Ways to naturally boost collagen
Collagen is the largest and most abundant protein in our bodies, it's the ground substance, kind of like the ‘netting’ that lifts our skin . It's basically the building blocks of 'us', the glue that holds us together. In fact the word 'collagen' derives from the Greek word 'koala', meaning 'glue'.
How to Naturally Boost Collagen
Collagen is secreted by a variety of different cells, but primarily by connective tissue cells. While young, the body consistently produces collagen but production naturally declines with age, reducing the structural integrity of the skin and leading to the formation of lines and wrinkles and sagging skin. In fact - collagen levels start to deplete from around the age of 20 - yes 20! And by the time we hit 40 - we’ve lost a third of our natural collagen.
So how can we naturally boost our collagen levels? Here are five top tips:
- Practise facial massage daily. This can stimulate collagen production and strengthen muscle memory as well as boosting blood circulation. Use an upwards massage movement for best results
- Don’t waste lots of hard-earned money on topical collagen creams. This is because the collagen molecule is actually too large to penetrate the skin. Instead choose a product that contains aloe vera - it’s known to be a carrier which penetrates the dermis of the skin for hydrating results.
- You are what you eat! Foods that are rich in sulphur like beans, cabbage and garlic aid the formation of collagen and also maintain healthy pigmentation. Vitamin C is also needed to support collagen formation so opt for broccoli, spinach and fruits rich in Vitamin C.
- Cut the two ‘S’s. Smoking and Sugar. They age the skin by eating away at proteins and restricting the blood flow, resulting in dry, leathery skin.
- Keep well hydrated - drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to promote healthy, hydrated skin and aid the collagen formation.
And finally - take Absolute Collagen! The ingestible hydrolysed marine collagen peptide supplement is proven to travel to the fibroblasts under the skin and promote natural collagen production as well as replacing it!
