So, you've probably heard all about skin creams that have anti-aging collagen in them… those don't work! And you might have heard about powders with collagen…those do work! (The difference is, the collagen must get into your bloodstream.) But today we're going to be talking about collagen rich FOODS.
Yep, the key to longevity for both skin and body is to eat collagen rich foods!
The reason that certain foods can boost your collagen production naturally is because the protein collagen is made up of a bunch of different amino acids, but three of those amino acids are necessary to start the PROCESS of making collagen. Those three amino acids are proline, glycine, and lysine. The first two are made in your body, but the last one is called an "essential" amino acid because it has to come from food. Your body is incapable of making it. (I wanted to mention this so you know why your diet is so important to collagen growth; it's because in order to make collagen at all, you have to be consuming foods with lysine in them!)
Meat (especially fish), cheese, and eggs all contain it. But for my fellow vegans, DON'T WORRY! Soy has it too, so tofu is also a rich source! Beans and Spirulina also contain lysine.
Basically, you can pretty much guarantee that any foods that are protein-rich also have lysine. And so if you're already boosting your protein for the gym, then you should have great collagen levels and supple skin without even thinking about it!!
But I know this wouldn't be much of a blog post if I was just telling you to eat more meat or tofu or whatever. So what are some TRUE SECRETS about collagen rich foods that will keep you forever young?
Well, some studies show that bone broth is a good source, because since you're simmering the animal bones in water, you extract the collagen from the bones. Other studies have shown that bone broth doesn't have any special effects on collagen production. But I say, since bone broth is good for you, there's no harm in trying! In addition to containing collagen, the bones have calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and amino acids.
Also, let's think a little outside the box here. One way to boost your collagen is of course by consuming collagen rich foods or powders, or by consuming the amino acids that help your body make collagen.
But you should also be eating a lot of vitamin C, because vitamin C quickens the production of collagen too. It triggers you to make something called pro-collagen, which then leads to collagen production. And even though oranges are a good choice, consider blueberries too, because they have antioxidants that will protect your skin even more! Double Trouble!
Leafy greens like spinach and kale have also been shown to increase your body's amount of pro-collagen, or at least that's what a study from the Journal of Lifestyle Medicine showed.
They had women over 45 eat more spinach and kale to increase the amount of chlorophyll in their bodies, and they noticed a marked improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!! The chlorophyll boosts levels of pro-collagen!
So I guess when it really comes down to it, maybe you're not learning much you didn't already know… That meat like fish, eggs, soy, beans, fruits like berries, and leafy greens are super good for you.
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