• Dynamic Source of Protein
• Grass Fed Pasture Raised Bovine
• Hydrolyzed with Natural Fruit Enzymes
• Environmentally Responsible Packaging
• Easy to Use (mixes easily in hot or cold liquids)
• Easily Digested
• Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Keto Friendly, Whole 30
Grass Fed Advantage
Our collagen only comes from grass-fed pasture raised cows.
Pasturing is the only ethical choice for the health and wellbeing of cows and the planet.
The environmental impact of factory farming is a black mark on the beef industry. Cows are kept in crowded pens and fed corn and grains. Growing corn and grains for feedlots depletes soil nutrients and erodes topsoil. The result is unhealthy for the cows, consumers, and the planet.
Pasturing is a completely different story. Cows are ruminants – they are meant to wander and graze. Pasture-raised cows get the exercise and nutrition they are meant to have.
The grazing of pastured cows keeps grasslands healthy by maintaining complex root structures that keep the topsoil intact and fertile. Properly grazed grasslands are known to sequester more carbon than forests.
Grazing also supports biodiversity by maintaining large tracts of land uncontaminated by pesticides, insecticides, or weed killers. Land is kept in its most natural state and small animals and insects are left unharmed.
Grass fed is altogether happier and healthier.
Cows are never farmed just to product collagen, which is a byproduct of the beef industry.
Always choose grass fed beef!
Environmentally Responsible Packaging
Environmental impact was important to us when designing our collagen packaging.
Over a thousand metric tons of plastic are manufactured every single day. Although many of these plastics are used only once and thrown away, they can take hundreds or even thousands of years to break down.
Plastic waste is deeply problematic and plastic pollution shows up in our soil, food, water, and even our wildlife.
Researchers have even found plastic litter in the deepest marine ecosystems on Earth. Over 72% of marine animals living in the Mariana Trench have plastic in their digestive systems. For crustaceans grazing the sea floor that number was 100%. These numbers are shocking and disturbing.
Most brands of collagen on the market come in plastic containers with plastic scoops.
We refuse to contribute to the destruction of this beautiful planet – but we also need to keep your products safe and well protected. Our bags are designed with these goals in mind.
Immortal Tortoise hydrolyzed collagen is packaged in bags made from 60% compostable and 100% renewable materials in a series of laminated layers.
The outside of our bag is made of compostable wood pulp that will break down into compost within 12 weeks (according to a test method known as ASTM D6400.) It is also printed with a non-toxic environmentally friendly ink.
The inner layer of our bags is comprised of renewable bioplastic (from sugar cane) combined with an additive that will allow it break down into microscopic pieces within 5-10 years (instead of the usual 1000 years needed for normal plastic.)
We also attempt to use the smallest bags possible for the amount of product we are selling, and we do not include a disposable plastic scoop. We recommend a metal table spoon and our product instructions reflect use of a standard tablespoon measurement.
We think they look great, too!
Health Benefits of Supplemental Collagen Hydrolysate?
The human body is primarily made up of water, proteins, and fats.
Most of that protein is collagen. In fact, collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body (the same goes for all vertebrate animals.) Our skin, ligaments, bones, muscles, and tendons are almost 1/3rdcollagen. It is also found in our corneas, the lining of our gut, the dentin in our teeth, and the discs in our spine.
As these parts of our body degrade due to injury or normal aging our body uses amino acids from food to create new collagen from scratch.
However, starting around age 25, our ability to produce new collagen starts to deteriorate. This can result in a loss of elasticity and strength in our skin, muscles, and even internal organs.
Unfortunately, we’re not very good at absorbing collagen from meat and other food sources.
Gelatin particles in meat and bone broth are too large for our digestive systems to absorb effectively. Hydrolysis is a process where enzymes are used to break collagen particles down into a smaller molecular weight – which we can readily absorb and use.
Hydrolyzed collagen contains 8 out of 9 essential amino acids and a full profile of non-essential amino acids. With age our ability to produce enough of these non-essential amino acids declines. Supplemental hydrolyzed collagen gives your body the amino acid building blocks necessary to build and repair skin, bones, hair and nails.
When we take supplemental hydrolyzed collagen our bodies use some of it whole to repair collagenous tissues and some of it is absorbed as peptides or individual amino acids. It’s a versatile and healthy protein source.
Benefits of Hydrolyzed Collagen
Grass fed hydrolyzed collagen isn’t just a fad supplement. It’s a clean, dynamic, easily digested bioavailable source of protein. As such, it’s excellent for anything you would normally use protein for, especially building strength and muscle. Some studies have shown that it is better at building muscle than whey protein (and it certainly tastes better.)
Research has shown that consuming supplemental hydrolyzed collagen is also good for...
Strengthening Joints and Tendons:
The Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology published a study where researchers demonstrated that the ingestion of collagen peptides beneficially affects the size and composition of collagen fibrils in the Achilles tendon. This study is one of many that suggest supplementing with collagen may improve the longterm health of joints and tendons.
Improving Skin:
The journal Skin Pharmacology and and Physiology published a double blind, placebo controlled study which demonstrated a causal relationship between a 12-week daily regimen of orally consumed hydrolyzed collagen and significantly improved skin elasticity, strength, and moisture.
Building Muscle:
Glycine and arginine are two amino-acid precursors necessary for the natural production of creatine which is one of the many ways that supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen can help build muscle (in conjunction with exercise of course.)
Maintaining Muscle as You Age:
One study published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that supplementing with hydrolyzed collagen in conjunction with resistance training increased muscle mass and muscle strength in elderly subjects. A control group performed the same resistance training without the hydrolyzed collagen and did not have the same results.
What’s the Difference Between Hydrolyzed Collagen and Gelatin
Hydrolyzed collagen has many different names:
• hydrolyzed gelatin
• gelatin hydrolysate
• collagen peptides
• hydrolyzed collagen
• collagen hydrolysate
These different names all refer to the exact same ingredient.
Even though you see the word “gelatin” on this list you won’t be able to make your gelatin dessert using “hydrolyzed gelatin powder” because of the way hydrolysis changes gelatin.
As mentioned above, gelatin starts off protein molecules that are too large to be absorbed by our digestive tract.
Gelatin is found in the connective tissue of every vertebrate animal on earth. Unless you’re a vegetarian some of this gelatin probably winds up on your plate - you just don’t absorb it very well.
The process of hydrolysis uses enzymes to break apart gelatin fibers into smaller peptides so that the protein has a lower molecular weight. This lower molecular weight allows us to absorb more of it from our digestive tract.
Hydrolysis doesn’t just make collagen more digestible, it also removes what is known as the “bloom.” The bloom refers to the way gelatin congeal into the familiar jiggly texture. With no bloom you can mix the collagen into your iced tea without changing the texture at all. That’s why you can add hydrolyzed collagen to water, coffee, or a smoothie without making a gelatin dessert.
This makes it the perfect way to sneak protein into your diet. You can easily mix our grass fed hydrolyzed collagen powder right into smoothies, soups, and beverages.
FDA Disclaimer *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.