Collagen rich food for healthy skin

What is this collagen and how can it help keeping the skin looking taut and smooth? That’s the first question that comes to mind reading the title of this article. Food enriched in collagen take a backseat for now as explanation of what’s collagen and its importance is the first order of business. Collagen is the stuff that gives the skin its structure and is found within the dermis below the outer most layer of the skin. Collagen is basically a protein type which along with keratin is responsible for maintaining the elasticity, smoothness and youthful appearance of the skin. Collagen is naturally produced in the body till a certain age but with advancing years the body loses its ability to produce it which results in wrinkles, sagging and visible telltale lines around mouth and eyes.

There are collagen enriched creams available in the market which claim to revitalize the collagen levels of the skin but unknown to many collagen itself is not absorbable by the skin due to its density. The next best alternative is to resort to food consumption which can restore collagen under the dermis. Here’s a look at the food which is vital for maintaining a healthy skin and contains a healthy dosage of collagen:

Dark Green Vegetables: Most of us (including me) have an aversion to green veggies. But coincidentally the green veggies are the nature’s potent collagen carriers. Chowing down on spinach, kale, cabbage, and cucumbers everyday would immensely benefit the skin. These veggies also contain antioxidants which hydrate and maintain the elasticity of the skin.

Dark Red vegetables: tomatoes, peppers and beets contain antioxidant named lycopene which acts as a natural booster of collagen in the body and also acts as a natural sun screen protecting the skin from harmful radiation. 

Egg whites and nuts: Adding egg whites to your diet is essential for increasing protein intake. You must’ve seen people who work out or professional bodybuilders recommending eating egg whites daily for protein intake but another huge advantage of egg whites is that they trigger body’s collagen production. The same effect can obtained from adding a variety of nuts like peanuts and hazelnuts to the diet. 

Prunes: Prunes and prune juice are famous for relaxing bowel movement and are signature old people diet. Prunes also have antioxidants which help fight off skin degrading free radicals. Making a habit of eating six prunes on an empty stomach is highly beneficial for the skin and digestive system.

Instead of opting for so called collagen enriched creams make a habit of including at least one of these foods (there are other food items that are also collagen rich) in your daily diet.