WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

A friend of mine recently insisted that I buy the seaweed from her. The seaweed is a kind of sea kelp and is said to contain pure marine collagen. Some claim that it contains 10 times more collagen than shark fins and 24% more than 2 pieces of bird’s nest and some even said that it is a poor man’s bird’s nest! Bird’s nest is a prized health food well-known for its medicinal benefits. 

seaweed fresh from the sea

after it is dried

I've heard and read about the health benefits of this seaweed before but have not been tempted to buy until then.  If it does indeed contain that amount of collagen as  what has been claimed proven scientifically or otherwise, then why not.  I've yet to try it but would do so in a bit. :)

What is Collagen?

Collagen is the main component of our skin, cartilage, bone and connective tissues. Without enough production and supply of collagen, our skin will look old and wrinkled. Collagen is a naturally-occurring protein in humans and animals.

Its main functions are:-

Skin – It provides structure. Along with collagen is elastin, which provides      elasticity of the skin.

 Bones – It provides form, structure, strength and flexibility.

Muscles – It gives strength and structure.

Blood vessels – It is the main component of the blood vessel wall (vein, arteries and capillaries)

Unfortunately, the collagen supply in our body diminishes in time. This is due to age, pollutants, and lifestyle.

How to Restore Collagen in Skin Naturally

There are other factors than age that can retard collagen production: smoking and sun exposure are the worst culprits. Since collagen is too dense to be absorbed into the skin in creams unless it undergoes extensive chemical restructuring, our best bet is to eat plenty of foods that promote production of this important protein. By incorporating certain foods into our diet we can increase collagen production and bring that youthful look back to our skin. Though anti-aging creams claim to help retain a youthful look, many are made with harsh chemicals. We can, instead, attempt to restore the collagen in our skin naturally.

Several other types of food that can aid in increasing collagen production are Soy products, dark green vegetables, beans, red fruits and vegetables, vitamin C, prunes, omega acids, flaxseed, turkey, dark chocolate, rose hips and avocado oil.

Avocado fruits

Raspberries

Soya beans

Luckily, all of these foods are part of a healthy, low-fat diet (even the chocolate) and can be incorporated into every meal and snack we eat. Enjoy soy milk with breakfast, a large salad with chunks of turkey and avocado for lunch, and omega-containing fish for dinner; snack on dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 65 percent or higher and take supplements containing rose hips.

Soya bean milk

 Rosehip tea

Japanese Tofu

All of these foods contain powerful collagen-boosting substances like genistein, lutein, hyaluronic acid, lycopene, antioxidants, carnosine and plant steroids. These natural chemicals support the skin renewal process, rejuvenate skin damaged by free radicals and create a hospitable environment for collagen production.

Soy foods, such as soy milk, soy cheese and tofu, can help block the enzymes that break down and age skin. Leafy greens like spinach and kale boost skin hydration and elasticity, as does the carnosine in turkey. Beans help our body produce the powerful anti-aging agent hyaluronic acid, and the lycopenes in red fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants.

Purple seaweed - this type supposedly contains more collagen than the green type  

And lately, I came to know that a kind of sea kelp (seaweed) is said to contain pure marine collagen. 

Misconceptions

There are many expensive cosmetic anti-wrinkle creams on the market containing collagen. Unfortunately, there is no evidence such treatments do anything to boost collagen levels in the skin. In fact, the chemical makeup of collagen makes it too large to be absorbed into the skin when applied topically. Such products may be adequate moisturizers, but to stimulate collagen production it should work from the inside out, starting with our diet.

Prevention/Solution

The foods listed above do double-duty keeping our body healthy and our skin young-looking. To make these foods even more effective, don't smoke, always wear sunscreen, use a quality moisturizer and eat a healthy diet.

Source:  http://www.ehow.com/ 

All pictures are courtesy of the Net.