The Easy Collagen Diet

If you asked me what the single most important thing is for your skin, how it ages and how it looks, my answer would be collagen. It’s also vital for your overall health and wellbeing. The bad news is that it declines at a remarkably early age and your body can’t produce it. The good news is that you can up your collagen levels by following the advice below. But first let’s look at what collagen is and why it’s so important.

Collagen is found throughout our bodies

It’s the most abundant protein the body contains and is the matrix that sustains its structure, maintaining cartilage, tendons and skin. It’s found in connective tissue, from muscles to those in the digestive system, and it comprises 70 percent of our skin’s protein.

It helps skin to stay soft and aids the renewal and repair of its cells

So, it’s no surprise that we can visibly see changes in our skin when collagen production begins to diminish. We lose elasticity, acquire wrinkles and even experience sagging, plus we begin to feel aches and pains in our bones and joints. Unfortunately, the loss of collagen begins early, as it starts to diminish by our mid- twenties.

It all heads south at a very young age

Added to this there are environmental factors that will hasten the process and further slowdown collagen production – poor nutrition, excessive drinking, pollution and too much sun, to name a few.

Collagen is, in fact, a compound of essential amino acids, which the body can’t produce.

The only way to get collagen is through your diet

So, as far as collagen is concerned, you really are what you eat. Keeping your skin firm and glowing starts from the inside, and it will be far more effective than any lotion or potion you can buy.

There are certain organs that will respond more to diet, and the effects will be clearly visible in the skin. Both the large and small intestines are crucial in releasing nutrients to the body. A good diet with enough fibre helps to get rid of waste in a timely manner. If the waste hangs around for too long, you can break out in spots and your skin will dull down.

The liver and kidneys filter impurities and need a nutrient-dense diet to function well. If this doesn’t happen, the skin will once again start to suffer. Added to this, the adrenals make essential hormones, which if imbalanced, can affect the skin and cause a host of other problems. And thyroid problems can lead to dry, dull and wrinkly skin.

Thankfully, there are certain foods and supplements that will help boost your collagen levels and make a visible difference to your skin.

 Top of the list for boosting collagen is bone broth

This is now considered a superfood as it’s so beneficial that it can help fight infection and soothe aching joints. Collagen leaches out of the bones as it slowly cooks down. If you make your own it’s best to use organic chicken or beef that has been grass fed. Bovine collagen is similar to the collagen found in your own body and is also available as a supplement. This makes it a lot harder for vegetarians to keep their collagen levels up because the best source of collagen is in animal bones. Thankfully, however, a good overall diet will benefit everyone.

Skin-boosting secrets

1. Look to your gut. Poor gut health will affect not only your skin but also your overall wellbeing. A diet with plenty of vegetables, good fats, enough protein and little sugar is a good place to start. You may want to take a probiotic as well.
2. Hyaluronic acid is another important compound for both collagen and skin. Found in many skin creams, it can also be taken as a supplement and is found in root vegetables and beans.
3. Antioxidants, in particular vitamin C, protect and help form more collagen. In fact Vitamin C is vital to prevent collagen oxidation.  Aloe vera, when taken orally, has been shown to hugely increase both hyaluronic and collagen production.
4. Processed foods and too much alcohol take their toll on many of your organs thereby slowing down the production of collagen.
5. Use meditation, breathing and mindful techniques to keep stress at bay. Stress is bad for just about everything, including collagen production and skin health.

My go to Collagen supplement is Collagen Shots by Rejuvenated. It’s made from marine collagen but they also do a vegetarian version called Veggiecol and the only vegan version I know of called Skin Perfecting Complex.

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Natural Health – The Easy Collagen Diet