Collagen Rich Foods

Collagen gives elasticity and structure to our skin. As we age our body produces less collagen thus making our skin thinner and wrinklier. Collagen supplements help one to keep up with the depleted stores of collagen in our body. But there are also certain foods that we can consume to provide collagen for our skin health. These foods boost our collagen production and create amino acids like proline, glycine and lysine important for collagen synthesis. High sugar intake and refined carbohydrates tend to cause inflammation and damage the collagen peptides. Try to include all these foods in your daily diet to benefit from collagen properties. However, collagen supplements tend to provide better results as it is difficult to incorporate and consume so many foods consistently. Collagen helps with digestion, muscles, joint pain and elasticity of the skin.

You can add these collagen-rich foods in your diet:

• Citrus Fruits: Vitamin C produces pro-collagen that is a precursor to collagen. So high intake of citrus fruits leads to more collagen production.
• Garlic: It helps in collagen synthesis while preventing the breakdown of collagen, due to the presence of high sulfur content.
• Leafy Greens: They contain antioxidants and chlorophyll that increases the precursor to collagen.
• Cashews: It contains copper and zinc that helps to produce collagen.
• Tomatoes: It contains lycopene that helps to support the skin.
• Chicken: It is a rich source of dietary collagen, and many collagen supplements are also derived from chicken. Although the cartilage and neck are a good source of collagen.
• Fish: The ligaments and bones of fish are made up of collagen, but parts of fish like eyeballs, scales and head are the highest source of collagen which we usually don’t consume. The fish contains less collagen with respect to these body parts.
• Bone Broth: It is made up of animal bones and contains collagen, glucosamine, amino acids, magnesium, calcium, etc. Use good quality bones for great benefits.
• Egg Whites: Proline in egg white helps in collagen production.