Collagen: Health benefits of eating THESE collagen-rich foods

Collagen is a protein which is essential for the health and function of connective tissues in our body. These connective tissues weave different body parts together — skin, bones, and organs — and give shape to our body.

Bone broth is made by simmering animal bones and connective tissues for an extended period of time. It is believed that this process extracts collagen from the bones and skin and adds it into the broth. When your body produces less collagen as you age, it is important to eat such foods that promote collagen production.

Vitamin C plays a major role in the production of pro-collagen, the body’s precursor to collagen. So eat plenty of citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes, that are full of this nutrient.

Advancing age increases the risk of osteoporosis which can also impact your joints. Collagen helps maintain the balance of cartilage in the body, important for maintaining joint health and protecting your bones from damage.

Fish are an excellent source of collagen from food. Make sure you leave the skin on as much of the collagen found in fish is stored in the skin.

Without enough collagen, your arteries can weaken and transport blood less effectively. Therefore, collagen is also necessary for maintaining our heart health.

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and other salad greens get their color from chlorophyll. Some studies have found that consuming chlorophyll increases the precursor to collagen in the skin.

If you’ve ever prepared a whole chicken, you must have noticed that there’s quite a bit of connective tissue in the meat. This makes chicken a good option for increasing collagen through your diet.