All of us require collagen to maintain smooth, supple skin, strong hair and nails, and loose, pain-free joints. In addition, many of the body’s skeletal systems rely on collagen for their stability. It has a role in the structure and function of our skin, nails, skeleton, ligaments, and tendons.
As you get older, your body’s need for collagen increases. Considering collagen’s apparent significance, it’s natural to wonder what kinds of meals will supply protein to our bodies to their fullest extent. So what foods are highest in collagen?
Collagen is highly found in animal-based products, but it can also be food in vegetarian foods. You can get collagen from bone broth, chicken broth, berries, broccoli, aloe vera juice, etc.
Let’s get to know about various foods that provide our bodies with collagen.
What Foods Are Highest in Collagen?
Collagen is plentiful in animal products since it is a component of the connective tissues of animals. Nonetheless, certain plants also contain collagen. So, here is the list of foods that are high in collagen:
1) Bone Broth
Bone broth is one of the most popular sources of collagen. Bones from chicken, beef or other animals are cooked to extract collagen and minerals. Collagen is extracted from the bones and skin and added to the broth during this process.
Bones are stripped of nutrients, including glycine and collagen, in this manner. The bones are then removed, producing a collagen-rich soup rich in nutrients.
Nonetheless, the amount of collagen varies based on the bones and tissues present. You can purchase or prepare bone broth at the grocery store.
2) Fish
Fish is another collagen-rich meal. Fish, like other animal products, has collagen-containing connective tissues and bones. Some suggest that marine collagen is one of the easiest to absorb.
According to research, fish collagen has similar anti-aging properties to cow collagen. While a tuna sandwich for lunch or salmon for dinner will surely increase your collagen consumption, keep in mind that the “flesh” of fish contains less collagen than other, less attractive components.
3) Eggs
Egg whites, especially, have glycine and proline, which are two of the most important amino acids that make up collagen. But don’t throw away the yolks full of vitamin D and healthy fats that help keep skin, bones, and muscles healthy.
Whether you like your eggs soft-boiled or scrambled, they are a great way to start your day because they are full of protein.
4) Chicken
Many collagen supplements are made from chicken for a specific reason. The most popular white flesh includes an abundance of the substance. If you’ve ever prepared a whole chicken, you know that the meat contains a significant amount of connective tissue.
This makes chicken an excellent alternative for consuming more collagen. Particularly chicken feet are a rich source of collagen.
5) Meat
Meats, particularly red meats such as beef, hog, and lamb, are high in collagen.
These animals have a lot of connective tissue that needs collagen for the same reason humans do: it allows them to move their muscles properly. So including these collagen-rich foods in your diet can help boost your collagen levels.
6) Citrus Fruits
Vitamin C is essential for the formation of pro-collagen. In addition, it is the precursor to collagen in the body. Therefore, adequate vitamin C consumption is essential.
This vitamin is abundant in citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes. Try a grapefruit grilled for breakfast, or incorporate orange segments into a salad.
7) Berries
Although citrus fruits receive much credit for their vitamin C content, berries are also a good source. Strawberries actually contain more vitamin C per ounce than oranges, which is essential for the creation of collagen in the body. Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries also provide a substantial amount. In addition, berries are rich in antioxidants, which prevent skin damage.
8) Broccoli
Broccoli is another nice and simple option to increase your vitamin C intake. A cup of cooked or raw broccoli has a full day’s worth of vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen formation.
While vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis, it does not have to be consumed concurrently with collagen-rich foods or supplements. It is adequate to have both in your diet throughout the day.
9) Garlic
Garlic may contribute more than taste to stir-fry and pasta recipes. It may also increase collagen production. Garlic is rich in sulfur, a trace mineral that helps produce collagen and prevents its degradation.
However, it is vital to realize how much you consume effects. Collagen advantages likely require a substantial amount.
10) Beans
Beans are a protein-rich diet that frequently contains the amino acids required for collagen formation. Additionally, many of them are abundant in copper, an additional component required for collagen formation.
11) Leafy Greens
We all know that leafy greens are an important part of a balanced diet. They may also have aesthetic benefits, as it turns out. Chlorophyll, which is known for its antioxidant effects, gives spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and other salad greens their color.
According to certain research, ingesting chlorophyll boosts the precursor to collagen in the skin.
Bottom Line
This was all about what foods are highest in collagen. So we have actually ranked them all as per their collagen quantity. Surely some do not contain collagen right away, but they include nutrients that are essential for collagen production in our body, The best source of collagen is bone broth. So either includes it in your diet by making it at home or by buying one from stores.
We hope this article was helpful & informative. Please leave your valuable thoughts & suggestions in the comments below!
Thank you for reading!