How to Stop Collagen Loss & Have Firm Skin for Life

As we age, we lose a lot.

Sometimes it’s good stuff (like bad habits!) Sometimes, we lose the things we once took for granted.

It’s no secret that as we age, we lose elasticity in our skin. Our skin gets thinner, stiffer and unable to flex with movement. 

Have you experienced this? 🙄

This blog explains the culprit of this loss as well as some tips on how to prevent it from happening.

THE CULPRIT

Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, is the main building block of skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels, gut tissue and tendons. As we age naturally, we start to produce less of this important protein. 😕

But we need it! Collagen creates beautiful skin and a healthy body. 

This post breaks down:

• The things you can do to prevent collagen loss

• How to increase collagen production, naturally

• Some tips for supplementing with collagen

WE NEED COLLAGEN

Collagen is necessary for a healthy body, and to:

1. Reduce The Appearance Of Cellulite And Stretch Marks

2. Improve The Health Of Hair And Nails

3. Heals Leaky Gut and Balances Hormones

4. Supports Heart Health

5. Reduces Joint Pain and Joint Damage

HOW TO STOP COLLAGEN LOSS

Did you know … we can speed up the decline of collagen production?

Our dietary and lifestyle choices play a huge role in exacerbating this.

Excessive levels of stress and toxins use up more collagen.

Stress also uses up your vitamin C stores like crazy, and you need vitamin C to make collagen!

So, let’s talk about some habits to adopt and prevent collagen loss:

• Eat more antioxidant-rich foods (to help heal your body and not use too much vitamin C)

• Eat more whole foods

• Eat more anti-inflammatory foods

• Eat more fiber and leafy greens to detoxify

• Develop a self-care routine that helps you lower stress (here are some resources on self care)

• Use more natural, non toxic makeup and skincare products (to avoid the chemical stress caused by many toxins in mainstream products)

• Make sure to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D because it helps lower inflammation.

3 WAYS TO INCREASE COLLAGEN NATURALLY

1. Protein

Your body needs amino acids to create this little, helpful protein.

Eat a wide variety of protein-rich foods, everyday. This can be both plant and animal sources; however, plant-based proteins, unlike beef and other types of meat, are anti-inflammatory and come with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to make collagen.

Quinoa is a great option because it’s one plant source of protein that contains all the amino acids and therefore, it’s a complete protein.

2. Vitamins and Minerals

You need vitamins and minerals to make collagen, especially vitamin C!

Minerals like zinc, copper and sulfur are also necessary for producing natural collagen.

Vitamin C sources: citrus fruits, bell peppers, dark leafy greens, berries, tomatoes.

Zinc sources: raw nuts and seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin, flax seeds, and so on), cacao powder (and dark chocolate with 70% or more cacao content).

Copper sources: avocados, shiitake mushrooms, potatoes with the skin.

Sulfur sources: garlic, eggs, cruciferous veggies (kale, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, arugula, collard greens and so on).

3. Collagen Supplements

Collagen supplements are a great way to ensure you have what you need. We’ll talk about them in a bit :) However, we believe you can get what you need by eating healthy and getting plenty of protein!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING COLLAGEN SUPPLEMENTS OR COLLAGEN POWDER

If you think you cannot make those healthy habitual changes above, consider supplementing with a pure, high-quality collagen supplement.

If you choose to use a collagen supplement, use the following tips to ensure you’re getting a good product:

• Prioritize quality over price

• Choose a powder that is made from organic, grass-fed cows

• Check the color and smell. If you buy plain, unflavored collagen it should be colorless and pretty much tasteless. If it looks off-color (brown or yellow) then you’re likely not getting the best quality

• Pay attention to the collagen “type.” Collagen in the body is broken down into various categories. The table below shows you a few of them.

COLLAGEN TYPE BENEFITS/USES

Type I - 90% of our collagen is Type I. Great for skin, bones, tendons, gut, ligaments, organs and teeth.

Type II - Builds cartilage and protects your joints.

Type III - Necessary for blood vessels and heart tissue. Also supports muscles and organs.

Type IV - Found in basal lamina, which is a thin, gel-like layer that surrounds our organs, muscle and fat.

Type V (5) - Necessary for hair strands, making the surface layer of cells and placenta tissue.

Type X (10) - Helps with making new bones and healing fractured bones.

Collagen supplements should list the type(s) that are in the powder, so if you have a specific need, buy a powder that lists the types that match your needs.

However, to cover all your needs, you’re better off buying a supplement that has multiple types.

COLLAGEN IN SKINCARE

You can absolutely stimulate collagen production using skin care products. Check out our online store and find natural, organic products that will boost your collagen production, here: SHOP FOR COLLAGEN

Let us know if you have any questions!

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Talk soon,

Beauty at the Lake