There are some great foods with collagen for skin that you can easily increase or incorporate into your daily diet.
First, let’s look briefly at what collagen is for the skin and then the list.
What is Collagen for Skin?
Collagen is a fibrous protein that is a key to the strength in our skin.
Further, this protein helps skin tissue withstand stretching.
Collagen is naturally located in the third layer of skin below the Cuticle and Epidermis. Refer to image below.
Because of a loss of collagen and elastin, the Dermis layer breaks down (yellow section).
The breakdown of the Dermis causes the Epidermis and the Cuticle to sink, resulting in wrinkling and sagging of skin.
Adding collagen internally and/or topically helps build the dermis layer of the skin.
Collagen naturally builds the dermis layer back up to firm skin and creates stability in the dermis layer reducing wrinkles. This is why collagen works for skin tightening.
What Foods Help Build Collagen?
This list of foods is from Michelle Lee’s book The Young Skin Diet. For her scientific research and a very informative read on skin, get her book from Amazon here.
chicken
chicken contains the compound choline which forms collagen
chickpeas
chickpeas contain hyaluronic acid and silica. both of which are used to manufacture new collagen and keep existing collagen strong
cucumbers
a source of bioaccessible silica, cucumbers strengthen connective tissues, including the collagen matrix in the skin which is comprised largely of silica
green beans
the plentiful and bioavailable silicon found in green beans is abundant in collagen proteins
strawberries
antioxidant strawberries help prevent oxidative stress. oxidative stress degrades skin collagen
cabbage
cabbage has strong antioxidant activity for the skin which improves collagen and elastin levels
oranges
vitamin c forms pro-collagen which the body uses directly to manufacture collagen
eggs
amino acids in egg whites reduce inflammation and help collagen formation occur more efficiently
Love Your Skin
By increasing or adding food with collagen for skin into your daily diet, you will begin to see improvements.
You will find, eating foods with collagen benefits will improve texture, firmness and overall glow.
Keep in mind that our skin regenerates every 4 to 8 weeks.
To see measurable improvements, continue to eat the foods on the collagen building list for at least 4 weeks.
The key to loving your skin is working both internally and externally with the body for beautiful results.