Collagen

There are sixteen types of collagen found in the body, but only three govern the bones, connective tissue, hair, and nails.

As we age, we produce less collagen.

You can obtain collagen from different food sources or supplements. The highest concentration can be found in bone broths which are immediately available to the body, where supplements take a much longer time to assimilate. Eating collagen-rich foods helps create building blocks (amino acids) needed for health. The primary amino acids for collagen synthesis are proline, lysine, and glycine.

Bone broth is the highest collagen concentration because of the connective tissues used in making it, which contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids, and many other nutrients. Each type is different based on the animal used and the quality of beef, chicken, fish, and shellfish. Other foods to get collagen from are egg whites, citrus, berries, tropical fruits, garlic, leafy greens, beans, cashews, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

It is good to note that collagen levels are reduced by the ingestion of processed foods and sugars.