Most often when people hear the word collagen they automatically think of wrinkles or supplements. But there’s so much more to collagen than these two words. Did you know that you can naturally add collagen to your diet by eating collagen-rich foods? Can eating carrots boost your collagen production? Do carrots have collagen?

We are here to answer those questions and so many more. You might just be surprised by all you didn’t know about collagen.

What is Collagen & Why is it Important?

Collagen is a very essential protein that our bodies produce naturally. It provides structure and quite literally holds all our cells together. Without collagen, our bodies couldn’t function and our health would be greatly affected.

Collagen is found in our connective tissues, skin, tendons, ligaments, joints, bones, muscles, blood and organs. It gives these tissues their strength and elasticity.

As we age collagen production begins to decline. This is when we begin to see various signs of aging and age-related health concerns such as wrinkles, sagging skin, aches and pains, body stiffness etc.

The Different Types of Collagen?

Just as our bodies are quite complex, so is collagen. Experts say that there are 28 different types of collagen but 80-90% of the collagen in our bodies is type I, II and III. They all have a job to do and work together to ensure our bodies function and remain healthy.

Type I Collagen:

• is most often found in our skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, organs, and bone
• most abundant type
• provides structure and strength

Type II Collagen:

• is found in our cartilage
• joint health
• provides strength and flexibility
• helps to reduce inflammation & pain

Type III Collagen:

• found in skin, intestine, blood vessels, organs, muscles
• is often found alongside type I collagen and is usually referred to as “reticulated collagen”
• supports wound healing & tissue repair
• provides hydration

How Do You Increase Collagen Naturally?

Although collagen supplements do play a major role in upping our collagen levels, they are not the only way.

Health, diet, exercise, and even lifestyle can impact our collagen synthesis. Keep reading to find out how you can increase your collagen naturally.

Collagen-Rich Diet

What exactly is a collagen-rich diet? Is it a diet full of collagen supplements? Quite the contrary. A collagen-rich diet is a diet that consists of eating collagen-rich foods.

Foods that are high in collagen include bone broth, organ meats, fish, leafy greens, and citrus fruits–all great sources of this vital protein. It takes protein to make protein so eating high protein foods and foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants are a sure way to naturally boost collagen production.

Do carrots have collagen? Many people think of collagen as something that’s only found in animal products, but this isn’t the case! Collagen is actually a type of protein that’s found in all kinds of plants, including carrots. One of the reasons carrots are so good for you is because they’re found to be quite rich in this important protein.

Plenty of Beauty Sleep

How does getting enough sleep help us to boost our collagen levels? Well, when we sleep, our bodies produce more human growth hormone, which helps to stimulate collagen production.

Studies have shown that people who slept for seven to eight hours per night had higher levels of collagen than those who slept for five hours or less. Note that quality of sleep is just as important as quantity. Those who awoke feeling rested and refreshed had higher collagen levels than those who felt tired after a full night’s sleep. 

Sleep also gives our skin a chance to repair itself (collagen at work) from the damage caused by exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors. 

Regular Exercise 

Regular exercise helps to stimulate the production of collagen. Exercise also helps to improve circulation, which allows all the nutrients and oxygen to move through the body to do what needs to be done–collagen synthesis!

Exercise is proven to reduce stress levels. Less stress equals more collagen.

Which Fruits & Vegetables Are High in Collagen?

We touched briefly already on collagen-rich foods being a natural way to boost our collagen levels. Some of those foods mentioned were fruits and vegetables. Let’s take a closer look at just a few of these food sources and why they are considered high in collagen.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are high in collagen for a number of reasons. For one, they are rich in vitamin C, which is necessary for the production of collagen.

Citrus fruits contain bioflavonoids, which help to strengthen collagen fibers and prevent them from breakdown.

Fun fact: the acidity of citrus fruits actually helps to exfoliate the skin, which can promote the production of new collagen.

Berries

Berries are often named as one of the best foods for collagen production. But what exactly makes berries so special? Berries are a rich source of antioxidants. These nutrients help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. This protection helps fight against the breakdown of collagen.

Berries are a good source of vitamin C, which is necessary for the synthesis of collagen. In fact, according to some studies, just one cup of berries per day can provide enough vitamin C to support collagen production.

Berries contain bioflavonoids, which are plant-based compounds that have been shown to stimulate collagen production.

Carrots

We asked the question earlier “Do carrots have collagen?” and found the answer to be yes! Carrots are an excellent source of collagen. This essential protein can be found in abundance in carrots, thanks to their high concentration of vitamins A and C. These two vitamins work together to stimulate the production of collagen.

In addition to being high in collagen, carrots are also packed with antioxidants, which help to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals which we know helps in protecting our collagen from attack.

Leafy Greens

In addition to being full of vitamins C and A which we know are necessary to help the body produce collagen, leafy greens are full of lysine and proline. Two amino acids which are key players in the production of collagen in our bodies.

Beans

Beans are packed with collagen-boosting nutrients like vitamin C, copper, and manganese. Plus, they’re a great source of protein, which is essential for building and repairing collagen making them a great addition to your list of collagen-rich foods.

What Other Foods Are High in Collagen?

We have given you information as to why fruits and vegetables are considered to be collagen-rich foods so now it’s time to consider some of the proteins that are considered to be rich in collagen.

Seafood

While all seafood contains some collagen, certain types are considered to be particularly high in this nutrient. Fish such as salmon and tuna are excellent sources of collagen, as are shellfish like crabs and lobster.

And let’s not neglect oysters. Oysters are considered as being particularly rich in collagen due to their very high protein content. 

Bone Broth

When you make bone broth, the collagen is extracted from the bones and dissolved into the water as they simmer away. This makes it so easy for your body to absorb and use.

Bone broth is a good source of amino acids, the building blocks of collagen.

Chicken

There are many reasons why chicken is considered to be high in collagen. For one, chicken skin contains a type of collagen known as fibrous collagen, which is responsible for giving the skin its elasticity.

Chicken meat is a good source of amino acids that can help to promote collagen synthesis. These amino acids include proline and glycine, which are both needed for the production of new collagen molecules.

Eggs

Eggs are an excellent source of protein and nutrients, and they also contain high levels of collagen. They are an ideal source of collagen because they too contain all the amino acids needed to build this important protein.

Experts attest that the protein in eggs is easily absorbed by the body, making them an ideal choice for those looking to boost their collagen intake. 

Should I Add Supplements to My Diet?

Whether or not you should add supplements to your diet really becomes a personal choice. In a perfect world we would always eat properly, get enough sleep, exercise daily, have no stress and be in optimum health. Sadly, there is no such thing as a perfect world!

Our desire should be to give our bodies the best defense we can for aging well. Some days may go better than others but we will always fall short of that perfect world. Adding collagen supplements to your diet can offer some very impressive health benefits, and should definitely be considered.

The Bottom Line

Well, the answer to the questions: “do carrots have collagen” and “can eating carrots boost your collagen production” is yes and yes again. 

We hope you have enjoyed reading about collagen-rich foods and the many foods that will naturally boost your collagen levels. These foods along with a quality collagen supplement will equip you for the healthiest possible aging experience. 

Need more information or assistance in choosing a quality supplement? Be sure to check out our Health BLOG and collagen product page. Here’s to your health! 

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