What Is Collagen and How Broth Naturally Gives It to You

You know how collagen has suddenly become the Internet’s favorite buzzword?
From skincare to supplements, everyone’s talking about it - sipping it in powders, adding it to their smoothies, chasing the promise of glowing skin and healthy joints.

But before we jump on that bandwagon, let’s pause for a second.
What is collagen really? Why does your body need it? And can it come from something as simple and comforting as a bowl of broth?

Today, let’s dig deeper into all of the above questions, and how you can make it a part of your daily food in the most natural way possible - with Its Actually broths.

So, what exactly is collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body - the one that literally holds you together.

It’s found in your skin, joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, and even your gut lining. It’s what gives your skin bounce, your joints movement, and your body the structure it needs to function smoothly.

There are multiple types (Type I, II, III, IV, etc.), each with specific roles:

  • Type I: skin, bones, tendons

  • Type II: cartilage in joints

  • Type III: muscles, arteries, organs 

But like all good things, our natural collagen production slows down with time. Around our mid-twenties the body starts making less of it, that’s when you start noticing subtle shifts: skin feeling a little less plump, joints a little stiffer, recovery taking longer. 

Why Collagen Matters: From Skin to Joints to Gut

Collagen isn’t just a “beauty” protein. Its influence is widespread:

1. Skin, elasticity & aging

As we age, our body’s collagen production slows, leading to thinning dermis, sagging, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.
Collagen helps with hydration, reducing fine lines, and improving skin texture. 

2. Joint health & cartilage support

Joints and cartilage wear out over time. Collagen (and its derivatives like gelatin) are crucial components of connective tissue, ligaments, and cartilage. 

3. Bone strength & microarchitecture

Bone is not just mineral - collagen forms the organic scaffold upon which minerals deposit. Healthy collagen supports bone strength and resilience.

4. Gut & intestinal lining support

The gut lining and its connective tissue need collagen-derived amino acids (e.g. glycine, proline, glutamine) for maintenance, repair, and barrier integrity.

5. Other roles

Collagen also play roles in wound healing, vascular integrity, muscle tissue repair, and connective-supporting functions. 

Collagen, The Broth Way

When we simmer bones, joints, and connective tissue slowly with patience and purpose - the collagen within those bones gently breaks down into gelatin and amino acids like glycine, proline, and glutamine - the same building blocks your body needs to rebuild its own collagen.

That slightly jiggly layer that forms when your broth cools? That’s natural gelatin and a proof that your broth is rich in collagen-derived nutrients.

With Its Actually broths, collagen isn’t a trend or an add-on, it’s naturally drawn out through slow, mindful cooking. It’s real food, transformed through time and heat, in the same way our grandmothers once did it: pure nourishment, not a shortcut.