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
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
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.
