Protein is a macronutrient that your body needs to stay healthy and operate. While most people equate protein with muscle, there are actually more than 10,000 different types of protein found in everything from your organs to your muscles and tissues to your bones, skin and hair.

When protein is digested and broken down, you are left with amino acids - the building blocks of protein. Amino acids help you break down food, grow, and repair body tissue along with many other functions.

There are 9 essential amino acids and 11 non-essential amino acids. While both types are critical for your body, there is a key difference between the two:

Essential amino acids are those your body cannot produce or store by itself.

The essential amino acids are:

1. Histidine

2. Isoleucine

3. Lysine

4. Leucine

5. Methionine

6. Phenylalaninie

7. Valine

8. Threonine

9. Tryptophan

Non-essential amino acids are those that your body can create when given enough essential amino acids.

The non-essential amino acids are:

1. Alaline

2. Arginine

3. Aspartic Acid

4. Asparagine

5. Cysteine

6. Glutamic Acid

7. Tyrosine

8. Glycine

9. Glutamine

10. Serine

11. Proline

Your body needs collagen to support weight loss, healthy muscle, tissue, digestion, skin, hair, nails and even immunity. Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, making up about 1/3 of the body's protein consumption.

Collagen is a major building block of bones, skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels and even teeth.

You can think of collagen as the "glue" that holds you together. In fact, the word collagen comes from the Greek word "kolla," which means glue.

As you age, your body produces less and less collagen - about 1% decline per year after age 20.

This collagen decline is due to several factors, one of which is completely avoidable. As we age, our cells repeatedly divide. With each cell division, cells become shorter and lower quality until they cannot reproduce again - this is called cell senescence.

Some scientists argue that only about 3% of collagen decline is due to unavoidable internal factors. The remaining 97% of collagen decline may be due to external factors under our control.

UV Exposure: Excessive sunlight damages collagen fibres and creates a negative feedback loop in the skin.

Stress: Stress can cause the breakdown of collagen and increase inflammation.

Inflammatory Diets: Diets high in Processed Sugars, Simple Carbohydrates and Processed Meats activate the immune system and promote inflammation, interfering with cell repair and generation.

The final, and possibly most important reason for collagen decline is that people lack the building blocks of collagen.

Your body creates collagen by combining the amino acids glycine and proline. This process also requires Vitamin C.

The best way to get these amino acids? By consuming collagen!

When you consume collagen from other animals, the protein is broken down into the component amino acids, which your body turns into its own collagen.

Collagen in, collagen out!

The vast majority of collagen in animals is contained in the skin/hide, bones and connective tissues of the animal.

In today's society, we typically only consume the muscle meats of animals, which are largely devoid of collagen.

This is why a collagen supplement is the best option for collagen creation.

Your body needs the amino acids provided by both whey and collagen protein. If you choose to supplement with whey, you may be over-consuming some amino acids and ignoring others.

Here's where our protein supplement sources stray from one another:

Whey Protein: Whey protein is a complete protein, meaning it contains all 9 essential amino acids

Collagen Protein: Collagen protein lacks tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids. While it is therefore not a "complete protein", collagen contains a high concentration of several important non-essential amino acids.

Plant Protein: Plant-based protein often falls behind whey and collagen, lacking as much of both essential and non-essential amino acids.

Another key difference is the availability of these sources in foods.

Whey sources: The amount fo whey protein needed for an adequate amount of essential amino acids can be easily obtained through a diet containing meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy.

Collagen sources: Collagen, on the other hand, is harder to come by. While animals are often the source of collagen, collagen is found in the bones and skin of these animals. These pieces of the animal are often ignored - we eat the muscle meats, which are largely devoid of collagen.

This is why, while whey is a complete protein, it is more worth your while to supplement with collagen.

When choosing a collagen supplement, you must consider three things:

1. The Form

Collagen supplements come in one of three forms:

1. Hydrolyzed Collagen - this form is broken down into its amino acids

2. Gelatin - this form is only partially broken down into amino acids

3. Raw - this form remains completely intact

Research shows that the body may absorb hydrolyzed collagen most efficiently, as it is already broken down into the components you need.

2. The Types

There are 26 identified types of collagen, each with their own unique structures. The human body is mostly made up of the types I, II, and III - so those are the most important to supplement with, although humans can also benefit from supplementing with types IV and X.

3. The Source

The animal source also matters, as the sources bring with them added nutrients unique to the source.

Bovine Collagen - Types I & III

Most collagen supplements are sources from cows due to their rich supplies of the non-essential amino acids glycine and proline.

Chicken Collagen - Type II

Chicken collagen provides glucosamine and chondroitin, both of which have anti-aging effects.

Fish Collagen - Type I

Fish collagen is rich in the non-essential amino acid hydroxyproline.

Eggshell Collagen - Types I, III, IV, and X

Eggshell collagen is rich in the non-essential amino acid hyaluronic acid.

By supplementing with zuCOLLAGEN just once per day, you will be filling your body with the amino acids it needs to function. Try zuCOLLAGEN today and see the results in your hair, skin, nails, digestion and immune system as your body thanks you for the amino acids it was missing.

It is recommended to store in a cool, dark area away from moisture.

We always recommend talking with your licensed healthcare professional first, as nutritional needs can vary when breastfeeding or expecting. However, as a dietary supplement collagen is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. If you have any further questions please consult your licensed healthcare professional.

We certainly recommend that you talk with your pediatrician before introducing your children to collagen, as each child’s nutritional needs will differ.

Yes, all of the collagen types present in zuCOLLAGEN are hydrolyzed, they can be easily added to any hot or cold food or beverage.

We recommend taking collagen continuously as part of your daily routine to see the best results.

Add collagen to your everyday routine for a more vibrant you! Collagen supplementation should start benefiting your body immediately, although you may not notice the changes right away. Many of our collagen customers see noticeable benefits within the first 30 days. If you do not see the results you're after in the first 60 days, contact us at help@umzu.com and we will refund your order!

We normally suggest users consume 10-20 grams of collagen per day for best results. Each scoop of zuCOLLAGEN contains between 19-21g of collagen protein, depending on the flavor. See the supplement fact panels by flavor for more information.

Our collagen powders are great for mixing into anything hot or cold. Things such as coffee, tea, soups, stews, gravies or even baked goods and oatmeal!

No, it is not, as it’s sourced from beef/fish/chicken/eggshell. As of right now, we have yet to find a known source of vegan collagen. We do however have various vegan friendly products. They are not made of collagen, but offer other ingredients that help support the body in other ways or offer other functional benefits.

Right now the only ongoing discount we offer is through our subscription program. By subscribing, you will get 15% OFF of every single order. Subscribers also get additional benefits, including VIP access to sitewide promotions - you may even find a surprise free product in your subscription orders!

Subscribe to our email list and follow us on Facebook and Instagram, because that is where we would announce any special offers.

Often, the scoop is buried in the collagen mixture during transit. Most customers find the scoop by using a fork to comb through the collagen powder. If you still cannot find it, please contact customer service for the equivalent scoop size.