All You Need to Know About Collagen

In simple terms, Collagen is the cement that holds your skin’s foundation together. Without its support, the skin would lose its strength, complexion, and will begin to sag and show wrinkles. So, if you’re looking to retain glowing skin and slow down the effects of skin ageing, collagen is the key to success.

If you’re in the dark about the subject, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about collagen:

What is Collagen and where it is found?

There are different types of protein in our body. Out of those, Collagen is the structural and most abundant type of protein found in human bodies. One adult person has more than fifteen different forms of collagen but we need not worry about all of them when it comes to anti-ageing skincare, as it concerns only three types of collagen in the skin.

Bones, muscles, teeth, tendons, nails, hair, cartilage, and importantly skin, include collagen in great amounts to provide the structure they need. When the time comes to refill your collagen supply to keep your skin looking young and vibrant, knowing where it comes from helps us understand where it might be lacking.

What are the benefits of collagen?

SKINCARE: Perhaps what our readers are most concerned with is the importance of collagen in caring for the skin. The form of collagen that supports the skin is full of thick fibres and it lifts the skin up by keeping it plump, radiant and healthy. Sufficient levels of collagen can help reduce wrinkles and other signs of ageing in your skin.

JOINT CARE: Collagen in cartilage supports the healthy functioning of your joints. It can also slow down the natural diminishing of joints.

GOOD FOR MOOD: This really is a multitasking protein as it not only improves the health of physical organs but also improves your mental calmness as well. Collagen reduces anxiety and plays a vital role in uplifting your mood from dull to positive.

STRUCTURING : Collagen provides structure to organs, bones, tendons, muscles and many more areas in your body.

HAIR AND NAILS :If you constantly battle with slow hair growth, once again collagen is the answer. It improves both hair and nail growth which helps young women to get a wholesome hair and shining healthy nails.

Collagen and Skin Ageing

This is a protein that is naturally developed in our bodies to provide us with all the nice benefits we discussed above. However, our collagen production declines as we get older. Gradually, it comes to a halt and the obvious signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles will start becoming very apparent. Luckily, our human bodies produce extra levels of collagen during our youth and it will continue to hold skin together for a brief period even after natural production stops.

However, you will need to take extra steps to preserve those collagen levels if you want to effectively fight against imminent skin ageing after your natural collagen production has halted. For example, eating healthy, avoiding alcohol and smoking, regular checkups of your skin and protecting skin from damaging skincare products are important measures to protect the existing collagen in your skin. It’s also important to protect the collagen in your skin from UV damage, so slather on your favourite sunscreen and remember to reapply it throughout the day.

How to increase collagen levels in your body?

Before the skin starts to tiptoe towards retirement, anyone can incorporate collagen into their meals and replenish its lacking supply. There are both natural foods and supplements that can slow the ageing process due to being great sources of collagen. As a general rule, high-protein foods and an antioxidant-rich diet will help supply the body with extra collagen and preserve the collagen already present in the body.

Fish and eggs are easy go to foods to supply the body with extra protein, but other lean proteins are also fantastic options, such as skinless chicken breast. In addition to high-protein foods, it is recommended to eat foods high in antioxidants as they can help protect your collagen from damage caused by free radicals. Incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet is the best way to achieve this, particularly foods such as avocados and berries.

Alternatively, collagen supplements are also readily available in the market today and you can select from a variety of flavours and brands. So, regardless of your dietary requirements, it’s possible to get the collagen you need for young, healthy skin.