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Original poster

Ancient and brave. Collagen and creatine

51 replies

Fightingtobepositive · 31/07/2025 21:00

Has anyone tried these supplements? If so how did you find them… I’m 39 and feeling old stiff and unfit. Skin has dramatically changed over the last year, hairs thinner and more wrinkles. I need something to give me a boost. I already eat a relatively healthy diet.

OP posts:
Om83 · 31/07/2025 21:18

I’ve just finished my first month of True Collagen by Ancient and Brave. 42 and feeling achey, skin and hair looking worse… I have to say I am converted!! I feel fab, no more creaking and I don’t know if too early but I do think my skin is looking more radiant?? Nails definitely much stronger and growing like weeds. I know it takes hair 3-6 months for any changes to take effect. I’m not sure if this is just placebo but I also generally feel less anxious/better mood.

I am funny with tastes/textures so decided to try this as the reviews said you can put it in your tea- so I have 2 teaspoons of the powder in my tea every morning and can barely taste it (had tried one before that the powder went really clumpy 🤮)

Charabanc · 31/07/2025 21:29

How does it improve your nails and hair?

Om83 · 31/07/2025 21:38

@Charabanchair and nails are literally just excess protein, so the more protein you have in your diet the better these will be. I thought I ate enough but my nails are now are much stronger (harder?) so something has def changed and the only thing I have done differently is the collagen. We make less collagen as we go through peri/menopause so this is topping it up I guess. I do take a vitamin c tablet every day as well as that helps to build collagen. Will be interested to see how my hair is in a few months time.

WhiskyandWater · 31/07/2025 21:41

I am evangelical about the true collagen, been taking it for years and it’s massively helped my achey joints (surgical menopause and mid 40s), love love love it. Recently started the creatine, not sold on the texture as it makes my coffee not as creamy but tasteless and I’m hoping to feel results with it. I’m a big fan of this brand and know they do their own trials and have a respected nutritionist consulting.

Charabanc · 31/07/2025 21:42

Om83 · 31/07/2025 21:38

@Charabanchair and nails are literally just excess protein, so the more protein you have in your diet the better these will be. I thought I ate enough but my nails are now are much stronger (harder?) so something has def changed and the only thing I have done differently is the collagen. We make less collagen as we go through peri/menopause so this is topping it up I guess. I do take a vitamin c tablet every day as well as that helps to build collagen. Will be interested to see how my hair is in a few months time.

There is no collagen in nails or hair.

Keratin, yes. Collagen, no.

Charabanc · 31/07/2025 21:43

Also, the collagen you are paying for is not actually collagen. Because collagen does not pass through the stomach. It is amino acids.

Eyesopenwideawake · 31/07/2025 21:45

Blood tests are more pertinent than supplements.

londongirl12 · 31/07/2025 21:51

Creatine is 100% worth it. There’s been so many studies. It helps with cognitive function as well for women, it really helped with my brain fog. Just but plain creatine monohydrate. Doesn’t have to be expensive.

Collagen isn’t as clear in the research. Some people swear by it, some people don’t notice any difference.

Om83 · 31/07/2025 21:53

Charabanc · 31/07/2025 21:42

There is no collagen in nails or hair.

Keratin, yes. Collagen, no.

Show quote history

They are all broken down into amino acids, it’s not like you take keratin and grow more hair. Collagen is found in nearly all tissues in the body in some form. I know a lot about hair and read a well constructed study that showed that collagen can help improve the expression of different types of keratin, improve the strength of the different bonds in the hair, promote the connective tissue of the hair follicle providing nutrients via blood supply to the living cells at the dermal papilla, and alter lipids components that improve moisture and elasticity. So yes, the more detailed answer is yes, collagen will help hair.

MarvellousMonsters · 31/07/2025 21:54

Collagen supplements are a scam, collagen is a protein made up amino acids. When any protein enters the body it is broken down into amino acids and your body then builds new proteins, taking collagen specifically won’t result in that collagen being kept together and then sent to the site of need.

myplace · 31/07/2025 21:55

londongirl12 · 31/07/2025 21:51

Creatine is 100% worth it. There’s been so many studies. It helps with cognitive function as well for women, it really helped with my brain fog. Just but plain creatine monohydrate. Doesn’t have to be expensive.

Collagen isn’t as clear in the research. Some people swear by it, some people don’t notice any difference.

Any advice on amounts? I have a bottle of creative, I think. Wasn’t sure what to do with it. I get collagen, vary between beef collagen and marine collagen according to what’s on offer really.

Charabanc · 01/08/2025 10:52

Om83 · 31/07/2025 21:53

They are all broken down into amino acids, it’s not like you take keratin and grow more hair. Collagen is found in nearly all tissues in the body in some form. I know a lot about hair and read a well constructed study that showed that collagen can help improve the expression of different types of keratin, improve the strength of the different bonds in the hair, promote the connective tissue of the hair follicle providing nutrients via blood supply to the living cells at the dermal papilla, and alter lipids components that improve moisture and elasticity. So yes, the more detailed answer is yes, collagen will help hair.

Show quote history

Ooh, do you have a link to that study? Because the only reports I've found on collagen studies say that they are small, often funded by collagen supplement companies, and their "findings" are designed to put words and sentences into AI language models.

Original poster
Fightingtobepositive · 01/08/2025 15:16

Wow great replies. Thanks ladies. I think I’ll give both a go ☺️. I’ll go with ancient and brave unless there are any other recommendations?

OP posts:
sofaRunner · 01/08/2025 20:12

there are a lot of comments about collagen which I am watching closely but less on the effectiveness/purpose of creatine. What is it meant to do & is there any better clinical research about it working?

Original poster
Fightingtobepositive · 05/08/2025 08:13

Does anyone take the true collagen and creatine together?

OP posts:
myplace · 05/08/2025 08:32

I’ve no idea what to do with the creatine.

WhiskyandWater · 05/08/2025 08:52

Is there one combining them as that sounds much easier? I take both but not in the same coffee, I find the creatine a little gritty at times and my first coffee is sacred!

WhiskyandWater · 05/08/2025 08:53

myplace · 05/08/2025 08:32

I’ve no idea what to do with the creatine.

Shove it in a normal coffee or tea, dissolves really quickly

myplace · 05/08/2025 08:58

WhiskyandWater · 05/08/2025 08:53

Shove it in a normal coffee or tea, dissolves really quickly

Show quote history

How much, do you know? Mine is a liquid in a bottle. The kind body builders use, I believe.

WhiskyandWater · 05/08/2025 09:01

myplace · 05/08/2025 08:58

How much, do you know? Mine is a liquid in a bottle. The kind body builders use, I believe.

Show quote history

Ah sorry I was talking ancient and brave powder. Doesn’t the bottle have any instructions on it? I think I take 5g a day but I wouldn’t like to compare to a liquid.

Postandghost123 · 05/08/2025 09:13

I take both collagen and creatine, (the A&B one). Haven’t noticed a significant improvement in anything with the creatine but I’ll continue to take it. I just put both in my morning coffee and blend with a bit of hot water, and then top up with more water. The collagen is almost like a creamer and makes it frothy. Creatine dose is usually 5g which is a teaspoon.

myplace · 05/08/2025 09:24

Google found me this- in menopause it suggests a loading phase of 20mg a day for a week, then 5mg a day after that.

ETA link-
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15502783.2025.2502094#d1e385

Original poster
Fightingtobepositive · 05/08/2025 09:53

Ar great so it is an option, no I haven’t found one that combines both @WhiskyandWater

ok so obviously because I’m hooked on supplement reviews. More are coming up. Anyone tried Vivanmn?

im sick of feeling crap. I want to give something a good go, it’s just finding what’s right.

feeling like every bit of my body has symptoms at the minute. Even my teeth 🙈

OP posts:
faeriesandelves · 05/08/2025 11:18

I’ve been taking Ancient & Brave wild collagen for a while now. I love it and it froths up my protein shake. Just started on their Omegas too. Subscription option is great.

Charabanc · 06/08/2025 19:40

myplace · 05/08/2025 09:24

Google found me this- in menopause it suggests a loading phase of 20mg a day for a week, then 5mg a day after that.

ETA link-
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15502783.2025.2502094#d1e385

Edited

Take a closer look at that "paper". Check out the disclosure statement:

ASR serves as a scientific advisor for Alzchem and Create Wellness. SJE serves as a scientific advisor for Alzchem.

Guess what Create Wellness does? Sells creatine:

https://trycreate.co/

Guess what Alzchem does? Sells supplements.

https://www.alzchem.com/en/

Do not trust these "scientific papers".