Why is collagen gaining in popularity?

Updated on 2025-06-03

Summary: Why is collagen gaining in popularity?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, essential for the structure of bones, skin, muscles and joints. Its production declines from the age of 25, which can affect skin, joint mobility and bone strength.

Collagen contributes to skin hydration, healing, healthy cartilage, bones, nails and hair. It is found in bovine form (ideal for joints) and marine form (more bioavailable, especially for skin). There is no such thing as plant collagen, but certain vitamin C-rich plant extracts can support the body's natural production.

Eggs, bone broths, fatty meats and fish are good sources. As a supplement, Lynn recommends Natural Factors whole-body collagen a complete and tasty Canadian product.

1. What is collagen and why is it important?

Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body. It is present in skin, bones, muscles, tendons and cartilage. It acts like the bricks of a house: without collagen, the body's structure weakens. Naturally produced by the body, its production begins to decline from the age of 25 - by up to 1% per year - and can drop by 30% in women going through menopause.

2. Health benefits

Collagen contributes to :

• Moisturize skin and reduce wrinkles

• Promote healing

• Relieve joint pain (arthritis, osteoarthritis) and improve mobility

• Strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis

• Stimulate nail and hair growth and strength

3. Different types of collagen and dietary sources

• Bovine collagen particularly useful for joints and cartilage

• Marine collagen more bioavailable, especially beneficial for skin

• "Plant collagen does not exist as such; rather, so-called plant-based supplements contain nutrients (vitamin C, plant extracts) that support the natural production of collagen.

• Foods rich in collagen or collagen precursors Bone broth, beef, chicken, eggs, dairy products, oily fish

4. Supplement recommendation

Lynn Goneau recommends Natural Factors Whole Body Collagen a well-known Canadian brand. This supplement combines collagen, hyaluronic acid, biotin and vitamin C. Available in powder form and pleasant flavors (such as orange), it's easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

About the author

Lynn Goneau, Certified Naturopath

Specialized in :

• Digestive health
• Hormonal health
• Stress and fatigue
• Memory and concentration
• Weight management

Frédéric Bisson, radio host at 104.7 FM

Radio host at 104.7 FM on the Cogeco network. Frédéric Bisson has hosted L'Outaouais Maintenant from 3 to 5 p.m. every weekday since February 27, 2023.

Transcription

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

This week, we're going to talk about collagen. It's a word we hear a lot. Why are we talking about it so much? Why does it seem to be more popular? And where does collagen come from? How do we choose it? Sometimes we go to marine, bovine... Lynn Goneau naturopath at La Boite à Grains is here. Hello. Collagen is popular. What does it do?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Collagen is truly the most abundant protein in the human body. We have bones, skin, muscles, tendons, cartilage... collagen is the body's structural protein. Imagine it. It's like a house with bricks, and the bricks are really the structure. Without collagen, the house collapses.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

That's why it's important for the skin, among other things, because if you don't have it, well, you're missing pieces in the end.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, and your body will generally produce them. Okay, but that's the rub. It's going to decrease its production considerably starting at age 25. And it's even going to decrease from the age of 30 onwards. You can lose up to 1% per year. And for women going through menopause, you can reach a reduction of up to 30%, Fred.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

There are benefits for the body. What are they?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

One is skin. Collagen can help improve skin hydration and even reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It promotes wound healing. It really takes collagen to be able to heal it. Collagen can also help relieve joint pain. So osteoarthritis, arthritis, it can promote mobility. It's really essential for the health of all your cartilage.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

It's like a lubricant too. And for the bones, it's important too, if it's like the bricks of a house, the bones too, it's our structure.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, because at the bone level, it will strengthen the density of your bones. So it's good for preventing even osteoporosis.

Frédéric Bisson - Radio host 104.7FM:

Ah yes, that's good. And for nails, I often hear collagen. It's nails, hair.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Nails help stimulate growth. It can make them stronger and healthier.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Well, as I was saying at the beginning, bovine collagen, there's marine collagen. Yes. Now some people are saying there's vegetable collagen. How does it work? What's the difference?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

But the choice between marine collagen and bovine collagen will really depend on specific needs, so if we're talking about marine collagen, it's often considered the most bioavailable and beneficial for the skin. Right? Whereas bovine collagen is particularly effective for joints and cartilage.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

But what about plants?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

The plant-based one, that's curious because you have to understand that there's no collagen in a plant-based supplement because collagen is really an animal protein. Agreed? This means that plant-based collagen products will contain fruit, vegetable and plant extracts. These are all nutrients rich in vitamin C, because vitamin C stimulates the production of your own collagen.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

So collagen comes from animals. So, what foods are we going to find it in?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

You can find them in eggs, beef, chicken, seafood, broth, a good bone broth. That's great. That's great. Or dairy products, you can also find it in fatty fish.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Well, at least there's an alternative. I don't like fish. A good chicken broth will do the trick.

If we have to take supplements, do you have any recommendations?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

There's the Natural Factors company, they have a collagen called Whole Body. I like Natural Factors because it's a Canadian company that is even referenced in the world of natural supplements. Whole Body Collagen is a complete formula which combines collagen with hyaluronic acid, biotin and vitamin C.

Of course, as we mentioned earlier, it comes in a powder that's easy to consume and has a great flavor. We had some orange. Delicious.