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How to stimulate collagen for our skin
Mar
Collagen is a protein that’s found throughout the body, particularly in skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, teeth, and connective tissues.
Even though the use of collagen supplements and other collagen products is on the rise, most people don’t know what collagen actually is or what it does in the body.
What is collagen and why it is important
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in animals. A structural protein is one that makes up the structure or framework of your cells and tissues. It provides structural support to tissues and plays important roles in cellular processes.
Connective tissue cells called fibroblasts produce and maintain collagen. As people grow older, their collagen becomes fragmented, fibroblast function becomes impaired, and collagen production slows. These changes, along with the loss of another key structural protein called elastin, lead to signs of aging such as sagging skin and wrinkles. While collagen loss and damage as you age are inevitable, certain dietary and lifestyle factors can accelerate this process.
For example, smoking cigarettes is known to degrade collagen, excessive drinking has also been shown to accelerate skin aging by reducing collagen production and damaging skin repair mechanisms, additionally, following a diet high in added sugar and ultra-processed foods can lead to premature aging by contributing to a process called glycation, which reduces collagen turnover and interferes with collagen’s ability to interact with surrounding cells and proteins.
Excessive sun exposure degrades collagen production as well, so wearing sunscreen and avoiding excessive sun exposure can help prevent signs of premature skin aging.