Is collagen the new buzz word in wellness?
Most likely made most famous in its injection form, collagen has a reputation as solely a lip plumper. However, it actually is naturally one of the most fundamental ingredients in your body. This structural protein makes up around 30% of our connective body tissue and is found in joints, ligaments and your skin.
Collagen is what gives skin its natural elasticity. It is like the glue that holds all your cells together and keeps them in place like scaffolding to provide strength and structure. It also is a natural protector, as it can defend against toxins, cancer cells and other damaging elements. It’s one of the many reasons it’s not only found in your skin but also in the protective layers on your organs.
There’s a catch though -- as you age, you’re going to lose a lot of that natural collagen, the production of this essential protein begins to slow down. Thus, reducing the structural integrity of the skin which leads to sagging, the formation of lines and wrinkles and also the weakening of cartilage in joints.
As you and your body begin to mature, it’s more important than ever to replenish your natural collagen.
Below are a few ways to preserve your current amount of collagen and to produce more.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FREE RADICALS
Free radicals can cause damage to parts of cells such as proteins, DNA, and cell membranes by stealing their electrons through a process called oxidation. Beware of substances such as fried or processed foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides, air pollutants, high sugar consumption and many more. Also, avoiding extreme sun exposure and especially artificial sunlight will do wonders for keeping your skin elastic and plump. We all know that wearing sunscreen and protecting your body from UVA/UVB rays is one of the most important ways you can combat not only skin cancer but also overall aging, as sun exposure can degrade your natural collagen.
Protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun with a sunscreen from our partners in wellness Coola or Kerstin Florian.
To protect from free radicals, supplement your own collagen and support new collagen production we like Fountain’s The Phyto-Collagen Molecule. This is a concentrated beauty supplement with Hydrolyzed Collagen, Wild Phytoplankton, L-Glutathione (a powerful anti-oxidant) and a Hyaluronic Acid (will keep you super hydrated) matrix to keep you looking youthful from within.
SUPPLEMENTS + BOOSTERS
In the past, our diet included foods that may have contained more collagen, such as homemade broth or stock. When you boil a whole chicken or simmer beef bones, the jellylike substance that rises to the top is collagen. It's been suggested we have created our own collagen deficit by eating a lot of boneless, skinless chicken. As of late these broths are making a bit of a comeback with restaurants that purely serve bone broths. Let’s hope it’s a trend that sticks around!
If you’re not getting the right nutrients in your diet to produce collagen, there are plenty of supplements available on the market. But keep in mind, ingesting collagen to get more of it may not do the trick, as once digested your body won’t be able to tell the difference between that and any other protein that you would digest, such as meat, cheese or eggs. The key to getting collagen through supplements is making sure the supplement contains Vitamin C, as it is vital for collagen production.
We like The Beauty Chef’s Collagen Inner Beauty Boost. Specifically formulated to address skin firmness, fine lines, free-radical damage and aid skin maintenance, COLLAGEN BOOST contains a blend of Certified Organic maqui berry, acai, papaya, blueberry, goji-berry and pomegranate powders with grape-seed extract, zinc and vitamin C. Boosting natural collagen formation from the inside, the potent formula is also rich in antioxidants to help combat cellular damage and support healthy skin, hair and nail growth.
Additionally, The Beauty Chef’s Glow Inner Beauty Powder and the COLLAGEN BOOST make for a great combination. GLOW POWDER helps synthesize collagen in the skin and helps contribute to normal skin function as well as support digestive health. These two together are a true skin savior.
TOPICAL SOLUTIONS
Moisturizers and serums containing collagen along with other nutrients can help nourish your skin. Vitamins A, C and E all help in anti-aging and keeping the skin healthy, A - being one of the most powerful anti-aging ingredients—retinoids, C - helping encourage collagen production and E- offering overall protection from UV damage.
One of our favorite collagen boosting serums: red flower’s illuminating rose collagen renewal face serum instantly boosts circulation and plumps skin with a rush of rejuvenating whole rose essential oil concentrate. This serum’s arctic berry complex consisting of cloudberry, raspberry and cranberry are super-fruits, rich in vitamin C, omega 3, 6 and 9, ellagic acid, antioxidants and vitamin E to slow the production of melanin, accelerate collagen production while improving moisture and elasticity. Umm…I’ll take a gallon!
And while trends + buzzworthy ingredients may come and go, your care for preserving your natural collagen should become a priority. Your skin + joints will thank you in the long run!