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Natural Sources of Collagen for Skin Health

natural collagen source

Many people are looking for perfect anti-aging skin care routine. They use all sorts of face washes, creams, and supplements in the morning — possibly a night mask or a serum before bed. To get acid peels they go to spas or treatment centers or to cover up the wrinkles use makeup.

While there’s nothing wrong with any of this, you might get that all of these treatments are just are disturb your budget because they are more expensive. The good news is, you can save money by eating foods that help the body produce its natural anti-aging protein: collagen.

Collagen is the main structural and most plentiful protein in the human body. It is present in skin, bone, muscle and connective tissues and plays a key role in joint health and maintaining supple skin and softness. When we get older, our body produces less collagen.

But the speed of that aging process is different for everyone. How quickly we lose collagen differ with some factors including the environment and genetics.

So to make sure you’re giving your body the ingredients it needs to keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy and glowing, so take food which is rich in collagen.

What is collagen

Collagen is usually known as throughout the supplement industry for its anti-aging and beauty benefits. While these are definitely great benefit, it’s important to understand that collagen is far more than a beauty supplement.

Collagen is the richest protein in our body (present in all animals; richest protein in mammals). It’s the key component of connective tissue in our skin, bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, blood vessels, and gut.

Due to its amount throughout the body, our quality of life mainly depends on our ability to produce collagen.

In fact, the reason why collagen is generally glorified as an anti-aging supplement is because our body’s natural production decreases with age. In turn, the feature signs of aging (i.e., wrinkles, hair loss, joint pain, etc) are linked to a lack of collagen production.

Foods are beneficial to increase collagen production

Age isn’t the only erratic that dictate our ability to produce collagen. Most lifestyle option healthy or unhealthy has a great impact.

In short, unhealthy lifestyle selection (i.e. poor diet, high sun exposure, too much alcohol consumption, smoking) reduce collagen production. Result visible signs of aging show up earlier in life when we include these choices into our regular lifestyle.

Many people are looking for natural sources of collagen so they can obtain its benefits! As the richest protein in our body, collagen is important for:

  • Fighting signs of aging like wrinkles
  • Strengthening hair and nail
  • Reducing the appearance of cellulite
  • Improving joint health
  • Improving mental health
  • Improving metabolism
  • Healing leaky gut condition

Let’s take a look at some of the most potent sources of the nutrients we need. Below list of some foods we can eat to boost collagen production for skin health.

Best Natural Sources of Collagen for Skin Health

1. Water

The easiest and best way to supply collagen to the proteins in our body is drinking water. Water helps in getting rid of skin-damaging toxins and keep moisture. It also goes faster the fiber formation in the body and support the collagen, so as to plump up the skin cells. Water helps in filling the fine lines and wrinkles and thus, slowing the aging process.

2. Eggs

Eggs are another one of the remarkable foods that actually contains collagen in the yolk and eggshell membranes. In fact, due to their collagen substance, eggshell membrane supplements have become a very popular natural remedy for supporting joint health.

Eggs also contain sulfur; an outline mineral necessary for collagen production sulfur also supports liver health.

3. Citrus

Citrus fruits are sources of vitamin C which helps to keep the amino acids together. This process are needed to form collagen production.

As an antioxidant, vitamin C also protects against toxins found in our air, food and water supply that add to breaking down collagen and injurious the skin’s inner layer. For skin cell repair Vitamin C may also helpful and rejuvenation, that is why Vitamin C commonly added to skincare productions.

4. Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which as we know helpful to protect the skin from sun damage and prevent collagen breakdown. Tomatoes rich in variety of antioxidants (including vitamin C), which protect the skin at a cellular level, so try to include more in your diet. Adding tomatoes to your diet can help protect youthful skin.

5. Berries

Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries are all loaded with antioxidants. They fight  free radicals while boosting collagen. It is a food which is rich in vitamin C is shown to support collagen, as vitamin C not only support collagen production, but it soothe the collagen already in your body act’s been damaged.

Berries rich in a nutrient called ellagic acid, which has been shown to prevent collagen breakdown from UV damage like citrus fruits, berries contain vitamin C, which as you know, helps keep specific amino acids together for collagen creation.

6. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are one of the richest plant sources of zinc, which as mention above, acts as a cofactor for collagen creation. Studies have shown that consuming zinc supplements may help slow down the rate of collagen breakdown. Zinc also supports skin health.

Other plant great sources of zinc include kidney beans, spinach, garbanzo beans, walnuts, cashews, and almonds.

7. Avocados

Avocados is a food with powerful antioxidant benefits, it provide vitamin E, which may help prevent collagen breakdown and supports overall skin health.

8. Dark green vegetables

Dark green vegetables are some of the most nutrient-full superfoods. Dark green vegetables are potent sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E; all of which are very important nutrients for collagen synthesis.

Furthermore, dark green vegetables like spinach, kale, green beans, and broccoli among others rich in chlorophyll (color that gives plants their beautiful green color). Research have shown that chlorophyll increases procollagen (establish to collagen formation) in our skin, so we pick its beauty benefits as well.

9. Gelatin

Gelatin is another great source of collagen that many people gets as a powder to add to smoothies or in other meals to increase collagen intake. The good thing about gelatin is that it is easy for the body to digest and absorb.  A lot of people gain quick results by consuming gelatin.

10. Fish

Fishes, such as salmon, sardines, flounder are rich in zinc and supply collagen to the proteins. It also contains a sufficient amount of Omega-3 fatty acids which build healthy skin cells and provide a youthful glow. Fish is one of the best collagen-rich foods. They slow down aging and also help reduce inflammation and provide necessary amino acids to keep your skin firm and supple.

11. Almond

Almonds are perfect for the skin. They’re full with protein that supports collagen production, and pack of healthy monounsaturated fats, copper, zinc, calcium, vitamin B1, B5, B6, and vitamin E. Almonds are also a good source of magnesium, which can support your nervous system. Anxiety and stress can cause havoc on your skin, so it important to eat foods that are calming to the body, like almonds.

12. Sunflower Seeds

Ingredients like zinc and protein in sunflower seeds help to built collagen in the skin. They are also rich in magnesium and vitamins B1 which give us a healthy glow.

13. Spirulina

As we know that 60 percent of spirulina consists of amino acids: the building blocks of collagen. Spirulina is a great source of protein. In fact, one tablespoon of powdered spirulina helps the muscle-building nutrient.

14. Garlic

Garlic is rich in sulfur, a sketch mineral that has been shown to improve collagen synthesis. Sulfur also helps prevent the breakdown of collagen fibers, so it’s mostly beneficial towards preserving healthy skin and joints.

Natural Sources of Collagen: The bottom line

There are lots of foods out there that can help keep our skin beautiful and youthful from the inside out, but just getting plenty of these essentials will be a big improvement for most of us. It’s also important to stay away from foods and too much sugar and refined carbohydrates, which can cause inflammation and damage collagen.