10 Collagen-Packed Foods That Slow Down Aging

Aug 16, 2018

Maintain tight, supple skin and healthy joints by eating plenty of collagen. Collagen is a protein that keeps your skin smooth and elastic, and your joints cushioned and flexible. Collagen accounts for 30 percent of all protein in your body. Endogenous collagen is your body's naturally produced form. Exogenous collagen is a form obtained from external sources, such as supplements. Collagen production slows as you age, resulting in saggy, worn-out skin.

You can keep your skin looking healthier and younger by consuming tons of collagen-rich foods. Here's a list of tasty favorites to get you started.

Foods That Help Your Body Make Collagen

Pumpkin seeds belong to a group of superfoods that stimulate the natural synthesis of collagen in your body. Pumpkin seeds contain zinc, which slows protein breakdown and speeds the regeneration of your skin.

A daily dose of 2 tablespoons does the trick. Enjoy them fried or tossed with a salad.

Tomatoes promote collagen synthesis within your body. They also protect your skin from UV-related damage, thanks to a wonderful antioxidant called lycopene. Baking tomatoes maximizes the available lycopene. If baking isn't an option, enjoy one glass of tomato juice daily for similar benefits.

Stock up on leafy greens and other green veggies, such as broccoli. Green veggies contain chlorophyll, a pigment and antioxidant that blocks the sun's harmful effects on your skin. Chlorophyll also multiplies concentrations of procollagen in your skin. Procollagen is a collagen precursor, helping your body easily create collagen to strengthen skin and joints.

Foods That Support Collagen And Skin Hydration

Connective tissue, held together by collagen, requires moisture to remain elastic, smooth and tight. Enter chia seeds. Chia seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s hydrate and rejuvenate skin cells, namely fat-soluble skin cell membranes. Skin that is well hydrated at the cellular level looks bright, healthy and less wrinkly. Shoot for 7 ounces of seeds daily. Sprinkle chia seeds in your baked goods, smoothies or cereal.

Foods That Protect You From Collagen-Killing Toxins

Don't skip the OJ at your next breakfast or brunch. The vitamin C in citrus fruits helps your body manufacture proline. Proline is an essential chemical for collagen production. Vitamin C is also one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. It shields your skin from oxidative stress (free radical damage), leaving your complexion youthful and luminous.

Berries treat your skin to ellagic acid. Ellagic acid enables your body to prevent collagen degradation in response to UV light. If you're over 18, nosh on at least 2.5 ounces daily.

Foods That Are Direct Sources Of Natural Collagen

Feed your need for frittata, quiche and egg salad. Your appetite and your skin thank you in advance. Eggs contain pure, real collagen as well as sulfur. Sulfur supports collagen production and detoxifies your liver, helping your body release toxins that destroy collagen. Eggs also supply more of the omega fatty acids that keep your skin baby soft, bouncy and resilient.

Two eggs daily are still the safest recommendation. However, you're welcome to more if your overall diet is low in saturated fat and your lifestyle is relatively stress-free.

Rejoice! It turns out that guacamole is a scrumptious, unsung savior to your skin. Maybe not guacamole, but avocado, the star ingredient, contains tons of vitamin E. Vitamin E fights free radicals that cause wrinkles. It also forestalls collagen loss. Experts recommend a mere half of an avocado daily, but who on earth can stop at just a half? Feel free to indulge. It's for a good cause.

Bone broth is essentially collagen rendered in liquid form. The fat and collagen from connective tissue within bones forms the congealed layer that appears on top of cooled homemade broth. Typically, you scrape this layer off. However, new bone broth products available over the counter (OTC) contain all collagen and little to no fat. Gently warmed bone broth also hits the spot during cold winter months. Sip plain bone broth, or use your favorite OTC bone broth as a base for smoothies, soups and stews.

You don't need expensive turnaround creams to keep your skin tight and right. Nature packs her own face-firming remedies into a variety of tasty foods. Plus, each food has a host of other beneficial compounds to keep your complexion flawless and fabulous.

What are your thoughts on using collagen-dense foods to fight aging? Do you have any personal testimonies or experiences? Maybe you know of some other foods we forgot to mention? Tell us all about it or offer any reactions and comments. We would love to hear what you have to say.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!