The best natural sources of collagen in food that you must try!

I have something interesting to share with you! If you want a youthful appearance of the skin, read where you can find collagen in food. Increase its intake in a natural way!

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, especially type 1 collagen. It is found in muscles, bones, skin, blood vessels, the digestive system and tendons. This is what gives our skin elasticity and our body strength. When it comes to our joints and tendons, simply put, it is a glue that helps hold our body.

As we age, the production of collagen in our body naturally slows down. There are many lifestyle factors that contribute to the appearance of signs of aging and thus the reduction of collagen levels. These are, for example, diet, high sugar intake, smoking and a large amount of sunlight. Collagen-related diseases have been found to be most commonly caused by a combination of genetic defects as well as poor intake of collagen-rich foods that affect collagen production.

Aloe vera gel has long been used to treat various ailments as well as to treat e.g. burn.

How does aloe vera gel now relate to collagen?

This plant increases collagen production when applied topically or even orally. Aloe vera for the face as a mask can be applied directly to the skin in its pure form or you can buy it in a pharmacy or drugstore. There are studies that indicate that taking aloe vera orally improves the quality of the skin.

Foods rich in collagen

Blueberries contain phytonutrients that help collagen fibers stick together in a way that helps your body make collagen. They may be a little expensive, but they are rich in nutrients and definitely help maintain skin elasticity and natural collagen production. Blueberries contain vitamin C as well as antioxidants called anthocyanins that strengthen the connective tissue in your skin. This is first on the list if you want to increase collagen and preserve your youthful appearance.

Antioxidants - protect against free radical damage. Certain antioxidants improve the efficiency of collagen production and rejuvenate the skin. Include green tea, blueberries, cinnamon, basil, oregano and thyme essential oils, licorice extract, mulberry extract, yerba mate tea, pomegranate extract and astralagus in your diet. I know, you probably haven't even heard of all these plants, but they are real antioxidants that also help preserve collagen.

Kiwi - this fruit is also rich in vitamin C, which is very important for collagen synthesis. Antioxidant vitamins (such as vitamin C) are extremely important for neutralizing free radicals, which break down collagen and elastin.

Yogurt - this delicious food is an excellent source of riboflavin, which is necessary for proper collagen synthesis. Plus, yogurt also provides a delicious dose of protein. Well, come on! Yogurt, whether plain, tasteless or fruity, is a great choice because it is rich in nutrients and stimulates collagen production. If you use face yogurt, you will be delighted with the results.

Dark leafy vegetables - spinach, kale and chard are rich in vitamins C and A and stimulate the production of collagen in your body. So add these vegetables to the salad and you will notice the difference for sure. The role of vitamin C in collagen production is to interact with amino acids within collagen cells. It adds hydrogen and oxygen to these amino acids so that they can participate in collagen production. If you do not get enough vitamin C, collagen production will slow down. Retinol (a derivative of vitamin A) is another antioxidant that can increase collagen levels by blocking certain collagen-destroying enzymes.

Garlic is a food that contains sulfur and it helps in the production of collagen in the joints and skin. Garlic also contains taurine and lipid acid, which support damaged collagen fibers. Cabbage, onions and fish are also rich in sulfur. And best of all, these are all delicious foods, right?

Eggs and mangoes - eggs are naturally rich in amino acids, which are necessary for the formation of collagen. Mango, rich in vitamin C, works with these acids to stimulate collagen production.

Carrots - Orange vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, are rich in vitamin A, which restores and regenerates damaged collagen.

White tea - According to research, white tea can protect the structure of skin proteins, especially collagen. This tea is a little more expensive and like green tea, it is fermentable and very little processed. Its taste is sweet and bright. It contains less caffeine than other teas and contains more antioxidants than green tea.

That's it?

Of course not, but these foods are the richest in collagen and contribute to the natural production of collagen.

Healthy skin is a good indicator of how the rest of your body feels. There is no way to completely remove the signs of aging. It is much easier to protect your skin while it is healthy than to try to fix it later in life. Raising collagen levels naturally not only improves the appearance of your skin, but also the rest of your health. Opt for a balanced diet that contains collagen in food, proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A (which has an anti-inflammatory effect) and antioxidants, which fight free radicals and prevent the loss or degradation of collagen in your body. In the end, I believe that you have learned something new, and if you ask me, collagen will be researched as well as all its healing properties, and as you can see, there are really many healing properties of collagen.