Collagen is the newest fountain of youth. Health advocates swear by its ability to keep the body strong and your skin glowing. This makes sense when you consider the fact that collagen is one of the main components that make up the deeper layers of our skin, as well as the scaffolding that holds the tendons, bones and joints of your body together.
Unfortunately, as time goes on, you start to lose a little bit of collagen, especially once you hit your 20s.
Since collagen is what makes the skin nice and plump, we want to keep producing it. That’s why we’re happy to share tips on how to promote collagen production in the body as well as important information to understand about collagen supplements.
The Benefits of Collagen
We all want to age in reverse like Benjamin Button, but Mother Nature seems to have other plans.
So, what can you do to get rid of those pesky wrinkles without going under the knife?
If the latest studies into collagen are to be believed, ingesting this superfood can do wonders for the health of your skin while promoting overall vibrant health.
A 2014 study involving young women between the ages of 35 to 55 showed that taking an oral supplement of collagen peptides can significantly improve skin elasticity within just two months.
The participants in the study were split into two groups. Half of them were given collagen peptides to take at a dose of 2.5 to 5 grams per day, and the others received a placebo.
Yet another study showed that taking just 1 gram of a collagen supplement for 12 weeks can increase collagen production by 6%, reduce skin dryness by 76%, and wrinkles by 12%.
Collagen has also been shown to have high amounts of protein and it’s good for your gut health.
In addition to the studies cited above, we all know someone who has tried collagen supplements and praises it for making their skin brighter while evening out fine lines and wrinkles.
How to Increase Collagen Production
When you ingest collagen orally, your body breaks it down into its building blocks. Your body then determines where it’s going to send those building blocks and how it’s going to use them.
That’s why ingesting collagen can end up impacting your bones, muscles, joints, ligaments and of course your skin.
If you’re looking for more of a local effect in a specific problem area, then it might be helpful to look for creams and serums that contain an ingredient called peptides. When you rub collagen peptides into the skin, they help to boost collagen in that specific area.
Also, what you put into your body in terms of diet affects your overall health and the health of your skin.
The body needs vitamin C to produce collagen. That’s why you should eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C every day and get your daily 5 each day.
Citrus fruit, sweet potatoes, and red peppers are all great sources of vitamin c.
They’re essential for building the tropoelastin in your skin which is a precursor to collagen production. The daily recommended intake of vitamin C is 75 to 90 mg per day. This translates to 3 to 5 servings of fruit per day.
Something else that’s critical to forming elastin and collagen is certain microminerals, specifically zinc, copper and manganese.
These are found in leafy green vegetables like kale and salad green and you can also get them from pineapple and mushrooms.
To support collagen production in the body, you also need to take in a good amount of phytoestrogens that help to balance the hormones. Flax, flaxseed, pecans, cashews and almond are excellent precursors to helping you produce your elastin and collagen.
The omega 3s in these foods help to support overall skin health and can help you to get tighter skin.
Don’t forget to take a good multivitamin and look for the best marine collagen supplement to improve results. Look for brands that are reputable and have a solid track record.
Most collagen supplements are flavorless so they’re easy to mix into whatever you’re eating. All you have to do is sprinkle the fine white powder into your breakfast oatmeal or yogurt. Or you can stir it into your morning tea or coffee.
What You Do Daily Counts
Over 90% of skin aging is attributed to excess sun exposure. Most of it is preventable. All you have to do is wear a sun hat and sunglasses when going outdoors in the summer, and apply sunscreen of up to SPF50.
The Final Word
As we age, one of the first visible signs of change is our skin, and that is due in large part to a loss of collagen and elastin.
While aging is inevitable, the good news is that you can preemptively prevent the loss of collagen and elastin, and protect yourself from certain aging factors.
You can preserve your collagen by eating well, getting enough sleep every night, avoiding smoking, and making sure to use sunscreen.
Additionally, you should supplement a healthy lifestyle by taking a powerful collagen supplement to promote the production of collagen from the inside out.
Trust me, your skin will thank you.
