Eat Your Way To Ageless Skin: An Ingredient That Will Change Your Life

I remember my grandmother cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and I along with my brothers would hop over to the counter to watch her as she meticulously cooked for the family. One of her specialties was cooking flavourful bone broth, also known as kharore ka soup or paye ka soup in Hindi. This dish is very popular and is mainly consumed during the winters. As I would sit down to eat, she would tap on my nose and tell me to eat up if I wanted to grow pretty and have healthy skin. In order to make the skin look youthful and flawless, our diets have a noteworthy role to play and all of it comes down to one element, collagen. Little did I understand then!

Collagen is that protein in your body that gives the skin its structure, suppleness, and stretch. Our body consists of type 1, 2, and 3 collagen. Gradually, as we start showing signs of ageing, we produce less collagen in our body hence leaning towards wrinkles and thin skin that we see while growing old. There has been a boom of collagen supplements touted in our social feeds these days. However, for me, natural ingredients work best. The more collagen consumed in its natural form the better it is for the skin.

When it comes to collagen, there are some things that should be considered. Food items rich in collagen are easy to digest in comparison to collagen supplements. For example, bone broth contains a bioavailable form of collagen that your body can use right away. Research on nutrition and ageing has also concluded that fruits and vegetables are the safest and healthiest options when it comes to boosting skin health. Here are some foods that can help you increase the presence of collagen in your body.

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Bone Broth (Kharore Ka Soup /Paye Ka Soup)

Although recent research finds that bone broth may not be the most reliable source of collagen, it is an opinion that is by far the most popular. Made by simmering goat feet bones in water, the process is believed to extract the collagen. Due to the presence of bones and connective tissues, the broth becomes a rich source of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids, and many other nutrients. It not only enhances skin texture but also improves bone health.

The question that always strikes me is how did my grandmother know so much about it? And of course, I was so lucky to have her as my grandmother as she gave me the best hands-on experience and knowledge that made me the person I am today! Her secrets stayed with me and now I am going to be sharing it with you. Other than bone broth, check out the list of other ingredients that contain collagen.

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Chicken

Most popular white meat contains a lot of collagen. The huge number of connective tissue this poultry contains is what makes chicken a rich source of dietary collagen. Several studies have also proven this ingredient effective in helping patients suffering from arthritis.

Citrus Fruits And Tomatoes

Vitamin C plays a major role in pro-collagen production. This element is essential for producing collagen. Thus, getting enough vitamin C becomes critical. Tomatoes have 30 per cent of vitamin C. Other than tomatoes, fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are also loaded with abundant vitamin C.

Berries

Berries are also considered to be an excellent source of vitamin C. Especially, the strawberries are known to provide more vitamin C than oranges. Raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries also offer a hefty dose of vitamin C.

Egg Whites

If you feel consuming meat can become hectic on a daily basis, opt for eggs. These also are loaded with connective tissues like many other animal products. Egg whites have large amounts of proline, one of the amino acids necessary for collagen production.

Fish And Shellfish

If you’re a fish lover, here’s god news for you! Just like many other animals, wholesome and beneficial fish and shellfish have bones and ligaments made of collagen. Some people have claimed marine collagen is easy to absorb. But while your lunchtime tuna sandwich or dinnertime salmon can certainly add to your collagen intake, be aware that the meat of fish contains less collagen than other less desirable parts. Some honorary mentions that vegetarian ingredients such as garlic, tropical fruits, and leafy greens also provide collagen. All in all, it is important to not only eat healthy but also be conscious about eating habits to maintain the youthful glory of your skin. So remember, collagen is the secret to glowing healthy skin!

One of the most renowned chefs in India, Shipra Khanna is multi-talented. She is not only the winner of the popular cookery show MasterChef India (season 2), but also an author and host of numerous cookery programmes.

For more informative food stories by Shipra Khanna, stay tuned to HerZindagi.