Is There Mercury in Marine Collagen Peptides Powder?
Marine collagen peptides are a great source of anti-aging protein. Peptides are small protein molecules so they are especially bioavailable and marine collagen peptides in particular have been studied extensively with results demonstrating that peptides from marine collagen offer powerful benefits to kin health. Even better, they don't have a trace of fishy taste!
But it does come from the sea, which begs an important question: does marine collagen contain mercury?
We’re happy to say marine collagen does not contain mercury. Mercury mostly accumulates in fat tissue, and marine collagen is free of fat – it’s pure protein, with any toxins or impurities carefully removed. Here’s a closer look at mercury and collagen.
In this article you will learn:
- How does mercury build up in fish?
- Why marine collagen does not contain mercury
- How we test our marine collagen for purity
How Does Mercury Build Up In Fish?
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that concentrates in natural deposits in the earth (it’s common in coal- and iron-rich land, for example). When humans process coal or mine iron near an ocean, they often disturb mercury and release it into the water.
Algae are excellent at absorbing mercury. They suck it up out of seawater and store it in their cells.
The trouble is that algae are the foundation of the ocean’s food chain. Small fish eat the algae and absorb the mercury within it. Fish absorb mercury easily and excrete it very slowly. That means every time a small fish eats algae, it takes on a little more mercury. Then larger fish eat the small fish, absorbing all of their mercury. The mercury continues up the food chain, to larger and larger ocean predators, and eventually to your dinner plate.
Fish at the top of the food chain usually contain the most mercury, because they live the longest and eat a lot of smaller mercury-laden fish. That’s why you should be cautious about eating large fish on a regular basis - you don’t want that mercury transferring to you.
Mercury, even in the smallest amounts, can cause serious damage to your nervous system, your digestive and immune systems, and on your lungs, kidneys, and eyes. And mercury and other heavy metals are a huge threat to the development of children in utero.
Be mindful of eating too much tuna, shark, halibut, and other top-of-the-food-chain fish. Instead, go for low-mercury seafood like salmon, cod, anchovies, sardines, shrimp, and tilapia.
Why Marine Collagen Does Not Contain Mercury
Mercury is highly fat-soluble. Almost all of it ends up in the fat cells and organs of fish.
Marine collagen comes from fish skin and scales. There’s hardly any fat in it to begin with, and whatever fat there is comes out during processing. The result is pure protein, without the mercury attached.
How We Test Our Marine Collagen for Purity
At Natural Force, we hold quality above all else. That may sound like a marketing gimmick, but it’s not. Our marine collagen is made from sustainably, wild caught cod and we have a third party test it to ensure it’s free of toxins and other junk, including mercury.
Don’t take our word for it - have a look for yourself. Here’s the purity test for a recent batch of our marine collagen. You’ll find that everything (mercury included) goes well beyond safe levels.
Whether you use our marine collagen or another source’s, keep quality in mind. Write in and ask for lab samples. Supplements don’t have much regulation; it’s important to make sure you’re getting what you pay for, that it’s pure, and that you’re giving your body what it needs to be the healthiest version of you.
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