0
0
Subtotal: $0.00
No products in the cart.

What can I do to fight collagen loss?

I get asked all the time, “what can I do to fight collagen loss?”

The good news is that there is a lot you can do!
 
Your diet is the biggest thing that you can control.
 
a pro-inflammatory diet increases collagen loss
What does that mean? 

It means avoiding inflammation causing foods. Namely processed food, sugar and refined carbs like white flour, rice, refined grains and baked goods. Avoid inflammatory oils like canola oil, vegetable oil, and soybean oil. Avoid feed lot meat and farmed fish which are both inflammatory due to their poor diets. Diet is very bio-individual so avoiding foods that are inflammatory for you is important too. For me, that was dairy and gluten. If you need help figuring out what foods might be causing you inflammation I can guide you in doing an elimination diet or help you get tested for food sensitivities.

an anti-inflammatory diet slows collagen loss and builds new collagen
How can you do that?

By increasing anti-inflammatory foods: eating a wide variety of vegetables, low glycemic fruit like berries, nuts, seeds, fermented foods and beans. When you eat meat make it high quality grass fed, pastured meat which is higher in Omega 3’s  (make sure you are eating organ meats, bone broth and marrow too). Consume fish that is wild caught and higher in Omega 3 like salmon, mackerel, anchovies, oysters, and sardines. Prioritize protein- we need 25-40 grams of protein per meal depending on our size, age and activity level. Consume good, healthy fats like olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, grass fed butter, good quality tallow and ghee.

Take a hydrolyzed collagen supplement. I take two spoonfuls every morning in my green tea. Dark chocolate as long as it is 72% or darker and low or no sugar is a great source of magnesium and anti-oxidants. If you don’t eat fatty fish often, take a supplement at dinnertime. On days that I don’t eat fish, I take an Omega 3 supplement.

Reduce stress where you can, get 7-9 hours of sleep, spend time in nature, walks and talks with a friend.

Make sure you are staying hydrated. Aim for half your body weight in ounces of filtered water, green tea or herbal tea daily.

Don’t smoke!!  Smoking increases signs of aging, and increases collagen breakdown.

Avoid  toxins in your personal care and home care products as well as airborne pollutants when at all possible. Do a quarterly detox to reduce your toxin load. Join us for our next group detox in my private facebook group here.

Vitamin A, C, D, E, Omega 3 and zinc are all crucial to skin health. Try to get these nutrients from the food you eat.

If you aren’t sure whether you are getting all the right nutrients for your body, test to find out. I recently tested my nutrient levels like I do yearly and found out that I need a boost in my calcium intake. I already take daily magnesium, but I added a calcium/magnesium supplement as well.

The biggest thing I want you to take away is that you have control over how you feel as you age. I am passionate about inspiring you to eat better. We only get one body and my hope is to teach you to nourish your body how it needs to be nourished. We are all different but these basic principles really do apply to every body.

Be well and I am always here to help and guide you. If you would like to book an appointment, my calendar link is here. Beth

Written by:
Beth Bollinger

Beth Bollinger

I am an Integrative Health Practitioner, mama of 4 and passionate about healthy cooking. I am here to help you achieve health and well-being by sharing what I have learned about alternative ingredients and making healthy food taste amazing.

Beth Bollinger

Beth Bollinger

I am an Integrative Health Practitioner, mama of 4 and passionate about healthy cooking. I am here to help you achieve health and well-being by sharing what I have learned about alternative ingredients and making healthy food taste amazing.

Shopping Cart
Scroll to Top