Importance of Collagen for Health

What is Collagen?

Collagen is a protein that builds the structural components of our bodies. Muscles, bones, skin, blood vessels, and tendons contain mass amounts of these collagen cells. Without collagen these tissues fail to perform properly.

In our youth, we have abundant amounts of collagen protein cells in our bodies. But, as we age, a premature breakdown of these collagen protein cells starts to happen. To combat this, it is a good idea to eat foods that help us maintain our collagen cells.

How Collagen Loss Impacts Our Health

We can begin to experience pain when our collagen cells fail to produce healthy cells. This loss of collagen can cause the following:

• joint pain
• muscle soreness
• stiffness
• body aches
• weak tendons that no longer support our muscles and bones
• heart or chest pain (angina) when the heart muscle or blood vessels lose strength
• bone pain because bones rub together in areas with less collagen

Foods to Increase Collagen Production

Collagen is a very vital part of our health and it can help us maintain a pain-free life!

Here are some foods to include in your diet to start boosting your collagen production:

#1) Collagen Supplements

Finding a collagen supplement can be beneficial because it is a fast source of collagen for your body. Plus, it is easy to consume! You can find a collagen supplement in most health food stores.

#2) Antioxidants

Antioxidants are extremely beneficial in helping to protect against the breakdown of collagen cells. This is because antioxidants are free radical scavengers that protect against the damage that free radicals cause. They do this by donating electrons to unstable cells to make them stable. Otherwise free radicals will take electrons from other cells causing them to breakdown. You can help to slow down this process by eating foods that are rich in antioxidants like:

• Blueberries
• Elderberries
• Goji berries
• Kidney beans
• Cilantro
• Artichoke

#3) Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a necessary piece of the puzzle when it comes to the healthy production of collagen. It is needed to synthesize the protein.

Add a Vitamin C supplement to your diet and consume foods high in Vitamin C including:

• Citrus fruits
• Broccoli
• Sweet peppers
• Kale
• Brussels sprouts

#4) Collagen-Rich Foods

There are many foods that you can eat to help your body maintain and build healthy collagen cells.

Bone broth is an excellent way to get collagen. It is made from boiling the bones of animals, usually chickens or cows, for a very long time. This long and slow boil releases collagen into the water. Drink a cup of bone broth every day to enhance your collagen and health.

Other foods that help your body produce collagen include:

• Cabbage
• Red fruits and vegetables
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Flax seeds
• Walnuts
• Olives
• Avocado

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