From creams to injections, there are lots of products on the market that claim to boost your collagen production. But there are foods that boost your collagen production naturally, such as a collagen diet.
However, as it is with any diet, it’s important to determine if the collagen diet suits your nutritional needs. However, your collagen levels vary according to gender, age, and other factors.
What Is Collagen?
To get a better understanding of the collagen diet, let’s first understand what collagen is and how our bodies produce it.
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. And it does more that just help prevent the development of wrinkles. In fact, we can find collagen in bones, organs, muscles, and fats. Consequently, collagen is crucial to preserve the good health and strength of our bodies.
How Do You Know If Your Body Is Lacking This Protein?
As we age, collagen production decreases. Some of the signs of low collagen levels include:
- Muscle weakening
- Joint pain and related diseases
- Lack of flexibility in ligaments and tendons
- Wrinkles
An unhealthy diet coupled with aging, is one of the main reasons you may produce less collagen. Additionally, studies show that smoking also decreases the production of collagen.
Foods That Boost Your Collagen Production Naturally
The collagen diet consists of eating foods rich in protein that boost your collagen production. Given that collagen is a protein, we are likely to find it in products such as:
- Eggs
- Beef (including bone broth and gelatin)
- Chicken
- Fish (particularly dishes that contain fish skin)
Eating foods rich in protein is a good start to boost your collagen production. But there’s a caveat. In order for our bodies to absorb collagen, we need to consume minerals and vitamins. For example, copper, vitamin c, and zinc.
Ultimately, the older we get, the harder it is for our bodies to absorb collagen. Thus, aging requires us to make dietary changes that include such minerals and vitamins.
Here are some foods that can help with the absorption of collagen:
Vitamin C Foods
Obviously, oranges are a popular source of vitamin c. But there are other foods that are richer in vitamin c that oranges. For example, brussel sprouts, garlic, red bell peppers, kiwis, guavas, kale, and strawberries.
Foods High in Zinc
Albeit red meat is an excellent source of zinc, there are healthier, more earth-sustainable alternatives. For instance, nuts, legumes, and seeds. We can also get zinc from treats like dark chocolate.
Foods Rich in Copper
Certain seafoods, like oysters and lobsters, are rich sources of copper. Other foods include leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
As with any major changes concerning your body, we encourage you to first consult a healthcare professional.
Other Things That Boost Your Collagen Levels
Besides food choices, our lifestyle can also have a huge impact on the production of collagen. For instance, long-term sun exposure can negatively alter collagen levels. Also, stress and sleep deprivation affects the collagen production and skin health.
To sum up, if increasing collagen in your body, then lead an overall healthy lifestyle. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
If you’re looking to start eating healthy, Jane’s Cafe can help! We offer meal delivery service with tasty and nutritionally balanced food. For more information about our food, call (619) 380-2501. You can also order online.
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