Pure Collagen vs Complete Collagen
We explain the difference between NoordCode Pure Collagen and Complete Collagen, which will help you decide which one to choose.
What is collagen | Why do I need collagen | What collagen supplement should I choose | Pure Collagen VS. Complete Collagen | Conclusion
What is collagen?
Collagen is a protein found in many different parts of the body. Collagen in skin is different from that in cartilage, blood vessels, or bones. The amino acid composition, structure, and function differ for each type of collagen.
At least 26 types of collagen have been defined. The most common are:
Type I collagen is the most abundant collagen in the body, found mainly in skin, hair, nails, bones and ligaments.
Type II collagen is mainly found in cartilage between joints.
Type III collagen is common, along with type I in the skin and blood vessels.
Type IV collagen is crucial for the formation of basal membranes, a specific type of thin layer that separates cells from underlying structures.
Type V collagen is found in the skin and placenta and co-occurs with type I.
Type X collagen is part of the bone and cartilage structure.
Each type of collagen contains slightly different amino acids. With a combination supplement, you take the profile of amino acids that your body also uses to make collagen. So, it's a good strategy to eat different types of collagen if you want to support your own collagen production.
Why do I need collagen?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and it is mainly found in our connective tissue. The body's natural ability to produce supportive amounts of connective tissue decreases after age 25. For some, this process starts earlier, for others later. This is genetically and epigenetically determined. On top of that, we get very little collagen through food these days (think: the skin of a chicken or fish, organ meat, bone broth). It is, therefore, all the more important to supplement collagen with a supplement.
Want to know how much collagen you need? Then, read this blog.
Which collagen supplement should I choose?
Collagen is a hugely popular supplement. There are many providers on the market. With this checklist, you will know how to find the ultimate collagen supplement!
Enzymatically produced collagen hydrolysate
Collagen is the longest protein found in the body. Long protein chains are difficult to absorb. Hydrolysation improves digestibility by breaking down collagen into small pieces (peptides). This makes collagen hydrolysate easily soluble in hot and cold drinks, and your body absorbs it better.
At NoordCode, we use only enzymatically produced collagen hydrolysate. This requires no heating or chemicals that could damage the protein.
A sustainable origin
Grass-fed
A quality mark for bovine collagen is 'grass-fed'. The term 'grass-fed' refers to the diet of the animals used for the collagen. In grass-fed products, the animals spend most of the year on pasture. They eat grass and other crops, which are full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.
Collagen from grass-fed European cows is a sustainable choice. The animals can roam more freely and eat grass, giving them a more animal-friendly and pleasant life. It is also good for the environment. Because the animals walk outside, they fertilise the land themselves, so no artificial fertilisers are needed. This is a much more natural process with less nitrogen emissions.
Sustainably sourced fish
Does the product contain fish collagen? Then, you will want to see certificates confirming that the fish was caught sustainably. With an MSC or Friends of the Sea certificate, you can be sure you have a sustainable product in your hands.
Testing
It is important that a fish collagen product be tested for heavy metals. Fish can contain heavy metals, which are deposited in them due to marine pollution.
It is also important, and this applies to any collagen product that has been tested for food safety, like salmonella and E. Coli.
No additives
Collagen supplements often contain sweeteners, artificial flavours, binders, fillers, and thickeners. Look for collagen supplements with only active ingredients (collagen) on the label, or make sure you understand the ingredients.
Pure Collagen Versus Complete Collagen
Pure Collagen
If you are looking for a high-quality collagen supplement, NoordCode's Pure Collagen is a high-quality collagen powder derived from grass-fed cows. The cows eat grass and other plants all year round and receive no grains, hormones, or antibiotics. For environmental reasons, NoordCode opted for grass-fed European cows.
The purity and optimal protein ratio have been tested in an independent laboratory. We don't add anything to our Pure Collagen; it contains only one ingredient: pure beef collagen.
Pure Collagen contains type I in particular. In addition to type I, Pure Collagen also contains small amounts of other collagen types, such as type III and type V.
For the diverse omnivore
Do you regularly eat the skin of a fish, say salmon? Or do you often eat drumsticks or otherwise the skin of chicken? Do you sometimes draw broth from fish, lamb or beef bones? Then Pure Collagen is a perfect choice for you. After all, you don't need a supplement that combines different collagen sources because you already do this yourself with your diet.
Versatile in use
Pure Collagen is flavourless, making it a perfect ingredient for any hot or cold beverage. For example, we like to add it to our coffee in the morning, but you can also incorporate it into a sauce, soup, or stew.
Complete Collagen
Another high-quality product is NoordCode Complete Collagen. Complete Collagen contains 5 types of collagen from 3 sources of collagen hydrolysate. It comes from clean sustainable sources, from land and sea. Collagen from beef, fish, and eggshell membranes provide you with collagen types I, II, III, V, and X. The beef collagen in Complete Collagen is the same ingredient we use for Pure Collagen. The fish collagen has a Friends of the Sea certificate.
It contains natural vitamin C from acerola berries to support collagen production. We have also added 5 grams of extra glycine to the formula, giving you a total of 7 grams of glycine per serving, in addition to the 2 grams from the collagen itself. Despite the fact that our bodies make 3 grams of glycine per day, there is reason to get more glycine through food. Evidence suggests that the optimal intake is about 7 grams per day, for a total of 10 grams of glycine per day.
Complete Collagen only has active ingredients, so it does not contain unnecessary additives such as emulsifiers or flavour enhancers. We have tested the product in an external laboratory for heavy metals.
For the vegetarian or filet and steak lover
Do you eat vegetarian, or do you like to get protein from chicken breast, steak, yogurt, or eggs? Then Complete Collagen is the collagen supplement for you. With this diet, you don't get much collagen (because, as you now know, it's only in the ligaments, bones and skin). With Complete Collagen, you can be sure you're getting enough different sources of collagen.
More limited in use
Complete Collagen contains Naticol® fish collagen, which is known for its neutral taste. So you don't have to worry about a fish's taste or smell. However, Complete Collagen is sweeter than Pure Collagen due to the added glycine. The acerola berries are sour. Its sweet-sour flavour limits Complete Collagen use to, for example, water with lemon, mint, or berries. Complete Collagen also fits perfectly into a smoothie, yoghurt, Thai curry, or soup.
Other considerations
Due to the precious ingredients, Complete Collagen is more expensive than Pure Collagen.
Conclusion
Pure Collagen and Complete Collagen are both high-quality collagen supplements. The choice depends on your personal diet. Furthermore, the choice depends on how you want to use the product. Do you like to drink coffee with collagen? Then go for Pure Collagen. Are you not a coffee drinker or prefer to take collagen with water? Then Complete Collagen is a perfect choice.
Do you use glycine or vitamin C as a supplement? With Complete Collagen, you no longer need to buy these separately. The formula gives you 5 grams of extra glycine on top of the 2 grams of glycine from collagen itself. Finally, it contains a great natural source of vitamin C from acerola berries.