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Collagen is a protein that our bodies make naturally. It keeps our skin elastic, our bones strong, and our joints moving smoothly. As we get older, our bodies make less collagen. This can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. Luckily, many foods are rich in collagen. Eating these foods can help boost your collagen levels. This can improve your skin, joints, and overall health.
Top Foods to Boost Collagen
Here are seven surprising foods that are packed with collagen:
Bone Broth
Bone broth is full of collagen. It helps keep your skin looking good, your joints healthy, and your hair shiny. It also gives you energy and helps your body heal.
Bone broth is made by cooking animal bones in water for a long time, up to 24 hours. This breaks down the collagen into amino acids. Your body can then use these amino acids.
The easiest way to enjoy bone broth is to drink it. You can also use it as a base for soups or other dishes. It can also be used to marinate meats or fish before cooking. You can even add it to rice or pasta while it’s cooking.
Spirulina
Spirulina is a great source of collagen. A study found that spirulina has a lot of collagen. It has more than many other foods, including fish. Spirulina is a blue-green algae.
The best way to eat more spirulina is to add it to smoothies. Spirulina has a mild taste. It mixes well with other ingredients without changing the flavor. To save time, prepare your smoothie ingredients ahead of time. Then, you can quickly blend them in the morning.
Sardines
Sardines are full of collagen. Collagen helps keep your skin, hair, and nails healthy. It also keeps your joints and bones strong. More collagen means better health.
Sardines have omega-3 fatty acids. These reduce swelling in the body and improve joint function. Sardines also have vitamin A and vitamin B12. These vitamins are important for skin health and reducing wrinkles. Sardines are also a good source of protein. Protein helps your body build muscle.
Try eating sardines to add more collagen to your diet. You can buy them canned or fresh. Add them to sandwiches or salads.
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of collagen. They have all the amino acids needed to make collagen. Eating more eggs can make your body stronger, including your skin.
Enjoy eggs in many ways. Try them over easy on toast or poached with tomatoes and basil.
Organ Meats
Organ meats are a good source of collagen. They also have many other nutrients. A study found that eating organ meats regularly can improve joint health and reduce pain from arthritis. Organ meats have glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. These help rebuild cartilage and repair damaged joints.
Eating organ meats every day may not be appealing. You can replace them with bone broth. This way, you can still get the benefits.
Skin-On Chicken
Chicken skin is one of the best sources of collagen you can eat. It helps keep your skin healthy, elastic, and plump. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen helps boost cell growth in your body. It also helps repair damaged tissues, including bones, ligaments, and tendons.
Chicken has protein. This helps muscles recover after exercise. It also has vitamin B6. This helps with energy production in the body.
Shellfish
Shellfish is a good source of collagen. Collagen keeps your skin and joints healthy. Shellfish also has selenium. This helps your body make antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells from damage. Shellfish also has vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids. These help keep your mood stable and improve brain function.
Enjoy shellfish in many ways. Sauté it over pasta, fry it with eggs, or season it with herbs and spices.
Food vs. Supplements
Is it better to get collagen from food or supplements? The best way to get collagen is from food. However, this is not always possible. Supplements can be a quick and easy way to make up for not eating enough collagen-rich foods.
Try to add some of these collagen-rich foods to your diet.
Not sure how to get started? Try adding one new collagen-rich food to your diet each week.
Conclusion
Adding collagen-rich foods to your diet can have many health benefits. These foods can improve your skin, joints, and overall well-being. Try incorporating these seven foods into your meals to boost your collagen levels.