We’re going to be sincere right here, there are not any vegan or plant-based sources of collagen. We mentioned it!
Collagen can solely be sourced from animals. There are 16 several types of collagen, however collagen sorts I, II and III make up 80-90% of collagen within the physique. Marine collagen is a supply of sort I collagen and bovine collagen is a supply of I and III. Why solely animal sources? Collagen is a protein that’s sourced from elements of the animal we don’t eat in our trendy diets – like cartilage, bones and pores and skin.
Our our bodies produce collagen naturally. It’s present in our connective tissues, joints, intestine and pores and skin. As we age, our our bodies pure manufacturing declines. Beginning in our early twenties, we’re producing round 1.5% much less every year. By the point we hit 40 years previous, we’re producing about 25% much less collagen than we used to. There are additionally environmental and well being elements that may contribute to the lack of collagen manufacturing too.
It’s a complicated topic and one thing we get requested about usually. There are numerous dietary supplements in the marketplace claiming to be a supply of vegan or plant-based collagen. That’s the place the confusion lies. These dietary supplements aren’t offering a supply of collagen. As a substitute, they’re offering vitamins that assist your physique’s pure collagen manufacturing. They’re a collagen-production booster, somewhat than a collagen complement.
A collagen complement offers your physique with a bioavailable (simply absorbed) supply of vitamins. There’s proof of many pores and skin, hair, joint and intestine advantages to taking collagen dietary supplements. However concern not! For those who’re vegan or principally plant-based there are nonetheless methods so that you can enhance your collagen manufacturing.
Takeaway – Can You Get Collagen From Plants
Prevention is essential to sustaining your pure collagen manufacturing. A wholesome life-style goes a good distance. Overexposure to the solar negatively impacts the collagen in your pores and skin. Gone are the times of spending the day tanning (or burning) with child oil. Sunscreen is an efficient and handy solution to shield your pores and skin. So don’t neglect to slap on some SPFs earlier than heading out for the day. Smoking is one other no-no in relation to collagen. You may discover that people who smoke are likely to age sooner than others. That’s as a result of smoking has been discovered to lower collagen manufacturing in pores and skin. So for those who’re in search of some methods to naturally enhance and assist your collagen manufacturing, having a look at your life-style is a superb place to begin.
Selection Is The Spice of Life
Collagen dietary supplements are the simplest and best solution to get your collagen in. Nonetheless, a food plan wealthy in wholesome plant meals offers your physique the vitamins it must thrive. Consuming a food plan wealthy in plant-based selection helps defend your physique in opposition to environmental and well being elements that may finally have an effect on your collagen manufacturing.
Some collagen-boosting meals embrace darkish inexperienced veggies, peppers, tomatoes, carrots and berries. The saying “eat the rainbow” actually reigns true. These meals are all stuffed with micronutrients that assist your physique thrive. Darkish inexperienced veggies like spinach, kale and collard greens are wealthy in vitamin C. Purple veggies like peppers, tomatoes and beets are excessive in lycopene. Orange veggies like carrots, bell peppers and candy potatoes are a very good supply of vitamin A. Getting quite a lot of crops in your food plan is essential for a wholesome physique and subsequently to your collagen manufacturing too.
Complement Your Weight-reduction plan
An ideal food plan wealthy in quite a lot of plant-based meals is nice, however life will get busy. Enter dietary supplements. There are dietary supplements which have been proven to assist enhance your physique’s pure collagen manufacturing. These dietary supplements embrace vitamin C, proline and copper.
Vitamin C is significant for pores and skin well being. It’s present in each the inside and outer layers of the pores and skin. The outer layer, or dermis, acts as a barrier for the pores and skin. The inside layer, or dermis, ensures power and elasticity of the pores and skin. As we age, vitamin C content material within the pores and skin declines. There’s a motive many anti-aging lotions tout the advantages of vitamin C. It assists antioxidants in defending in opposition to solar injury, stimulates collagen synthesis and helps pores and skin perform.
Proline is without doubt one of the key amino acids, or constructing blocks, in collagen synthesis. It has been confirmed to revive collagen synthesis in sun-damaged pores and skin. For those who’re not a fan of taking dietary supplements, it may be naturally present in cabbage, asparagus, bamboo shoots, and mushrooms (amongst others).
Copper has been used as a skin-boosting complement relationship again to the Historical Egyptians. In accordance with this examine, copper ‘upregulates collagen and elastin fiber components’ within the pores and skin. It binds with collagen constructing peptides and conveys them to the pores and skin the place they are often put to work bettering elasticity and diminishing effective traces and wrinkles. Cleopatra was on to one thing!
Fish Pleasant
In case your plant-based food plan is versatile, marine collagen may very well be a match for you. Sproos marine collagen is sourced from wild-caught fish within the North Atlantic, so it’s pescetarian-friendly. After studying in regards to the well being advantages of collagen, many plant-based individuals are prepared to offer it a attempt. Our marine collagen is unflavoured and doesn’t have a “fishy” style. It dissolves simply into each cold and hot, so it’s simple to include into your day by day food plan. From a sustainability standpoint, our marine collagen is sourced from the elements of fish which are usually discarded (like pores and skin and scales) making it a sustainable supply of this highly effective meals.
Takeaway
Whereas there isn’t any vegan supply of collagen, there are just a few methods to assist your physique’s pure collagen manufacturing. Initially, prevention is essential. Limiting exposures together with solar, smoking and alcohol are a very good place to begin. Whether or not you’re vegan or not, consuming a food plan stuffed with plant-based selection is vital. Dietary supplements have been proven to spice up your physique’s pure collagen manufacturing.
Carly Chagas Sproos Model Supervisor With a ardour for meals and wellness, Carly has labored within the pure meals business over the previous couple of years specializing in advertising and marketing. She holds a Grasp of Science (MSc) diploma in Human Well being and Dietary Sciences and continues to work to mix her ardour and training at Sproos. Carly lives in Toronto and when she’s not working, she will be came upon and in regards to the metropolis together with her canine, Lilly, or hitting up a yoga class.