Nutriting nuCollagen

What is Nutriting nuCollagen?

It is a hydrolysed bovine collagen powder with a single ingredient, providing 90 g of protein per 100 g. No flavourings, no sweeteners, no preservatives, no additives: the tub contains nothing but collagen peptides.

That simplicity is the product's main selling point, and it has a direct consequence: the powder is neutral in taste, which makes it undetectable in a coffee, a juice or a smoothie. The manufacturer states a composition free from gluten, lactose, soya, nanoparticles, GMOs and preservatives.

On sourcing, the French brand states pasture-raised cattle in Brazil, with testing and packing carried out in France. We report that information exactly as it was passed to us, without adding any verification we have not carried out. The rest of the range can be found in our Nutriting section.

What does a daily serving contain?

* Columns calculated from the values declared per 100 g. The net weight of the tub does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer: divide the weight printed on the packaging by your daily serving to work out how long it will last you.

Here is what genuinely sets this product apart from the rest of the category: the manufacturer publishes an amino acid profile. Few brands do so for a collagen, and yet it is the only way to compare two powders seriously.

* Column calculated from the ranges declared by the manufacturer per 100 g.

This table tells you exactly what collagen is, and why it does not replace a conventional protein. Glycine, proline and hydroxyproline alone account for close to half the weight: these are the amino acids characteristic of connective tissue, and they are very different from those in a whey. The flip side is that collagen is low in tryptophan and its profile does not support muscle building in the same way. Those 13.5 g of protein are not 13.5 g of whey.

One regulatory point needs stating plainly: no health claim is authorised in Europe for collagen peptides. You will therefore read no promises here about joints, tendons or skin. We describe a composition, an amino acid profile and a way of using it — that is all the framework allows, and it is already more than most competitors publish.

How should you take nuCollagen?

Dose: 10 to 15 g, or 2 to 3 teaspoons. Liquid: 200 ml. Timing: in the morning on an empty stomach, or after training. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: the manufacturer recommends a course of at least 2 to 3 months, repeatable all year round without a break.

The flexibility in preparation is real: water, juice, smoothie, coffee or tea, hot or cold. A collagen hydrolysate does not coagulate with heat, unlike a whey, which forms lumps and froth in a scalding liquid. The morning coffee remains the most convenient vehicle, and since the powder is neutral it does not change the taste.

One tip from the manufacturer that is worth knowing: in a plant-based milk, leave it to stand for ten minutes if lumps appear. The powder finishes dissolving on its own, with no need to blend it.

On duration, let us be blunt: two to three months minimum is the real commitment. This kind of product cannot be judged in a fortnight, and there is nothing to feel straight away. If you are not prepared to keep it up for three months, buying it does not make much sense.

Finally, vitamin C is the logical companion to this powder — not as a marketing argument, but because it is the only nutrient in the category to carry an authorised claim in this area: vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage, bones and skin. This product contains none; if you are not taking any elsewhere, that is the addition to consider.

Who is this collagen right for, and who is it not right for?

It suits anyone who wants a powder with nothing in it: no flavouring, no sweetener, no filler. That is the best profile for anyone mixing it into a coffee or into something already sweetened. It also suits anyone who wants to be able to compare what they are buying — the published amino acid profile makes that possible, which is rare.

It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the hydrolysate is of bovine origin, and there is no such thing as plant collagen, whatever you may read elsewhere. The manufacturer states the absence of gluten, lactose and soya, which makes it an option for anyone intolerant to those three.

Nor is it suitable if you are looking for a powder that tastes pleasant drunk on its own in water: neutral does not mean nice, and a plain collagen powder has a faintly meaty aftertaste that only disappears once you mix it into something else.

The manufacturer states that it is not aware of any specific contraindication in pregnancy, while still advising that medical advice be sought first; it asks that the product be kept out of the reach of young children and that the recommended daily dose not be exceeded.

What you should not expect from it: nothing immediate, and nothing promised. No effect is felt with this kind of product, and nobody can guarantee you a result without stepping outside the regulatory framework — and we will not do that. What we can honestly say is this: the composition is clean, the amino acid profile is published, the dose is clear, and that is what separates this product from an anonymous collagen. If your joint discomfort is persistent or painful, it is a matter for your doctor, not for a tub of powder.

nuCollagen or a joint complex?

That is the real trade-off for anyone buying collagen with their knees or shoulders in mind.

A product from the glucosamine category generally combines glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM in capsules, at fixed, known doses, taken two or three times a day. It is the better choice if you would rather swallow a capsule than prepare a drink, and if you want to target that particular family of compounds precisely — capsules need neither a shaker nor preparation time, and they slip into a bag.

nuCollagen takes the other route: a powder, a 10 to 15 g serving, a published amino acid profile, and a flexibility of use that a capsule does not have — in a coffee, it asks nothing extra of you. At 90 g of protein per 100 g, it also delivers a quantity of material on a completely different scale from a few hundred milligrams of actives in a capsule.

The honest thing to say is that neither of these two categories has an authorised health claim in Europe where joints are concerned. Deciding on the basis of promises therefore makes no sense: decide on the basis of format, dose, and your ability to keep it up for three months. Some of our customers add a turmeric to one or the other; there again, with no authorised claim, that is a personal choice, not a prescription.

Frequently asked questions

What dose should you take each day?

From 10 to 15 g, or 2 to 3 teaspoons, in 200 ml of liquid. That works out at 9 to 13.5 g of protein. The manufacturer does not impose a single dose within that range: start at 10 g and go up to 15 g if you want, bearing in mind that the tub will last you less time.

Can it go in a hot coffee?

Yes, without reservation. That is one of the practical advantages of hydrolysed collagen: it does not coagulate with heat, whereas a whey poured into a scalding liquid forms lumps and froth. The taste of the coffee is unchanged, as the powder is neutral.

How long does a tub last?

The net weight of the pack does not appear in the data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot calculate it without risking an error. Divide the weight shown on the packaging by 10 or 15 g depending on your serving. Over a two to three-month course, reckon on between 600 g and 1.35 kg in total.

Why is the amino acid profile given as ranges?

Because this is a product of natural origin, whose composition varies slightly from batch to batch. Publishing a range rather than a single value is more honest than a round number, and it is already far more than the majority of brands in this category publish, as they give no amino acid profile at all.

Can collagen count towards my daily protein?

No, or only very marginally. Collagen is low in tryptophan and its amino acid profile does not support muscle protein synthesis the way a dairy or egg protein does. Count it as a targeted intake for connective tissue, not as part of your 1.6 to 2 g of protein per kilo of body weight.

Should it be combined with vitamin C?

It makes sense, and for a specific reason: vitamin C is the only nutrient to carry an authorised claim on normal collagen formation. This product contains none, unlike some competitors. An orange, a kiwi or a supplement will do — there is no need to buy a collagen that is already fortified if you are taking some elsewhere.

Should you take breaks between courses?

The manufacturer states that the product is compatible with year-round use without a break, and recommends a course of at least two to three months. It therefore imposes no break. That is consistent with the nature of the product: these are amino acids, not an active molecule that needs cycling.

Where can you buy Nutriting nuCollagen?

The tub can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. This is a product to be judged on its label rather than on its taste, and its label is among the most complete in the category.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is in fact the demonstration we give most often in this category: turn two tubs of collagen round side by side and look for the amino acid profile. On one it is printed; on the other it does not exist. Then you will know which one you are paying for. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.