What’s the difference between collagen and gelatin? Should you use both? In what different ways can they be used for health benefits and in cooking? How to find quality collagen and gelatin? This post answers all that and more!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen lots of your favorite bloggers or heard your crunchy friends talking about, raving about, and using collagen and gelatin.

It’s not uncommon for me to see multiple Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest posts DAILY about either the benefits of collagen and gelatin or yummy-looking recipes using these foods.

What’s the big deal?

Are collagen and gelatin another health food trend, or are they sticking around?

So…how about this? Let’s pretend you know NOTHING and answer the basic question first:

What Are Collagen & Gelatin?

Collagen and gelatin come from the same place: the bones and connective tissue of grass-fed cows. Actually, collagen is found ONLY in animals, so there are no vegetarian or vegan food sources that can provide the same benefits for humans.

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the animals’ bodies, and it’s also the most abundant protein found in the human body.

It is absolutely essential for human health. In fact, as we age, our collagen levels decrease, which leads to signs of aging: sagging skin, joint pain, inflammation, slowed hair growth, and more.

Therefore, I see collagen and gelatin as both nourishing foods and helpful, healing supplements, especially as I’m getting older (almost 37 here…every little bit helps, can I get an ‘amen’?).

Now, let’s dig deeper and answer:

• What’s the difference between the two?
• Should you use both?
• When and how should you use them?
• What to look for when purchasing collagen and gelatin?
• Where’s the best place to find them?

Benefits of Collagen and Gelatin

At the most basic level, collagen and gelatin have the same benefits.

Both collagen and gelatin…

• Improve skin health and promote younger, more supple skin
• Improve gut function and digestion
• Support joint health and build human cartilage
• Keep inflammation in check
• Are pure sources of protein
• Support a healthy metabolism
• Support the health of hair and nails and encourage faster hair/nail growth
• Deliver important amino acids that are difficult to find in our diet, such as glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline

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What’s The Difference Between Collagen And Gelatin?

Think about apples and applesauce… The core (haha) ingredient is the same, right? Apples.

The difference lies in how they’re prepared.

When the connective tissues (collagen) of animals are cooked, they turn into gelatin. If you’ve ever made bone broth, you’ve essentially cooked the bones and connective tissues (collagen) and made your own gelatin!

So, gelatin is made of collagen protein, just a slightly different, cooked form. Their amino acid profiles and benefits are essentially the same, yet the biggest difference between the two is that gelatin will “gel” or thicken when cooled.

Should I Use Both?

That depends…

Both provide 10 grams of animal protein per scoop, a full spectrum of amino acids, and all the benefits listed above.

Gelatin is perfect for homemade marshmallows, gummies, custards, and jello.

Collagen makes a great addition to smoothies, cold drinks, and grain-free baking blends because it dissolves in both hot and cold liquids.

On the other hand, gelatin should only go in hot liquids (if planning to drink right away). If you enjoy making puddings, custards, homemade gummies, marshmallows, and coffee or hot tea, gelatin is your friend.

But if you make all the things…

Then, you want BOTH collagen and gelatin!

GRAB MY FAVORITE COLLAGEN & GELATIN and SAVE 10% ON YOUR PURCHASE WITH MY DISCOUNT CODE ALLTHETHINGS!

How To Use Collagen and Gelatin Daily

I, personally, use both everyday (and have for over 2 years!) because I enjoy using them in their different applications.

I have DEFINITELY seen a difference in my hair and nail growth. In 2017, I went to the hair salon for a “trim” twice. The first time, she cut off 4 inches (and I still had long hair). The second time, 7 months later, she cut off 6 inches! My hair grows SO fast since adding collagen and gelatin to my diet!

Here’s how collagen and gelatin work in my day:

First thing in the A.M.: I enjoy a cup of hot tea with a scoop of Perfect Supplements Gelatin. My blood sugar is balanced, and I’m more satisfied because I begin my day with a boost of protein. (I still eat a hearty breakfast, too.)

Mid-morning: I almost always have a smoothie, to which I add Perfect Supplements Collagen (gelatin would make it gel, remember?).

By noon, I’ve managed to easily get a scoop of both into my diet with hardly any effort

I also love to bake with collagen! Check out these yummy recipes with the added benefits of collagen:

• Low-Carb Fudgy Orange Coffee Cake
• Keto Coconut Flour Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
• Paleo Cassava Flour Carrot Zucchini Muffins
• Blender Batter Keto Lemon Blueberry Bread
• Easy Paleo Orange Muffins
• Vanilla Blueberry Kefir Overnight Oats
• Keto White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins

GRAB MY FAVORITE COLLAGEN & GELATIN and SAVE 10% ON YOUR PURCHASE WITH MY DISCOUNT CODE ALLTHETHINGS!

How to Find Quality Grass-Fed Collagen & Gelatin

Now you know the difference between these two superfoods, you need to know where to find the BEST, most high quality collagen and gelatin.

Source matters! Many other brands add fillers or can’t provide proof of purity for their collagen and gelatin. Or, the cows’ diet is supplemented with grain that may be genetically modified.

For the highest quality, look to the best source.

Perfect Supplements is our favorite source for grass-fed collagen and gelatin. <– Save 10% on your Perfect Supplements order with my discount code ALLTHETHINGS!

Both Perfect Supplements collagen and gelatin come from Brazilian pasture-raised cattle whose diet is never supplemented with grains.

Perfect Supplements Collagen and Perfect Supplements Gelatin are:

• non-GMO
• lactose- and dairy-free
• pesticide-free
• hormone-free
• contain no added flow agents or fillers
• a complete source of protein

Furthermore, Perfect Supplements collagen is the world’s only glyphosate residue-free certified collagen! Learn more about glyphosate residue here.

I don’t trust any other source of collagen and gelatin as much as I trust Perfect Supplements. Truly.

More Ways to Use Collagen and Gelatin

Yes, we have LOTS more ways to use collagen and gelatin on the regular:

Collagen makes a fantastic addition to baking! I created a grain-free flour blend of almond flour, coconut flour, and collagen for the cake recipes in my eBook Sweet Without Sugar. The texture of the cakes made with collagen is SO amazing — perfectly moist with the right crumb!

My kiddos love homemade marshmallows and custard, so it’s gelatin for the win!

My 14-year-old daughter is adding collagen to her hot tea every morning as she tries to grow her hair long.

When my man-child teenage son is STILL hungry after eating a 5-course meal, it’s a scoop of collagen in some hot tea for him to fill him up with extra protein!

I couldn’t make my pies without gelatin.

When I feel like my kids need some extra protein at breakfast, I stir a scoop of collagen or gelatin into their oatmeal or porridge.

See? It’s SO easy to incorporate the amazing benefits of Perfect Supplements Collagen AND Gelatin into daily life!

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Our Best Nourishing Recipes With Collagen & Gelatin

• Salted Caramel, Chocolate, & Pecan Shake
• Magically Healthy Unicorn Frap
• Sugar-Free Dandy Blend Latte with MCT Oil
• Probiotic & Low-Carb Black-Bottom Raspberry Cheesecake
• Harry Potter Butter Beer
• Instant Pot Orange Creamsicle Custard Cups
• Keto Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake
• cake recipes from my eBook Sweet Without Sugar — currently 40% off!
• enter NOURISHING when you checkout to save 10% on ALL Perfect Supplements products!

Did you know the difference between these 2? Do you use one or both?

Originally published March 29, 2018. Re-published January 21, 2020, with new images and updated text.