Collagen is quite popular today because of its role in making your skin look young and radiant. Unfortunately, your body’s collagen production decreases as you age. The good news is that you can still boost your collagen production by eating the right kind of foods. To give you a better perspective, here are ways to boost collagen production as a vegan.
Eat Foods with Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and collagen is a protein responsible for skin elasticity, healthy joints, and many more. The most common amino acids in collagen are:
Glycine – It is a major component of collagen, and it is essential for collagen production. Usually, your body produces this amino acid. You can also get it from protein-rich foods, like lentils, beans, and seaweed.
Proline and Hydroxyproline – The two amino acids are necessary for collagen biosynthesis, strength, and structure. Your body can also make hydroxyproline from proline when vitamin C is present. The best plant sources of proline are asparagus, soybeans, buckwheat, peanuts, and watercress. Alfalfa sprouts, on the other hand, are a good source of hydroxyproline.
Consume Foods Rich in Vitamin C
One of the best ways to boost collagen production as a vegan is to consume foods rich in vitamin C. As mentioned, vitamin C is essential to create collagen. Aside from that, it also protects collagen from damage. Some fruits and veggies with high vitamin C contents are strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes, brocolli, cauliflower, and citrus fruits.
Add Foods that Contain Zinc, Copper, and Manganese
Aside from those nutrients, some minerals can also aid in collagen production. These minerals are:
Zinc – It activates proteins that are necessary for collagen production. Some of the best plant sources of this mineral are hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.
Manganese – This mineral is a cofactor of the enzyme prolidase, which is essential to create the amino acid proline. You can get this mineral from various plant-based foods, including grains, legumes, and nuts.
Copper – It boosts elastin and collagen development. Aside from that, it also assists in creating the fibril structure of collagen. Some foods rich in copper are mushrooms, blackstrap molasses, apricots, almonds, lentils, and sunflower seeds.
Final Thoughts
Overall, here are some of the best ways to boost collagen production as a vegan. As presented, a balanced diet is enough to help your body create more collagen. You can also try taking vegan collagen supplements if you think that you’re diet is not enough. However, experts still recommend eating a balanced diet with the abovementioned nutrients to help your body create more collagen.
With a background in the entertainment industry, Katarina has gained experience in many aspects of media and showbusiness. As a former model and beauty expert, she has worked with dozens of Hollywood celebrities both in front of and behind the camera. She is often a judge of model searches and beauty pageants around the world. As a model and actress, Katarina has appeared on the cover of over 60 magazines worldwide and has been profiled on hundreds of major media outlets including CNN, FOX, and NBC. As an entrepreneur, she’s been profiled on FORBES, SHE MEDIA and BUSINESS ROCKSTARS, to name a few. She has appeared in 17 national and international TV commercials such as Pepsi, Nike, Dodge Ram, and Coors Light, as well as in music videos for international stars such as Dorothy, Tito Jackson and Andy Madadian, amongst others. Most recently, she played in the movie Unbelievable!!!!! which had a world premiere during the recent pandemic and the 7x award winning movie Crypto Heads, directed by Dan Gillin.
