What is Collagen Protein?

What’s the difference? Which one do I need? The word collagen and protein do go together, but there is sometimes confusion around if they are the same thing.They are indeed different. They both cannot be consumed for the same reason; they serve different purposes. Let’s dive in... Collagen vs. Protein Powder Although collagen is a protein, it is not a complete protein. That means collagen does not have all the nine essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Protein powders serve the purpose of being consumed as part of your daily protein intake; therefore, it is a complete protein. Collagen serves a specific function, hence it contains specific amino acids, such as glycine and proline. What does that mean? It means, collagen isn’t consumed for the same purpose as protein powder. It is taken specifically as a function/benefit to replenish the lost collagen in the body. Whereas protein powder counts towards your daily macronutrients. Both are important. Why Use Collagen Powder Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the human body, in fact, there are multiple types of collagen. It is a structural protein that allows your skin to have elasticity, muscles to have buoyancy, joints and connective tissues to have flexibility, hair to have strength. However, as you age the amount of collagen your body produces and has decreases. That is why collagen supplementation is key. You cannot get enough amino acids to make more collagen from the conventional ways of eating protein. This is because collagen resides in ligaments, skin, bones, cartilage, and tendons... which are not consumed regularly. Also, it’s unlikely that you will consume enough glycine, for example, for your body to synthesize new collagen on its own. When to use collagen or protein powder If you are looking to increase your protein intake, build muscle mass, you may want to add protein powders into smoothies or recipes to help you reach your macronutrient goals. However, if you are not in that boat, you may not need to supplement with all the amino acids to rebuild new muscle. If you want to improve your joints, muscle recovery, hair, skin, and nails... then collagen is your best bet. With a protein powder, you get all amino acids to reach protein needs. With collagen, you are supplementing what you've lost so that you can improve and enhance your longevity and feel good from the inside out. And yes... you can use both. Just be sure to manage how much protein you are taking in one day to not exceed your daily maximums. For more questions on your nutritional needs, please contact us at care@organika.com and we would be happy to guide your or put you in touch with an RHN.

Fuel your long weekend adventures with healthy camping food Summer’s approaching quickly, and with the warmer weather, camping season is set to begin. Camping is the perfect escape from technology, routine, work and stress. Whether you’re with friends or family, it’s really about simplicity. Think about it. You leave a busy life, to go explore nature, breath fresh air and often forgo cell phone reception. You separate from the city, the media, and everyday societal pressures. Camping brings a simple peacefulness back to our modern day fast-paced style of living. Numerous studies have also shown that being out in nature can positively affect our health and state of mind. Even just visually seeing natural landscapes can help to activate parts of our brain that are linked to balance and happiness; while being out in nature can promote positive thinking and decrease feelings of depression. Pretty amazing, right? The downside though, is that camping can also often mean packaged quick or convenience snacks for being on the go. Opting for healthy camping food can help to provide your body with clean fuel to energize you for any hiking or outdoor activities you might have planned. So before you head to the grocery store and fill your basket with convenience snacks, try these: Orange Cranberry Collagen Protein Bars. They’re a seamless immersion of simplicity, flavour and nutrition. Using Organika's Enhanced Collagen, these bars will both satisfy your hunger and energize your adventure. Orange Cranberry Collagen Protein Bar Recipe Ingredients: 1 cup of almonds 1/3 cup of raw pumpkin seeds 1 ¾ cup of flaked oats 2 Tbsp Enhanced Collagen Powder 1 tbsp of chia seeds zest of one orange 1 cup of almond butter ½ cup of pure maple syrup 2/3 cup of dried cranberries 1 tsp of vanilla extract ½ tsp of cinnamon 2 tbsp of fresh orange juice Directions Add your almonds and pumpkin seeds to your food processor. Process until almonds become large roughly chopped pieces Pour your nuts and seeds into a large bowl, and add all remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, and press your granola bar mixture into the pan. Press until firmly flattened. Refrigerate overnight, or freeze for 2-3 hours. Store in refrigerator, or wrap individually for travel! Enjoy!

Are all Collagens the same? – How to choose the right collagen product. Collagen is the talk of the health industry, and so it should be! Collagen packs a bunch of numerous health benefits, such as: healthy skin, hair and nails slowing down the effect of osteoarthritis reducing joint injuries supporting gut health Let’s also not forget that collagen contains over 17 different amino acids, making it the cleanest source of various key amino acids; each with various functions in the body. Collagen is awesome, check! Collagen supplements have grown over the last few years, and now there are more choices, hefty price tags and often confused consumers on which one is right for them. So what should you be taking? Let’s begin with the fact that not all collagens are the same! There are various formats of collagen supplements out there that contain specific types of collagen. Ask some key questions and do your research Start with doing your research on the products that you are looking at. It’s important to ask key questions to ensure that the brand you are looking for checks certain boxes. Pro Tip: Our Enhanced Collagen line does! Plus, it’s been voted Canada’s best-selling collagen powder, but we aren’t here to talk about that. 1) WHERE IS THE COLLAGEN SOURCED FROM? This is a fundamental question as you want to ensure that the collagen you are consuming Is coming from a good and reputable source. Ensure the product and the company producing it are taking measures to make sure it is sustainably sourced to prevent harm to the environment and other species as well as being conscious about overfishing and fish farming. Choosing grass-fed bovine free of hormones and antibiotics OR approved farms for chicken sources is important. Ensuring the company has certifications in good manufacturing, high-quality standards for quality and potency as well as having tested their product for heavy metals are also very important. 2) IS THIS PRODUCT APPROVED BY HEALTH CANADA? When it comes down to choosing supplements, it is essential to ensure that the product you are wanting contains an NPN (Natural Product Number). This is an 8-digit number you can find on the packaging/bottle that is issued once the product has been sent to Health Canada to ensure it is safe for consumption. Natural health products in other countries often do not need to go through this process and is step is significant to ensure its effectiveness and safety. 3) IS THE COLLAGEN HYDROLYZED? When you want to supplement with collagen, make sure to check if it has gone through the hydrolyzation process (an enzymatic process that breaks it down into a peptide). The reason that this is essential is because collagen is a large molecule and is hard for the body to absorb. The hydrolyzation process breaks it down into a smaller molecular weight, therefore making the most absorbable form of protein that you can uptake in the body and that is more bioavailable. Some collagen containing products or other collagens on the market that have not gone through this process have a more substantial molecular weight making it harder for the body to absorb and utilize. So you are not actually absorbing the powder or liquid you are ingesting (waste of money). Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are KEY. Once a collagen checks all the boxes, it’s really up to you to choose liquid or powder or capsules. Don’t be fooled into thinking one is better absorbed than another. In fact, liquids and capsules are both made using powdered collagen peptides. You're really just choosing based o your lifestyle, what is more convenient for you to take. Your collagen, your way. At Organika, we offer an entire line up of Enhanced Collagen powders (many with additional benefits), as well as liquid and capsule options. Vegan? No problem. Although collagen cannot be vegan, we have a Plant-Based Collagen Booster to maximize your natural collagen production and protect your existing collagen from breaking down. Find the collagen that best suits you.