As we get older, the ability for our skin to behave the way it did in our 20s begins to diminish, which means less elasticity, more wrinkles and additional signs of aging. But what if there was a way your skin ailments can all be improved by the foods you put in your mouth?
Sounds crazy, but research has proven a direct correlation between the foods you put in your body and the skin that surrounds it. Of course, having a healthy diet keeps your body looking great and feeling healthy, but the effects just don’t stop there. The food you eat, ranging from the wrinkle and free radical-fighting antioxidants in fruits and vegetables to the hydrating healthy fats in fish, has an impact on your skin almost as much as it does to your waistline.
What Is Collagen?
If you haven’t heard of collagen before, it’s one of the most abundant proteins in the body that helps give structure to our hair, skin, nails, bones, ligaments and tendons. Thanks to collagen, we’re better able to move, bend and stretch. Collagen is also behind helping hair shine, skin glow and nails stay nice and healthy.
Collagen is an essential building block for the skin. It helps our skin stay toned and supple because it makes up to 70 percent of the protein within our skin, which in return helps our skin stay balanced.
The dermis, which provides the foundation for the skin, is closely involved in the skin’s elasticity and flexibility, and the main source of collagen in the skin. Getting an appropriate amount of collagen helps to ensure our skin looks glowing.
Collagen Rich Foods
As we age and the stressors of life set in, our collagen production is majorly impacted. Getting collagen in a balanced diet can help our bodies regenerate what’s been lost or broken down.
Try adding these foods into your diet to boost your body’s collagen content:
1. Oysters
Oysters are rich in minerals like zinc and copper, which both work together to activate the molecules that are required for collagen synthesis.
2. Leafy Greens and Citrusy Fruits
Vitamin C plays an essential role in collagen synthesis, and foods like leafy greens, such as spinach, arugula and swiss chard, citrus fruits and vegetables like broccoli, red peppers and broccoli rabe are filled with it. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, so you get the added benefit of protecting your skin from free radical damage as well, woo-hoo!
3. Meat
Our body can’t produce essential amino acids on its own, but the protein in meat can help us. Meats like beef and chicken also contain non-essential amino acids that can produce collagen.
These are just a few items to name a few that can help our bodies produce more collagen. In addition to these foods, you can also implement more bone broth, garlic, berries and fish to your diet to help enhance your body’s collagen production as well. So, the next time you feel like you have no other choice but to visit a plastic surgeon to schedule a botox appointment, just take a trip to your kitchen because what you’re looking for could be right in your fridge.
