Collagen is crucial to healthy and supple skin. It is what makes your skin youthful, strong and elastic, forming a structural net throughout your entire body. Unfortunately, collagen health peaks around the age of 20, then gradually start to degrade.
After twenty, an individual starts to produce about 1% less collagen each year. As a result, the skin becomes thinner and fragile leading to wrinkles, fine lines, saggy skin, hair loss, bone loss and more.
Many resorts to expensive cosmetics, supplements and even invasive procedures to boost collagen quickly, but such quick fixes usually come with a lot of side-effects. Instead, you can gain a better understanding of why collagen production decreases and learn natural ways to combat it. Here’s how:
The function of Collagen in the Human Body
Collagen is in a constant cycle of production and destruction in the human body. The body has cells that destroy collagen and cells that renew to create new collagen. The health of your skin is dependent on this cycle in order to keep up a fresh supply of collagen.
Therefore, your anti-aging strategy should ideally focus on the below two factors:
1. Stimulate the Natural Collagen Cycle – It’s inexpensive and safe to stimulate your collage cycle organically. This does not have to involve surgery or injections.
2. Protect Existing Collagen from Environmental Hazards – Environmental damage due to increased exposure to sun’s UV rays, smoke, pollution, erratic diet and stress can lead to the build-up of toxins in the skin. This can cause a breakdown of collagen fibers and accelerated skin aging.
Boost Collagen Naturally
There are numerous artificial techniques that work on boosting collagen, but they hardly get to the root of the issue and offer only a temporary solution. A holistic approach that includes natural herbs, therapies, foods will be the right solution to boost collagen in your skin to maintain its long-lasting beauty.
1. Food to Naturally Build Collagen Supply
It’s not always about lotions and potions. A healthy diet is very crucial for healthy skin.
Bone Broth
Eating bone broth is equivalent to eating cooked collagen. This is a powerful way to restore collagen in your skin. Another plus, the gelatin derived from the collagen in the bone broth will also heal your gut to prevent inflammation and aging skin.
Cow’s Ghee, Nuts and Seeds
According to Ayurveda, a Vata pacifying diet is key to build the Ojas or vital essence of well-being in the body. Almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and pure cow’s ghee are some vital components for the same.
Leafy Greens and Rainbow-Coloured Fruits
Packed with cell-renewing antioxidants, they protect against free radical damage. In addition, red vegetables like beets, tomatoes are full of lycopene which help to boost collagen and protect against sun damage.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon are powerful ingredients that cleanse the blood, lymph, and liver. Also, garlic help to rebuild damaged collagen as it is an excellent source of Sulphur, an essential part of collagen production.
2. Herbs and Skin Brightening Minerals
Herbs that are categorized as Rasayana or rejuvenators work on the skin by boosting collagen production. These include Gotukola or Brahmi, Ashwagandha and Bala. In addition, cow’s ghee can be used as a natural emulsion for the skin in order to nourish the skin with age arresting, skin toning and smoothing qualities.
Minerals, especially Gold slow down collagen depletion and increase skin elasticity. Herbal infusions with Gold Bhasma will come in handy to prevent premature aging, wrinkles, and tanning.
3. Potent Therapies for Anti-Ageing
Regular treatments and therapies like a massage with natural oils is another way to replenish the skin and improve blood circulation. A facial massage with herbal formulations including Unrefined Organic Black Sesame, Sweet Almond Oil and Cow’s Milk is very effective for keeping skin supple, soft and toned.
4. Quit Smoking and Sugar
Sugar attaches to collagen making it rigid and inflexible and leading to dull, dry and accelerated aging. Therefore, cut back on the refined white stuff. Excessive smoking and drinking also have a detrimental effect on the skin and leeches on the proteins in the skin.
5. Keep your Skin Hydrated
Drinking plenty of Water, herbal teas, plant foods will help to hydrate your skin. The more your skin is hydrated, the better the environment for collagen and healthy proteins to thrive.
6. Intermittent Fasting
Studies show that after a fast there’s increased stem cell activity, HGH or Human Growth Hormone levels, and collagen production.
An intermittent fasting regime with a water-only fast for 18 hours or more is an effective way to stimulate the cycle of collagen. During the fast, the body will break down proteins, including collagen and eliminate all the toxins from the body. And, when you finally eat a healthy meal after your fast, your body will go into an intense collagen regrowth phase.
So, the next time you are tempted by an ad for Botox, try these natural remedies. It will help to keep your skin beautiful and youthful from the inside out.