What is natural collagen? Natural collagen is a family of proteins found throughout the body, including in the skin. As we age, we begin to lose natural collagen in the body and its quality and quantity decreases. It also decreases due to various environmental stressors. This is why collagen supplements have become so popular. You can’t open a social media app without hitting an ad for a collagen supplement or someone extolling its benefits.
Do collagen supplements work? It appears that collagen supplements can go to the skin after they are consumed. They can improve or eliminate some wrinkles and can improve skin hydration. Many people put a lot of emphasis on taking collagen supplements for skin health and miss the bigger picture, the more scientific picture. Therefore, this post aims to simplify and clarify certain processes.
Natural collagen and the sun
The most important thing you need to do in caring for your skin is to protect your skin from the sun. Don’t tan too much. Basically, by tanning you destroy your collagen. Even if you’re snacking on collagen jellies and drinking collagen shakes, the moment you go out in the sun and even more so without sunscreen and without a hat you’re essentially wasting time and money spent on collagen supplements. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun, activates enzymes that process collagen. Ultraviolet radiation also generates a lot of micro-damage in the skin, which further weakens collagen. So when you’re outside, make sure you not only wear sunscreen, but also wear a hat and seek shade.
Natural collagen and smoking
If you smoke cigarettes you are destroying your collagen. Tobacco smoke is one of the fastest ways to age. Skin studies show that people who smoke in their 40s look like they are in their 70s. Why? Compounds in tobacco smoke accelerate tissue destruction and reduce collagen levels.
Natural collagen and environmental pollution
Are you sitting in traffic? This you need to know that traffic-related air pollution can and does contribute to visible signs of aging, including the destruction of collagen by generating free radicals, air pollutants, deposited on the skin. Of course, you can’t avoid pollution altogether, but one small thing you can do that is important in your skin care routine to reduce the likelihood of pollution damage is to wash your face at the end of the day to somehow reduce the load of particulates on the surface of your skin.
Do you use a moisturizer? The moisturizer will improve skin barrier function and minimize the penetration of some of these particulate pollutants.
Natural collagen and menopause
Menopause is a time in our lives when estrogen levels drop, estrogen is indeed very important for the health of women’s skin. In fact, it is very important in collagen synthesis. As estrogen decreases, we see more visible signs of skin aging. How to avoid menopause? Unfortunately, you can’t avoid it, it’s part of life. But you can talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy. Talk to them about the risks and benefits to determine if this is something that is right for you. However, one of the benefits of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women is rejuvenation, skin appearance, healthier skin, stronger skin and stronger skin barrier, better natural collagen.
What about men? Could men wear estrogen cream? Will it make a difference in the appearance of their skin? Research shows that it won’t really matter. Why is this important? Applying estrogen cream to the skin will not undo the damage, it only helps resolve the menopause-related part of skin aging in what is known as estrogen-deficient skin.
Natural collagen vs. stress and lack of sleep
If you’re under chronic stress, you know that it inhibits immune function, impairs healing and ultimately reduces the skin’s ability to repair damaged collagen and generate new collagen. So if you want more natural collagen stop stressing so much. It really makes a huge difference, not only to the health of the skin, but also to the health of the whole body. Studies suggest that people who are under chronic mental stress suffer from more chronic conditions. One thing that goes hand in hand with stress is sleep. If you are sleep deprived, you are harming your collagen. You will not have good quality collagen. We already know that people who are chronically sleep deprived have a higher risk of chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, have an increased risk of overall mortality.
The average adult needs seven to nine hours of restorative sleep. If you are sleep deprived then know that you cannot replace the damage caused by chronic sleep deprivation simply by taking supplements. People who are sleep deprived have more visible signs of aging. They have deeper wrinkles, drooping eyelids, sagging skin. Everyone knows that when you don’t sleep well at night, you wake up with a worse appearance. And this is a reflection of the fact that sleep is so important for skin healing, repair and regeneration, including the production of good quality natural collagen.
Natural collagen and diet
If you don’t eat fruits and vegetables, there is no point in consuming collagen supplements. If you are not following a diet of fruits and vegetables, you are really missing out on good quality vitamin C, vitamin C from fruits and vegetables. And vitamin C is essential for the body’s natural collagen production.
People who consume fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C not only have fewer signs of aging, but also have a reduced risk of cancer. What about vitamin C supplements? Can I just take a supplement because I don’t like vegetables? Unfortunately, just taking a vitamin C supplement will not provide what the body needs. When it comes to protecting skin health, vitamin C is like a key factor, a key factor in collagen synthesis.
People who follow a diet rich in legumes and olive oil show fewer signs of collagen loss, wrinkle-forming diets that are worth controlling are those rich in fat, carbohydrates, dairy and butter. Another aspect of your diet is sugar intake; a diet rich in processed foods and containing sugars contributes to weaker collagen synthesis.
People who eat a lot of sweets throughout their lives have more visible signs of skin aging, followed by poor collagen quality.
List of healthy foods rich in natural collagen
Collagen is a very important protein that makes up 25 to 35% of the human body. It is used to maintain youthful and healthy looking skin. Collagen is also used to build teeth, tendons, hair, arteries, cartilage, skin, lymph and cellular networks in internal organs. Unfortunately, most people lose collagen because we tend to eat too many unhealthy foods and sugars, which damages aging collagen, and vitamin deficiencies can also reduce collagen levels in the body. Below you will find a list of products, regular consumption of which will slow down the aging process and protect the body from wrinkles, hair loss.
Bone broth is by far the best source of collagen you can consume. The bones boil for a long time, which causes the collagen to be released into the water and become gelatin. When we drink gelatin, the body breaks it back down into collagen and smaller peptides and uses them to create cells, tissues, hair and skin.
Blackberries and dark berries are rich in pigments called anthocyanin. They help to quickly increase collagen production in the body. Blueberries, in particular, are rich in nutrients that improve the health and glow of the skin. They also reduce the formation of wrinkles.
Oysters. These crustaceans are rich in minerals, especially zinc and copper. They activate proteins and molecules necessary for the synthesis or production of collagen in the body. In particular, zinc activates collagen.
Egg yolks are also rich in healthy fats and vitamin D, which helps bones and skin as well as muscles
Wild salmon is rich in vitamin A, which, in an active form called retinal vitamin, activates genes that trigger collagen production. This is especially important in building soft, moisturized skin
Goat cheese. This is another rich source of vitamin A, which accelerates collagen production. The body also needs saturated fats for collagen production. So cheese, butter and fatty fish are excellent for this task.
Broccoli. Many people are deficient in vitamin C because they do not consume enough vegetables. If you lack vitamin C, your body is unable to absorb collagen. Broccoli is one of the best sources of vitamin C, which also acts as an antioxidant, protecting the skin from free radical damage.
Apple cider vinegar. Those who suffer from indigestion, gas or acid reflux often have low levels of stomach acid. If you have low stomach acid, you can’t digest collagen, drinking a glass of water with two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar strengthens the stomach and allows you to absorb more nutrients
Butters. The body uses saturated fats and proteins to produce collagen. Butter provides the raw materials for building collagen. It is also rich in vitamin A, which activates collagen production at the genetic level.
Mineral water, good quality mineral water every day can help the body produce connective tissue.
Raspberries, are another source of anthocyanins, vitamin C and antioxidants for rapid collagen production. Add a small handful to your lunch each day to boost your immune system and energy levels.
Sunflower seeds, vitamin E is also a very important collagen builder, especially if you are going through menopause, sunflower seeds are one of the richest sources of vitamin E, which protects the skin from aging.
Olive oil often referred to as the healthiest fat on earth. There is no doubt that olive oil has a powerful effect on the body. It is loaded with vitamin E, which improves skin health and collagen production. It also reduces inflammation in the body, which naturally slows down aging
Gelatin can be used to increase collagen levels in the body. It comes in powdered form or as gelatin leaves and can be eaten as delicious jellies. It is extracted from animal bones, similar to bone broth.
As you can see, there are many foods that can be consumed to increase the production of natural collagen in the body. These products also often reduce the appearance of wrinkles, which rebuild sagging skin. The above products improve skin elasticity and regulate sebum production, make the skin look younger. Try to eat a handful of seeds and nuts every day to boost vitamin E levels.
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