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Collagen and youthfulness
Collagen is a protein that forms the connective tissue in us. Collagen production begins to drop at the age of 25, and continues to decline at a rate of 1-2 percent per year thereafter. In your 30s and 40s, your skin begins to lose its elasticity, especially during the first five years of menopause, when women’s skin loses roughly 30% of its collagen.
The importance of collagen is that it provides the strength and flexibility to animal’s skin, bone, and other connective tissues. It also helps with healing wounds.
Collagen also helps to keep cartilage, the rubbery tissue that protects your joints, in good shape. As the amount of collagen in your body diminishes as you get older, you’re more likely to develop degenerative joint illnesses like osteoarthritis.
What happens if collagen production reduces?
Below are a few things that you’d notice when your collagen production has slowed down.
Wrinkles and fine lines
The breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin causes fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen and elastin provide skin its support structure, allowing it to stay smooth and resilient. The skin begins to lose its strength and suppleness as these fibers break down.
Dullness and dry skin
Dehydration, lifestyle choices, and cutting corners with your skin care routine can all contribute to dull skin. Fortunately, you can take efforts to improve your skin’s natural shine.
Uneven skin tone and age spots
Uneven skin tone can be caused by a lack of calcium, iron, Vitamin A, E, or B complex. You may correct uneven skin tones by taking care of your skin and, if you don’t already have one, by starting a proper skin care program. We’ll go through a few products that can help you get immediate, long-lasting results.
Collagen loss can be accelerated or slowed
You’re probably aware that beyond the age of 30, your body starts to lose collagen. After a few years, the impacts start to show up.
Despite the fact that this is a normal process, UV exposure, pollution, unhealthy behaviors, and poor nutrition choices may hasten it.
What are the factors that cause collagen loss?
Air Pollution
By impairing collagen synthesis, air pollution can lead to skin inflammation and aging. This is a problem that many people in urban areas suffer on a daily basis, but it is possible to reduce the negative effects of it by taking the right vitamins and eating a healthy diet.
Smoking
Smoking raises MMP levels, which causes collagen, elastic fibers, and proteoglycans to degrade, implying a biosynthesis-degradation imbalance in dermal connective tissue metabolism. Tobacco smoke-induced premature skin aging also involves reactive oxygen species.
What is proteoglycans? It’s a compound consisting of a protein in connective tissue. Proteoglycans provide tissue with hydration and swelling pressure, allowing it to tolerate compressional stresses.
Ultraviolet rays
UV exposure can hasten the breakdown of collagen at a faster rate than normal aging. It accomplishes this by entering the skin’s main layer (dermis) and generating an unnatural elastin accumulation.
Stress
Cortisol, the stress hormone, can break down collagen and elastin in the skin, causing wrinkles. Chronic stress, for example, has been shown in studies to have negative impacts on skin aging and the formation of wrinkles.
Caffeine
Caffeine inhibits the production of collagen in human skin. So you might want to reconsider your morning coffee or carbonated beverage. Chocolate-covered coffee beans, coffee, energy drinks, espresso, sodas, green tea, black tea, dark chocolate, coffee liqueur, and baked goods containing chocolate are all high in caffeine.
How to slow down collagen loss?
To slow down collagen loss you will need to increase protein intake with the right type of food and supplements. Also, add Cod liver oil (Fish oil tablets) to your diet on a daily basis. Remember to avoid prolonged activity under the direct sun, especially during noon and afternoon.
Here are some fruits and vegetables that help boost collagen production:
- Tropical fruits (mango, kiwi, pineapple, guava) Beans
- Berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
- Leafy greens (Gotu kola, salad leaves spinach)
- Citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, limes)
- Bell peppers
Drinking tea is best way to get the maximum out of the collagen in your body. Antioxidants are compounds that aid in the body’s defense against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that have the potential to do harm to the body. Although not all antioxidants will increase collagen formation, they will assist the collagen that is already present in performing at its optimum.
You can find antioxidants in:
- Cinnamon
- Green tea
- Coffee extract
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Potatoes
In addition to the above mentioned, Vitamin C also is essential in protecting the skin and creating additional collagen. That’s why most celebrities take a Vitamin C tablets regularly. Also it’s better if you can take these important vitamins through your standard diet as well.
You can also find vitamin C in:
- Broccoli
- Strawberries
- Papaya
- Leafy vegetables
- Citrus fruits
Collagen is a structural protein present in the skin that gives strength and suppleness. Collagen heals aging damage such as wrinkles and skin thinning.
Collagen is necessary for healthy skin and youthful appearance. Collagen is present in foods such as fish, poultry, and cattle, but it is also available as a supplement. It also helps to cleanse and strengthen the immune system.
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