natural and a gift from mother earth. It’s the most sustainable, nutrient-dense and efficient way to stay to nourish your body and your skin from the inside out. We hope you’ll try ours soon!