As we grow older we begin to notice those dreaded wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin appearing. It’s a time in our lives we certainly don’t look forward to. If your close relatives had a great deal of wrinkles, chances are you will too. If you sun bathe often, you’re at even more risk of aging faster and having to deal with these undesirable flaws. When these unnerving signs of aging occur, we often feel helpless in trying to regain our beautiful resilient skin back. Our skin’s elasticity and firmness comes from, and ultimately revolves around, extracellular proteins called collagen type 1. These essential amino acid enriched proteins that act as supportive connective tissues are located just below your outer layer of skin. As you age, and particularly around the average age of 35, your collagen production will gradually decrease. When you lose collagen, your skin thins and wrinkles will appear. When your collagen breaks down, your skin is weakened and sagging occurs. We all love smooth firm radiant skin and it’s understandable why we’d be weary of going through the trial and error process of experimenting with all of these new unpredictable collagen-boosting products available, especially if we’re already having to deal with our delicate facial skin undergoing this unpleasant aging process. So why not try some natural ways you can boost your collagen? You can naturally rebuild these valuable proteins through certain nutritious foods. Learn more below on how to naturally boost collagen.
Lysine and Proline
Found conveniently right inside your home or at a close by grocery store, certain collagen regenerating foods have the ability to help restore damaged collagen. Lysine and proline link directly to collagen production. Foods rich in protein, such as chicken, fish and egg whites tend to be an excellent source of lysine and proline.
Vitamin C
Imagine someone enjoying a refreshing spa treatment with their face covered in a creamy mud mask and fresh green cucumber slices gently laid over their eyes. Those cucumbers not only reduce puffy eyes due to their cool hydrating effect, but when consumed they are an excellent way of rebuilding collagen and reducing wrinkles because they’re a strong source of vitamin C. Other vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C that can help naturally restore these proteins are brussel sprouts, green peppers, oranges, strawberries and lemons. Vitamin C is necessary for restoring collagen because it’s needed in order to turn lysine into hydroxylysine and proline into hydroxyproline. Vitamin C also helps fight to maintain collagen because it’s a natural antioxidant.
Amino Acids
Collagen is made up of a very large amount of two different types of amino acids, hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline. These amino acids are vital for the formation of collagen because they’re responsible for most of the skins flexibility and strength aspects. Some foods containing important amino acids that will help to restore collagen are kelp, mango and avocados.