Plant-based collagen does not contain actual collagen, yet they contain the amino acids needed to make collagen and vitamin C. However, it depends on your body's ability to produce collagen, which can be hindered by smoking, exposure to toxins, chronic illness, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Some collagen-rich vegan sources include nuts, seeds, soya foods such as tofu and beans. For more on this, including non-vegan foods, check out our article on 7 collagen rich foods.

You can also experience digestive problems as a side effect of taking collagen. Some of the symptoms you may display include diarrhea, constipation, and heartburn, alongside feeling bloated and having a reduced appetite. Chemical additives, particularly in supplements, greatly contribute to these reactions.

Vegan collagen can be considered safe to use. In all of the scientific studies discussed above, no significant side effects were observed in participants taking supplemental collagen, and the same goes for VeCollal's own studies into their vegan alternative product³.