What to Do When Our Bodies Stop Producing Collagen?

With its current rise to fame in the health and beauty industry, there are countless questions floating around the topic of collagen. “What is it? Do I need it? How can I get it?” It’s likely you’ve seen an ad or two pop up on your newsfeed, claiming results of more youthful skin from collagen consumers. “Is that true,” you might’ve wondered, “or is it just false advertising?” Collagen offers truly rejuvenating effects for the skin. Especially when natural collagen production begins to naturally slow with age, it’s important you fortify your body’s collagen production with an all-day supplement and protein-rich foods. Allow us to explain what we mean….

The Science Part

If you’re going to introduce anything new into your daily routine, it’s important to understand exactly what you’re putting in your body. Collagen protein, although it can be a dietary addition, is naturally produced by your body. Collagen actually comes from the Greek word kolla meaning “glue” - collagen literally is the adhesive holding together your entire body. The skin is the most well-known part of the body where collagen is found, but it’s also in your bones, muscles, tendons, nails, teeth, blood vessels and gut lining. This is why collagen doesn’t just improve the appearance of skin - it offers countless benefits, everything from gut health to enhanced brain functionality. It’s safe to say that collagen is necessary for the peak performance of multiple functions within the body. Here’s the bad news: around the age of 25, collagen production can begin to steadily decline at a rate of about 1%. This decline continues at an even steeper rate for many women post-menopause. What does this mean for you? When collagen production decreases, visible signs of wrinkles or sagging skin will begin to surface. Internally, you might experience achy joints. If achy joints and wrinkles just aren’t the look you’re going for, we’ve got some great news. You’re in a high percentage of people chasing after the Fountain of Youth (metaphorically speaking), and there are definitive steps you can take to manage declining collagen production from day one.

Reversing Your Declining Collagen Production

Unfortunately, much of our day-to-day life can impact our collagen production. Something as simple as the sun’s UV rays, to less obvious influences like stress and anxiety, can have a harmful effect on your body’s collagen production. How? Anything which causes inflammation causes second-hand damage to body tissues. Additionally, smoking and the less controllable truth of genetics and age, all lead to collagen decrease. While some preventative methods here are obvious (use sunscreen, reevaluate a smoking habit, etc.), others aren’t quite so apparent. Stress in your life may be more or less apparent, but implementing mindful activities such as meditation or yoga, getting adequate amounts of sleep, taking long walks, or maybe just taking a “self-care” day to address mental health, can be great ways to lower stress and indirectly help save your skin! If it’s age and genetics we’re battling, there are countless ways to reintroduce collagen into your body.

Improving Collagen Retention Through Food

As a protein source, collagen is obviously found in foods with high protein content. Additionally, nature has provided us with countless ways of sourcing collagen simply through healthy eating habits. Some of the best sources include:

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  Bone broth

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  Chicken

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  Shellfish/Fish

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  Egg whites

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  Citrus, berries, and tropical (guava, mango, kiwi, pineapple) fruits

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  Leafy greens

The list goes on, but you can’t make a mistake eating protein-rich foods that provide amino acids important for collagen production. And to further help a collagen-boosting diet, steer clear of sugars or refined carbs - these cause inflammation, damaging collagen production and defeating all the hard work of a beautifully crafted protein-rich diet!

Improving Collagen Retention Through Supplements

Collagen protein supplements have become a popular way of boosting collagen production and improving overall health. However, there are quite a few variations to be found on the market, some with flavored additives and others with multiple forms of collagen within a single product. We believe the best collagen protein powders are made of only one form of collagen, with natural ingredients, and a consideration of a wide variety of dieting options. Since we grew tired of sifting through mountains of collagen protein ingredients lists looking for purity and cleanliness, we decided to design one of our own. BUBS Naturals Fountain of Youth Formula not only comes from single-sourced, grass-fed protein, but it’s packed full of vitamin C (1000mg to be exact) and antioxidants. With the rich flavor of the maqui berry, not only are you getting free radical-fighting antioxidants; you’ll also enjoy a delicious taste as well.

Youthful Skin, Here We Come

Knowing that your skin’s youthfulness naturally declines doesn’t have to be the worst part of the day. With healthy eating options, preventative measures like sunscreen, healthy eating choices, and supplements like Fountain of Youth Formula, there are countless ways you can encourage your skin to do what it does naturally: thrive.