Collagen production declines with age, starting in our mid-20s and decreasing by about 1% yearly. Sun exposure, poor diet, smoking, and stress accelerate collagen loss and hinder its synthesis. Modern diets, often lacking in collagen-rich foods like organ meats and bone-in cuts, may further reduce collagen-specific amino acids essential for skin, joint, and overall health.
Hydrolysed collagen is highly bioavailable, as it's broken into shorter amino acid chains called peptides that the body recognises as collagen. Once easily absorbed through the gut, these peptides supply the building blocks for new collagen and can also stimulate collagen-producing cells, supporting natural repair processes.
We can use research to gauge some documented timing, however the honest answer is that it varies for everyone. Your body will prioritise where the collagen is needed most and factors like age, your need for collagen (e.g., recovering from injury), diet, lifestyle, and more all play a role in how quickly you may notice benefits.
The beauty of powdered collagen is that you can tailor the dose. For maintenance, we recommend taking 5–10 grams daily. To make this easy, the Ritual scoop measures 8 grams of True Collagen. For greater collagen support—like during injury recovery, or for active lifestyles—10–12 grams per day is ideal.
Collagen’s whole-body benefits reflect its ripple effect as a multi-functional protein. Beyond beauty, enhancing skin, hair, and nails, it supports joints, bones, muscles, gut health, and even cognitive function. This holistic impact makes it a simple addition for many aspects of our health and well-being.
There are a few key differences between marine and bovine collagen linked in our journal article here. Ultimately, marine collagen and bovine collagen are equally effective - both providing 100% hydrolysed type I collagen peptides. One is not better than the other, it’s more a matter of dietary preference. As long as the quality of the supplement is high then its source doesn’t really affect the benefits you receive.
Our True Collagen contains hydrolysed collagen peptides which are a more available and absorbable form of amino acids, making it easy for our body to utilise. Collagen exists in nature as a very large, complex molecule constructed from lots of long chains of polypeptides. The collagen molecule itself is far too big to be absorbed across the gut wall, so it needs to be broken down during digestion into smaller chains called peptides. Once absorbed, these peptides are available to contribute to collagen renewal within bones, skin and connective tissue. ‘Hyrdolysed’ simply means ‘unchaining’ the long protein strands into smaller ‘peptides’ so we can absorb them more readily. This process is like having them ‘predigested’, making them more bioactive so we can take them up and absorb them easily to build important tissues.
Taking collagen can be beneficial at any age, but we know that the body’s ability to produce collagen naturally starts to decline in our early 20s. As we move past roughly 30 years old, it is thought that collagen depletes faster than our body can produce it. Therefore, you can begin taking collagen in your 20s to get ahead of the body’s natural depletion as you age, but you are more likely to see noticeable benefits from age 35+. Ultimately, the age you want to start taking collagen supplements is a personal decision. The Ancient + Brave team will be here to support you and guide you through your journey.
A common myth surrounding collagen supplements is that they can lead to digestive discomfort. In reality high-quality, hydrolysed collagen peptides are generally very well tolerated and are often used to support gut health.
When introducing a new protein source like collagen, proteins require specific enzymes to break them down effectively, the digestive system sometimes needs time to adjust.
To help support your gut in absorbing and processing the protein efficiently, here are some tips that may help:
- Start with a smaller dose (½ to 1 teaspoon) and gradually increase to allow your digestion to adapt.
- Take it with food to aid digestion and minimise discomfort.
- Support digestion with natural enzymes - foods like pineapple, papaya, or taking a digestive enzyme supplement with food can help break down proteins and ease symptoms.
- Stay hydrated - collagen draws in water, so drinking plenty of fluids supports digestion.
- Incorporate gut-friendly foods like fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut) and fibre-rich foods to promote a healthy microbiome.
We’ve also put together a helpful guide on gut health with more in-depth insights into how collagen can support digestion in the long run. Please reach out to our team if you need any additional support. *As a brand, we are not in a position to make any medical claims, so we always recommend consulting your GP or healthcare professional who has knowledge of your medical history. They are best placed to advise on whether a product is suitable for your specific needs and provide tailored recommendations.
We keep our True Collagen and Wild Collagen purely collagen-focused to ensure a versatile and easily to use product. Our collagen can blend effortlessly into any drink, letting you adjust your dose as needed without the concern of over-supplementing on individual vitamins and added nutrients. This simplicity allows you to benefit consistently from high-quality collagen, while still having the flexibility to complement it with any additions based on your unique wellness routine.
For those interested in collagen combined with additional functional ingredients, we recommend exploring our Brave Blends. These delicious drinks, from Cacao to Matcha, pair collagen with synergistic nutrients to support wellness in a convenient, flavourful way.
We’re passionate about sharing our collagen expertise and would love to send you our Guide to Collagen if you are interested in taking a deeper dive on the science behind all of our collagen products.
We focus on providing the most essential and effective collagen for the body, which is why we offer Type I collagen in our True and Wild products.. Type I is the most abundant and important type, making up the majority of skin, bones, and connective tissues.
While predominantly Type I, True Collagen also naturally contains traces of Type III collagen. However, due to hydrolysis, distinguishing the amounts of collagen peptides of Type I and Type III becomes impossible to analyse, and so as the most abundant within the end product, the focus remains on Type I, although it is more than likely you are benefitting from both types.
Collagen is a compound your body naturally produces, so there are no harmful side effects of taking too much per se, except potentially an upset stomach or bloating. There are no studies that show upping the doses will help you reach your health goals any faster, therefore sticking to the recommended daily intake is optimal.
The recommended daily dose of collagen is 5-15g, which is supported by most clinical studies. For most people, 5g is ideal. However, some individuals may benefit from a higher dose of 10-15g, such as those recovering from an injury, following a low-protein (e.g., vegetarian) diet, experiencing age-related collagen decline, or engaging in intensive physical activity.
Collagen peptides are extremely versatile and heat-stable up to 300°C - well above the temperatures used in everyday cooking or boiling water (100°C). This means you can confidently add them to hot drinks like tea, coffee, or even soups and stews without affecting their benefits. In fact, many people love adding collagen to their morning coffee for an easy daily ritual.
However, we recommend avoiding adding to fizzy or carbonated drinks. Collagen doesn't dissolve well in carbonated liquids, which can cause clumping or frothing, and may negatively affect texture and taste. For the best experience, stick to still beverages, smoothies, or any food or drink where it can dissolve smoothly.
Our menopause guide provides helpful information about the changes that occur in the body during perimenopause and menopause - and how collagen can offer support when navigating this chapter.
We understand every menopause journey is unique and symptoms can vary for each individual. Many of our blends feature nutraceuticals and botanicals that can help manage specific symptoms, all of which are broken down in the guide to help you choose the right product for your needs.
You should always consult with your doctor or midwife regarding any new additions to your diet or supplements you take during your pregnancy and breastfeeding journey. Whilst there are also no studies available due to ethical challenges involving research in pregnant people, we aren’t aware of any contraindications in taking any of our products whilst pregnant or breastfeeding and they should be well tolerated.
Stomach acid plays a very important role in breaking down protein and yet hydrolysed collagen peptides are unlikely to be digested in the stomach at all and instead go to the small intestine to be absorbed. Enzymes in the small intestine work at breaking down chains of protein molecules called peptides into even shorter peptides and amino acids which can then be absorbed in the bloodstream. The peptides and aminos will be added to the amino acid pool and trigger the body to produce new collagen.
We aim to deliver EU orders within 3-7 working days. Once it has been dispatched, we’ll email you a tracking code so that you can track your ritual's journey from our door to yours.
We hope you love True Collagen as much as we do. However, if you’d like to return an unopened product, we’re here to make that nice and easy. Simply contact us within 14 days of placing your order at hello@ancientandbrave.earth, letting us know your order number and reason for your return. Then, return the product to us within 28 days of your order date, and we’ll start processing your refund.
Overall rating: 4.8798404 / 5 from 2505 reviews.
The Collagen Starter Bundle offers a three-month supply of True Collagen's pure, hydrolyzed bovine type I collagen peptides. Customers appreciate the noticeable improvement in their skin, nails, and joints. The product is odorless, tasteless, and dissolves easily into various drinks and dishes. It is responsibly sourced from EU cattle and comes with a complementary scoop for accurate servings.
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"I pop this in my juice in a morning. You can’t taste it at all. My hair is amazing having struggled with some damage & loss during menopause. My nails are long & strong & my skin really tight. The lady that does my eyebrows asked me if I’d had Botox !! Fab stuff. I’ve recommended it to about 6 different people."
"I have been taking my True Collagen for nearly two months now and I have noticed a difference in my fingernails for definate. They have always been weak and break at about 3km they are a little longer and feel less soft. I also think my hair feels current too."
"Within a few weeks I had already noticed a difference in my hair and skin and the flexibility of my joints has also improved. My hair has never looked so shiny and my skin feels plumper. It has been so easy to incorporate the collagen powder into my morning coffee each day and there is no discernible taste or texture once the powder is mixed in. My husband has also jumped on the bandwagon!"
"I love this collagen, I look forward to an afternoon coffee after a dog walk and take five to relax and rejuvenate. I feel and see the benefits especially with my nails. The collagen dissolves really well and is tasteless but leaves a delicious creamy top. 5 star rating from me, thanks ancient and brave I love your products x"
"This collagen is miles better than others on the market which either have a distinct flavour or aftertaste or they go clumpy so much some other companies I have seen my friends using have to give you a battery powered whisk or shaker so you can get their product to dissolve. Ancient and Brave Collagen is tasteless I add it to my morning lattee or evening cocoa and it dissappears into the drink, with a normal teaspoon stir . . . . no lumps, no grittiness, no weird aftertaste. It also has a noticeable effect on joints and skin after only 2 months. I cant recommend enough."
"This has without doubt changed my life. I was taking strong pain killers everyday for knee pain and now I don’t take any. I walk without limping for the first time in years. It didn’t happen overnight but over a few months. It’s amazing. I’m a life long customer. And I’ve recommended it to everyone I know. Honestly can’t thank you enough for this incredible product."
"It is such a fine powder that you cannot taste them at all in your morning coffee and does not leave any bits. I have noticed a huge reduction in hairloss and I now get compliments on how my skin looks. The only negative I have with the Collagen is that even when I don't fill the scoop provided I still cannot make it last the 4 weeks until my next order. The creatine+ lasts well."
"I can’t see too much change yet, although my skin feels smooth & soft. I’m not usually a fan of powdered supplements & didn’t really believe there wouldn’t be any strange taste or texture. However, it does disappear in my tea & porridge so I’m not aware of consuming it. I never forget to add it so it’s zero commitment but hopefully, lots of benefit."
"I love the radiance in my skin. I love its healthier bouncier texture and my hair and nails are benefiting enough that I now notice after two months. I am hoping to see even more benefits to having this as part of my routine. I now just need it to last the whole month like the noble collagen"
"Absolutely loving the results of using this product 👌 I feel mentally sharper, physically stronger and less tired and less fatigued after exercise. It's easy to take, is gentle on the stomach and no aftertaste. My skin amd nails look healthier, my hair is shiner and my hair stylist commented today that after 5 months of using it my hair is stronger and she can see new growth, without me mentioning I was taking anything!"
