Vital Proteins make a rich source of collagen supplement products. Collagen is the protein which gives your body structure in your skin and bones. Developing wrinkles or experiencing joint pain are some indications that your body is lacking in collagen. The Vital Protein line of products provide an ingestible form of collagen to aid in adding collagen back to the body. But is the brand of Vital Proteins for everyone?
Vital Proteins is not a vegan-friendly supplement. The collagen in the Vital Proteins collagen peptides supplements is made from the hide of Brazilian grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle. The collagen peptides are completely animal sourced. The best vegan alternatives to Vital Proteins include Rae Vegan Collagen Boost Powder, Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides, and PlantFusion Collagen Peptides.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the story behind Vital Proteins and the health benefits the supplements can provide. We’ll also dive into the ingredients and nutrition facts in some of their supplement powders, and then offer some vegan-friendly alternative brands you can try. Let’s get started!
Contents
The story of Vital Proteins
Over a decade ago, Kurt Seidensticker began experiencing pain in his knees while he was running. Always careful to pay attention to his health, Kurt started to investigate ways he could alleviate this issue, so he could continue to be the avid runner he always had been.
He spent a long time researching what could help him the most, and discovered that adding a form of ingestible collagen to his diet could be a benefit. Even though he consumed nutrient-rich foods, he discovered that your body, as it ages, can no longer absorb these nutrients as well as it once did in youth.
Kurt, a former NASA engineer, worked with his daughter to develop the Vital Proteins brand, which has grown into more than 250 unique products and is known as the “original category creator” for the market on collagen proteins.
Health benefits of Vital Proteins
As your body ages, you may notice some signs of collagen levels decreasing:
- Your skin loses its elasticity, and wrinkles form
- You lose flexibility and your tendons and ligaments are stiffer than they used to be
- You become physically weaker because your muscle mass decreases
- You may develop arthritis as your cartilage wears down
- The lining of your intestine may thin, leading to poor gut health
Adding collagen to your diet can help slow the progression of these health issues. There are also other benefits to collagen supplements. Read on to discover more!
Supplies essential proteins for the keto diet
The ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates (5-10%), encourages a moderate intake of proteins (20%), and consists mainly of eating dietary fats (60-80%). The keto diet is supposed to deprive your body of carbohydrates so that it switches to a fat-burning mode instead of a glucose-burning one. These ketones are then used for energy, and the body burns away fat stores, so you lose weight.
Since the keto diet does not allow consumption of gluten or grains, it is a smart addition to add in other sources of foods which promote gut health. Collagen is found naturally in skin, bones, and cartilage of animals, and those on the keto diet will opt to find these in their meat sources, or bone broth, to further enhance their gut health. The Vital Proteins products are sourced from grass-fed, and pasture-raised bovines, providing a healthier source of this collagen.
Helps during aging
As we age, the natural production of collagen in our body declines. This can lead to bone loss, skin conditions, and even losing your hair. Collagen deficiency can also decrease the mobility in your joints, leading to arthritis. Adding collagen-rich sources of foods, including those which are plant-based, can help provide these health benefits:
- Promotes healthy joints
- Strengthens bones
- Provides skin clarity and smooth texture
- Promotes a healthful, glowing appearance
- Faster recovery due to strengthened immunity
Let’s take a look now at some of the flavors of the Vital Proteins collagen supplement powders, what’s inside this formula, and their nutrition facts.
Flavors of Vital Proteins
Vital Proteins Chocolate Collagen
Ingredients:
- Collagen Peptides (from bovine)
- Alkalized cocoa
- Natural flavors
- Sea salt
- Stevia leaf Reb M
Nutrition Facts (for 2 scoop / 27 gram serving):
- 90 – Calories
- 0.5 g – Total Fat
- 150 mg – Sodium
- 4 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2 g – Dietary Fiber
- 18 g – Protein
- 2 mg – Iron
- 220 mg – Potassium
- 20 g – Collagen Peptides (from bovine)
Vital Proteins Beauty Collagen Strawberry Lemon
Ingredients:
- Marine Collagen Peptides (from snapper scale)
- Organic Strawberry Powder (fruit)
- Coconut Water Powder
- Natural Flavors
- Organic Agave Inulin
- Organic Lemon Juice Powder
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Vitamin C
- Biotin
Nutrition Facts (for 2 scoops / 19 gram serving):
- 70 – Calories
- 100 mg – Sodium
- 3 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2 g – Sugars
- 14 g – Protein
- 15 g – Collagen Peptides (from bovine)
- 120 mg – Hyaluronic Acid
- 20 mg – Bacillus Coagulans
Vital Proteins Matcha Collagen
Ingredients:
- Bovine Hide Collagen Peptides
- Matcha
- Coconut Water Powder
Nutrition Facts (for 1 scoop / 14 gram serving):
- 50 – Calories
- 60 mg – Sodium
- 3 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2 g – Sugars
- 9 g – Protein
- 10 g – Collagen Peptides (from bovine)
- 50 mg – Caffeine
- 20 mg – L-Theanine
Alternatives to Vital Proteins
A vegan diet consumes plant-based foods, which are rich in anti-inflammatory benefits. Cruciferous vegetables, almonds, beans, avocados, and olive oil are some foods which can help reduce inflammation and boost the body’s collagen production. When adding a collage supplement to a vegan diet, it is smart to choose one which is actual plant-based collagen, and not just a collagen builder.
Rae Vegan Collagen Boost Powder
Vegan, Non-GMO, gluten-free, and containing no harmful fillers, colorants or artificial preservatives, the Rae brand of collagen boost powder was created by women and scientists to help customers feel nourished, energized, balanced, and radiant.
Ingredients:
- Plant-derived Collagen Boosters
- Artichoke
- Inulin
- Vitamin C
- Bamboo Stem Extract
- Proprietary Blend (L-Lysine Hydrochloride, Glycine, Gynostemma, Herb Extract, L-Proline)
- Tapioca Maltodextrin (Organic)
Nutrition Facts (for 8 gram serving):
- 20 – Calories
- 5 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 150 mg – Vitamin C
Sunwarrior Collagen Building Protein Peptides
Using the science behind your body being able to generate its own collagen, SunWarrior created a plant-based solution to boost your body’s own production. Organic, keto-friendly, soy and gluten-free, this collagen works from the inside out.
Ingredients:
- Proprietary beauty blend (organic fermented pea protein, organic fermented brown rice peptides, organic sea buckthorn berry, organic tremella mushroom extract, organic kale leaf, organic spinach leaf, vitamin C from organic amla fruit extract, hyaluronic acid, silica from bamboo leaf or stem extract, organic whole spirulina, biotin from organic holy basil leaf extract and organic sunflower seed extract)
- Organic Guar Gum from Seed
- Organic Soluble Rice Bran
- Medium-chain Triglycerides Oil
Nutrition Facts (for 1 scoop / 25 gram serving):
- 100 – Calories
- 2.5 g – Total Fat
- 0.5 g – Saturated Fat
- 2 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 2 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 18 g – Protein
- 90 mg – Vitamin C
- 30 mcg – Biotin
- 6 mg – Iron
- 0.4 mg – Copper
- 270 mg – Sodium
- 90 mg – Potassium
- 100 mg – Hyaluronic Acid
- 45 mg – Silica
PlantFusion Collagen Beauty Plant Peptides Powder Peach Mango
Vegan-friendly, dairy and gluten-free, and Non-GMO, the PlantFusion collagen powder is free of soy, rice, eggs, nuts, fish and shellfish, tree nuts, artificial colors and flavors. It is 100% whole food plant-based, containing no animal cartilage, bones, or hides.
Ingredients:
- Organic coconut nectar powder
- Glycine
- L-Proline
- Saberry(Emblica officinalis) (Amla) Fruit Extract
- Plant peptides
- Coconut water blend
- PhytoCeramides
- Dermaval (plant concentrates of pomgranate, asparagus, abelmoschus esculentus, coffea arabica, sphora japonica, Brazilian Acerola cherry, amazon Camu Camu, Brazilian Acai Berry, Thai mangosteen)
- OxyPhyte
- Organic acacia powder
- Beet root powder
- Natural flavor
- Stevia extract powder
- Organic lucuma powder
- Organic yacon powder
- Monk fruit extract powder
Nutrition Facts (for 1 scoop / 10 gram serving):
- 30 – Calories
- 60 mg – Sodium
- 7 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 6 g – Dietary Fiber
- 1 g – Sugars
- 150 mg – Vitamin C
- 12.5 mcg – Vitamin D
- 5 mg – Zinc
- 1000 mg – Build Blend (Organic coconut powder, glycine, L-proline, Saberry Fruit Extract, Plant Peptides)
- 130 mg – Hydrate Blend (Coconut water powder, PhytoCeramides)
- 60 mg – Protect Blend (Demaval plant concentrates: pomegranate, asparagus, okra, coffee bean, quercetin, acerola cherry, camu camu, acai berry, mangosteen, OxyPhyte White Tea Extract)
Final Thoughts
The collagen that Vital Proteins provides has many research-backed health benefits. Adding collagen supplements to your diet can promote healthy skin, hair and nail growth, and help in bone loss. It can also increase your ability to be mobile, as it adds to your joint health. While Vital Proteins is healthy, it is not a vegan-friendly product. There are alternative brands, using plant-based collagens, which can provide the same benefits as a bovine-based collagen supplement, so try those and see if you notice results.
Related Questions
Are Vital Proteins kosher?
Some of the Vital Proteins products are certified as kosher, including: Beef Gelatin, Collagen Peptides, Collagen Peptides with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C, Organic Whey, Collagen Creamers, and Matcha Collagens.
Are Vital Proteins dairy-free?
Vital Proteins uses the MCT fats from coconut milk powders, making their products dairy-free.
Are Vital Proteins gluten-free?
Vital Proteins contain no wheat, or wheat-containing products, which makes their products be gluten-free.