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You’ve probably heard the buzz words – “collagen, biotin, increases hair growth, grow your nails faster…” Here’s the thing, they aren’t just a buzz. These ingredients have become relevant for a reason – collagen and biotin have been scientifically proven, time and time again, to benefit our overall vibrance and beauty. 

Starting a new supplement routine can seem overwhelming. There are a lot of questions that come up! How do these ingredients work? Do they work well together to support a common goal or do they cancel each other out?

Let’s get into how collagen and biotin work when coming from or being supported plant sources and how these ingredients work together.

Can collagen be vegan? 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the skin. It shows up in a lot of other places too! It’s in our collective tissues, in our gut lining, and is also linked to vibrant hair, skin, and nails.* Here at Copina Co, we aim to help you align your inner health with your external vibrance, but we also want to keep your values in mind. First, when we selected our collagen option, we wanted to be sure that it was plant-based and vegan. That’s why we make plant-based collagen supports that are 100% vegan. Fun fact, by the way, there’s no such thing as “vegan collagen”.

What plants can’t do is be the complete collagen protein, but what plants can do is help your body make more of its own collagen without the use of animal products.)* They do this by providing vitamins and amino acids that aid your body in its collagen synthesis. Read more on that here.

Collagen is certainly a nutrient source that seems to be beneficial for so many people because of its amazing links to skin hydration, stronger hair and nails, the reduced appearance of fine lines, and of course joint health.*

What are the benefits of vegan collagen alternatives?

With the right diet and supplements, you can naturally produce more of your own collagen in your body. This is how our vegan collagen boosts work – instead of just direct infusion of collagen, the plant-based nutrients provide the body with the essential amino acids, which are the precursors for connective tissue synthesis in the body. Ingredients in our Copina Co. plant-based collagen supports contain amazing herbalist-sourced ingredients like organic tremella fuciformis extract, bamboo leaf extract, amla berry powder, biotin, gotu kola whole plant extract, and hyaluronic acid to helps to support connective tissue health and keep the skin hydrated.

What are the benefits of a biotin supplement?

 Now what about collagens friendly counterpart, biotin? Biotin – aka vitamin B7- is an essential water soluble B vitamin that helps  fuel many intricate pathways in the body. It’s critical for our daily utilization of fats, carbohydrates, amino acids (like those found in collagen), and energy (ATP).*

It’s a powerhouse mechanism of metabolizing nutrients that can totally be ingested through vegan biotin supplements. Here at Copina Co, we made sure to include vegan Biotin in our Plant-Based Collagen Boosts for you to maintain your B7 levels in the body so that you can get health benefits such as stronger nails.*

Varying levels of biotin dependent enzymes have been found in every tissue of the human body. That makes sense, of course. After all, organisms need these enzymes to survive—so we've evolved to make as much biotin as we need. And research suggests that our bodies conserve biotin levels in response to low dietary intake. If we're not absorbing enough biotin from food, we'll do what it takes to get by. 

Conclusion

 Biotin and collagen work hand-in-hand.* If you want healthy hair, you should be eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated and getting plenty of sleep - along with making sure your selenium levels aren't too high or too low. Unfortunately, our modern world often creates external stressors (lack of sleep, stress, poor nutrition, inflammation) that can make optimal collagen and biotin difficult for the body to achieve.* That’s where supplements come in.

 It's important to recognize that even a vitamin deficiency—or any other health problem—with only one symptom can have many causes. For example, it's possible for someone to develop brittle nails due to a biotin deficiency, iron deficiency, or dehydration.

 When used separately, collagen and biotin can benefit hair, skin, and nails in their own unique ways. But, combining the two can improve on this baseline performance by synergistically supporting health.

Copina Co.’s herbalist-sourced and dosed botanical formulas contain safe and effective ingredients for consumption, to help you support your collagen and increase your biotin safely and for real results.* Copina Co’s ingredients are sourced organically whenever possible. They’re botanicals such as:

• Bamboo leaf extract, which is chock full of silica, which provides protection against brittle nails and premature fallout of hair.*
• More than 1800mcg of biotin (D-Biotin) per serving, giving your body an added advantage in building strong and healthy nails.*
• Hyaluronic acid, which is produced naturally in our bodies. Ingesting hyaluronic acid has been shown to support collagen production, increase hydration in cells, and increase elasticity in the skin, making this vegan-derived dynamic ingredient an essential for everyday consumption. *
• Cacao powder doesn’t just fuel your favorite chocolate bar. It is also packed with nutrients that aid in your health and well-being. Cacao contains what are called flavonoids, an antioxidant that is healing and provides nutrients to your body’s cells and organs.*

It’s easy to create delicious drinks everyday with our delicious Plant-Based Collagen Boosts, like a Matcha Collagen Latte, or a delicious Calming Cacao Collagen drink. You can add any of the Boosts to your favorite hot drink (try our Calming Cacao in hot chocolate – you’ll thank us later), with your favorite steamed plant-based milk, or with warm water and over ice for the hotter days. Shop our collagen support blends HERE. 

Getting your daily dose of collagen and biotin is made easy, all while being food for you and the planet, simultaneously.