5 Things To Do Daily To Replenish Your Body's Collagen

Collagen is a fiber in the connective tissue throughout your body, most noticeably in the face. As you age, your body naturally stops producing collagen and the existing collagen will begin to break down. This leads to facial sagging and wrinkles and gives skin a rough appearance.

In addition to the natural aging process, UV damage from sun exposure, nutritional deficiencies in your diet and injuries can take a toll on your body’s collagen production. However, there are also practices you can incorporate into your daily life to start replenishing your body's collagen.

Wear Sunscreen Every Day

Apply sunscreen daily. A good majority of the collagen loss in your face can be attributed to UV sun damage. Many moisturizers include sunblock. Check the labels and use an SPF of at least 30.

Eat Fatty, Cold-Water Fish, Lean Grass-Fed Meats For Amino Acids

Eat foods that contain the amino acids lysine and proline. Natural collagen contains large quantities of these two amino acids; consuming foods high in them can help to replenish your body's supply. Lysine can be found in lean meats, fish and low-fat dairy while egg whites and wheat germ are good sources of proline.

Get Your Vitamin C

Take a vitamin C supplement on a daily basis. Vitamin C is required to transform the lysine and proline into hydroxylysine and hydroxyproline, the forms of the amino acids necessary to rebuild collagen.

Consume The Right Amount of Protein in Your Diet

Increase the amount of protein you consume in your diet. Women should consume 46 grams of protein a day, while men should consume 56 grams per day. Protein supports the growth and health of collagen.

Apply Topical Retinol Cream

Apply a daily cream that contains retinol. You can get a prescription for a high-dose cream, but several quality products are available at drug and beauty stores. Retinol has been shown to heal the collagen breakdown caused by photodamage.

Collagen and hyaluronic acid are compounds in your skin and other connective tissues. Hyaluronic acid is needed to bind collagen with elastin, which are fibers that give your skin its stretch. Your body naturally breaks down and recycles collagen and hyaluronic acid on a continuous basis.

However, excessive sun exposure, injury and nutritional deficiencies can create reduced availability of collagen and hyaluronic acid and result in connective tissue degradation, which manifests as wrinkles, thinning cartilage, brittle hair and other common signs of aging.