Collagen is a little-known yet all-important type of protein your body makes to keep you running smoothly. There are actually sixteen forms of this protein, some of which are stronger than steel.
Unfortunately, your body makes less collagen as you get older. Smoking and over-exposure to UV light can also inhibit collagen production in your body. That’s why people turn to products such as Primal Harvest Collagen to get an extra collagen protein boost.
Primal Harvest Collagen proclaims that it offers untold benefits. These include strengthened bones and joints; healthy, glowing skin; and balanced gut and liver health. Are these claims true? Can they be verified? Read on to discover what Primal Harvest Collagen offers to see if it’s a good fit for you personally.
How this Review Works
Let’s start by taking a look at how this review will work. I’ll begin by listing the main pros and cons of buying and using Primal Harvest Collagen. Next, I’ll go over all the ingredients in the package so you know what you’re ingesting if you decide to buy it. If there are proven benefits or downsides of consuming any of these ingredients, I’ll list them as well.
Finally, I’ll have a look at cost, taste, and ease of use. I’ll rate Primal Harvest Collagen on a scale of one to five so you can see if it’s a good investment of your hard-earned cash.
What is Primal Harvest Collagen?
Primal Harvest Collagen is made from bovine peptides. Put simply, this means that it comes from collagen that’s been extracted from cow skin. Cow collagen is not only healthy but is also very similar to what your own body makes.
The collagen is then formulated using SOLUGEL technology. This creates a fine powdered mix that can be used with ease. You can add it to any hot or cold beverage or blend it in a smoothie.
Primal Harvest Collagen is made for adults over the age of 18. Pregnant and nursing mothers and individuals taking medication may want to get medical advice before using it. It can also cause allergic reactions in some people (more on this below).
The Pros
- Primal Harvest ensures its products are made solely from grass-fed cows that have not been treated with hormones or antibiotics
- Primal Harvest Collagen has all nine essential amino acids your body needs on a regular basis
- Primal Harvest Collagen contains a whopping 9 grams of protein per serving, which is amazing considering each serving is a mere 10 grams.
- Primal Harvest Collagen has only trace quantities of sodium – a mere 20 mg per serving
- Primal Harvest Collagen contains over a dozen other amino acids that offer multiple health benefits (more on this below)
- It’s dairy, gluten and fish-free, making it a good option for those who are allergic to these substances.
- The company recently switched to eco-friendly packaging that uses 80% less plastic than the previous package type
- Primal Harvest offers a 90-day guarantee on Primal Harvest Collagen if you buy it from the Primal Harvest website
The Cons
- It’s not exactly cheap
- It’s not really “neutral in taste” (more on this below)
- Primal Harvest Collagen is made in a facility that also processes tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy. If you have a nut allergy, you may want to avoid this product altogether.
Ingredients and Features
Bovine collagen is the sole ingredient in the package. However, it contains a host of amino acids that are worth careful analysis. These are:
- Alanine
- Arginine
- Aspartic Acid
- Cysteine
- Glutamine Acid
- Glycine
- Histidine
- Hydroxylysine
- Hydroxyproline
- Isoleucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Proline
- Serine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Tyrosine
- Vanile
The Essential Amino Acids
Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and vanile are vanilla essential amino acids. Your body can’t make these important components on its own. You can only get them by eating foods that have these amino acids. Each of these amino acids play a vital role in keeping you mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy.
Histidine helps your body make red and white blood cells. It also improves digestion, enables your body to repair and grow tissue, and removes excess metal from the body.
Lysine helps maintain healthy blood vessels. It’s good for your heart and helps your body absorb calcium and produce antibodies. It’s particularly important for bodybuilders as it helps to combat fatigue while building muscle protein.
Phenylalanine is a controversial amino acid as some people have a bad reaction to it. However, you have to eat huge quantities of phenylalanine to hurt yourself. Phenylalanine, like all other essential amino acids, offers some amazing health benefits. It’s a mood-booster as well as a memory-booster. It also helps your body absorb Vitamin D from the sun.
Methionine helps you break down fat and build muscle but it’s not just for bodybuilders. This amino acid also helps detoxify your liver and boosts energy levels. It’s also been used to treat depression and arthritis.
Leucine regulates blood sugar levels. It also enables your body to grow and repair tissues, bones, and skeletal muscles. It helps your body heal from injury, prevents breakdown of muscle tissue, and regulates energy levels.
Isoleucine has all the same benefits as leucine. At the same time, it’s also a powerful healing agent. It helps your body form hemoglobin, a vital red protein that carries oxygen from your lungs to all the other parts of your body.
Valine helps your body grow and repair muscle tissue. It also maintains the nitrogen and glucose balance in your body. However, it can be dangerous for anyone who has liver or kidney problems.
Threonine keeps your liver working well and boosts your immune system by helping produce antibodies. It helps your body absorb nutrients form your diet and has been used to improve mental health in those who suffer from mental health issues.
What about the “Non-Essential” Amino Acids?
The “non-essential” amino acids are vitally important. The only reason they’re not considered “essential” is that your body can make them on its own to some degree. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need an extra boost of these amino acids from time to time. A health problem may require a boost of a particular amino acid. Aging can impact your body’s ability to product a needed amino acid. Boosting your amino acid intake can spell the difference between great health and mediocre or even poor health, as long as you don’t overdo.
Let’s have a look at what some of the other amino acids listed above can do for your health.
Alanine helps your body convert sugar into energy. It also plays an important role in processing B vitamins, boosting immunity, protecting cells from oxidative damage, maintaining normal cholesterol levels, and building and repairing muscle tissue.
Arginine helps your kidneys eliminate west and maintains your immune system. Evidence suggests that it’s good for your heart but more studies are needed to verify this. It also helps wounds heal faster than they would have otherwise.
Aspartic acid is credited with boosting energy levels, increasing muscle strength and size, and boosting athletic performance. However, not enough scientific research has been done to confirm its benefits.
Cysteine is an amazing amino acid with a plethora of health benefits. It’s used as a natural treatment for diabetes, flu, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, angina, and osteoarthritis. Some say it can help your body eliminate toxins and even prevent colon cancer.
Glutamine Acid regulates cell growth and keeps your immune and digestive systems in good working order. Your body also needs it to keep your brain functioning properly. Unfortunately, it can cause negative side effects when taken in supplement format. Primal Harvest Collagen contains 1,000 mg of Glutamine Acid per serving so if you get a cough, indigestion, fever, or hoarseness after using it, the glutamine acid is likely to blame for your problems and you may need to find a different form of collagen that does have so much glutamine acid.
Glycine is good for your heart and helps your get a good night’s sleep. It also prevents muscle loss.
Proline helps in the formation of healthy skin, bones, and cartilage. Your body needs it to keep joints and tendons functioning smoothly. It’s also good for your heart, helps your tissues recover from injury, and boosts energy production.
Serine boosts mental health. It helps produce serotonin, a chemical compound made in your body that improves your mood and helps you get enough sleep a night. It reduces inflammation, strengthens muscle fiber, and improves energy levels. It’s also good for your immune system. However, it can have negative side effects if you ingest too much. Common problems include an upset stomach, diarrhea, and constipation.
Tyrosine helps your body produce melanin, the skin pigment that gives your skin its color. It also produces and regulates hormones and has been credited as a natural remedy for ADHD, depression, heart disease, stress, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
How I Rate It
Now that I’ve covered the health benefits of primal harvest collagen, let’s take a look at a few other important factors:
Ease of Use
I would give it three out of five stars. Primal Harvest states that the product can be used in just about any beverage; however, a number of users have pointed out that it clumps up when added to hot drinks. What’s more, it thickens drinks as well, making it a poor addition to your morning (or afternoon) coffee.
Sadly, Primal Harvest Collagen also gets mediocre marks for taste. Poor flavor is the most common complaint found in negative reviews on Primal Harvest Collagen. Some have compared the flavor to cow’s hooves while others say it tastes like a rear-end. While most people give the flavor good marks, bear in mind that Primal Harvest Collagen doesn’t include sugar or artificial flavors.
Features
I would give it a five-star rating. The amazing benefits of the many amino acids included in the package are just too good to pass up. Furthermore, I’d like to point out that I haven’t been able to find a single negative review from a person who has tried it for three months (as recommended on the package) and hasn’t experienced the many health benefits the product offers.
Value for Money
Primal Harvest Collagen gets a five-star rating for offering great value for the money spent. True, it’s not cheap; however, you can get a discount by using a Primal Harvest Collagen discount code or ordering in bulk from the company website. Shipping is free for orders over $75 (on the Primal Harvest website) and all orders come with a complementary immune-boosting recipe e-book.
Science
The benefits of collagen and amino acids are well-known and scientifically proven. These vital compounds do improve skin, hair, and bone health. However, the use of amino acids in supplement format to treat various conditions has not been thoroughly studied. Most of the evidence is anecdotal or comes from limited research. Put simply, don’t expect Primal Harvest Collagen to prevent and/or cure complex health problems on its own.
The Verdict
Primal Harvest Collagen isn’t for everyone. People with certain health conditions and/or allergies should avoid this product or at least consult a doctor before using it. However, most people will find that Primal Collagen Harvest has a lot to offer. Its taste may leave something to be desired but its many health benefits are well worth the cost. This is especially true if your body’s collagen production is diminished for one or more reasons.
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