Beauty hacks
That is what collagen does to our body
Collagen keeps the skin firm.
© fizkes / Shutterstock.com
From the age of 30 the body’s own production of collagen decreases. In other words: The skin loses its resistance. What can you do about it?
Firm skin, few wrinkles, strong bones – these qualities become more and more important with age. For that you need collagen. A protein that makes up about 60 percent of our skin and is needed by the body to stabilize bones, cartilage, teeth and skin. The bad news: From around the age of 30, the body’s own production of collagen decreases, so the connective tissue becomes weaker and the skin loses its resistance. What can you do about it?
Collagen in cosmetic products
Many moisturizing creams and “anti-aging” products contain collagen, but it cannot penetrate the top layer of skin. Nevertheless, the ingredient is not useless: Collagen is also able to store moisture. Thus, the skin appears smoother and softer.
However, there are ingredients in cosmetic products that can stimulate the body’s own collagen production and slow down the breakdown of protein. These include oligopeptides, glycine soybean extract, arctiin and silymarin. The breakdown of collagen can also be prevented: sun protection is the most effective means of this. In addition, the renunciation of nicotine and alcohol as well as a balanced diet.
Collagen in food
There are numerous dietary supplements on the market that promise a collagen boost. According to the consumer advice center however, their effectiveness has not been clearly proven. Advertising claims such as “collagen smoothes your skin” are even banned for dietary supplements. This is because the oral preparations are broken down by amino acids in the digestive tract and therefore have no effect on the skin.
Much better: a permanent, balanced diet. Some foods can help the body absorb natural collagen. Foods with a high collagen content include red fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, tomatoes or beetroot, orange-colored fruits and vegetables such as sweet potatoes or carrots, and fruits rich in vitamin C such as lemon, grapefruit or orange.