How To Build Collagen

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that is abundantly found in vertebrates. The protein that makes up the biggest part in the human body is collagen. It makes up the bones, skin, tendons and cartilages. Because of being a constituent of the skin, collagen is what is responsible for your skin getting wrinkled with the passage of time or environmental impacts. Hence for those who wish to keep a healthy glowing skin or want to have marks of surgery removed, collagen is an area of special interest.

The beauty and health industry has offered a lot of solutions and products to help people build a healthier and richer collagen base. Of course, not everything you see on TV is good for you. There have been products out there such as ‘collagen powder', well...we'll never doubt their creativity that's for sure. The fact is the collagen is a fibrous protein that is found inside the body. Just like you sprinkle on new skin, you also can't powder on new collagen. It has to grow internally and then form the many organs it does. The race to find the best possible source for collagen is the one driven by human's desire to never grow old, or at least not let it show.

As we age, the body's natural ability to produce collagen slows down. This is what causes the wrinkles to appear as new skin builds slower than before and the elasticity of the skin reduces as well. But if we have a healthy nutritious diet, and a healthy lifestyle, the body's abilities can be greatly enhanced. Here are some foods that you should seriously incorporate into your diet to speed up the building of collagen.

1. Keep A Variety In Your Diet: a boring and monotonous diet will have a negative psychological effect on you. Make sure you eat a variety of foods, though be conscious about their nutritional value but never be afraid to experiment or try new flavors to your cooking.

2. Eat Multigrain Bread: multigrain bread contains a mineral, selenium, which stimulates the production of an enzyme called glutathione. Glutathione zaps free radicals which may enter your skin from pollution or cigarette smoke and cause the breakdown of collagen.

3. Oats: oats are a great health food and anti-aging food. Oats have the ever essential silicic acid that makes the layer of spongy cells between the collagen and elastin tissues. These are what make you hair and finger nails long and shiny. It also keeps the skin soft, supple and smooth.

4. Sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes: all three of these foods contain very active anti-oxidant pigments. The pigments gather under the skin and protect it against Ultra Violet rays. Carrots, apricots and peaches are also good for the skin and protecting collagen from breaking down.

5. Soya milk and lentils: soya milk and lentils give plant oestrogen which keeps the skin lubricated, soft and supple. They also help in the production of high quality collagen. Soya beans, tofu, soya yogurt, bean sprouts are also great sources of plant oestrogen.

• John Palsson
• 17/12/2008, 12:59 PM
• 0 Comments