How come so many top-tier nutritional products, shampoos, body lotions, and other beauty products boast of having collagen in them?
There must be something special about this protein that makes it so popular in modern times. This article aims to briefly explain a 360-degree view of what is collagen and how it can be beneficial to both your skin and body.
Let’s begin!
What Is Collagen?
Ever thought, where does all the stretch and elasticity in your skin come from? Collagen is the key to answering this question. The term collagen comes from the Greek word “Kolla”, translating as “Glue.”
Collagen is the most prominent type of protein found in our body that helps provide structure and shape to bodily tissues. Besides, it is an important building block for many key parts of our body, including tendons, teeth, blood vessels, ligaments, and muscles. Our body needs a consistent supply of this protein to maintain the proper shape and strength in the parts mentioned above. The reduction in collagen production can cause various skin, tissue, and muscles problems.
Let’s find out where collagen comes from in our body and how we can obtain this crucial building block naturally.
How Can We Obtain Collagen Naturally?
Like many other proteins, amino acids form the building blocks for collagen. Our body needs two different types of amino acids, called Proline and Glycine, to produce collagen. Other minerals used in the process include copper, zinc, and vitamin C. Here are some important foods that can naturally help you produce these building blocks of collagen.
Glycine: You can obtain the required amount of glycine for collagen production if you regularly consume chicken skin, pork skin, gelatin, spinach, beef, and many other related products. You can check the complete list here.
Proline: You can extract the maximum amount of proline in your body by consuming egg whites, cheese, soy protein, whitefish, and various forms of gelatin. For a complete list, click here.
Zinc: Oysters, beef, crab, yogurt, cashews, oatmeal, milk, and almonds are foods you can consume to obtain the required amount of zinc. Here is the complete list of foods to eat in this regard.
Copper: Shiitake mushrooms, oysters, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, salmon, and avocados are some items that can help your body obtain the required amount of copper. You can check the complete list of foods here.
Vitamin C: You should consume strawberries, broccoli, blackcurrants, Brussels, sprouts, orange, and orange juice to meet your vitamin C requirements. You can check the complete list here.
Why Does Our Body Reduce the Production of Collagen?
Regardless of what you eat, the capacity of your body to produce collagen declines as a result of aging and many other factors, including excessive sugar intake, smoking, and exposure to UV radiation. However, that is not the end of the world. We can make up for the collagen deficiency in our bodies by taking collagen supplements.
How Collagen Supplements Benefit Skin and Body
- Collagen supplements can prevent bone brittleness by making bones denser. Your body can also produce new bones and heal the existing weak ones with them.
- Studies have shown that these supplements can improve skin elasticity and wrinkle-fighting abilities.
- Aging also results in hair loss and thinner hair. Regularly taking collagen supplements could help you deal with this problem.
- Taking collagen supplements for 2-3 months would help reduce osteoarthritis pain as it improves the condition of bones and joints in the body.
- In addition, regular intake of high-end collagen supplements results in healthier nails, teeth and improved muscle strength.
Collagen is a key protein in our body that helps maintain the strength and shape of many parts. Eating some foods mentioned above can help your body produce collagen naturally. However, you can use collagen supplements if the body reduces collagen production due to aging.
