Collagen is a type of protein that makes the skin firm. If the name rings a bell, that’s because it is the primary ingredient in many anti-aging creams and serums on the current market. Some women, especially budget-conscious once, can only dream of using the said products because they tend to cost a fortune. If you do not have the budget for any of those topical anti-aging solutions, fret not. It’s possible for you to encourage your body to produce more collagen!
Make sure that you repost this article on your various social media sites afterwards so that all of your beauty- and budget- conscious family and friends may also learn how to increase collagen production naturally.
Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep a Night
Believe it or not, having a good night’s sleep is usually good enough to prompt your body to generate more collagen. It is while you are spending hours having restorative sleep that your body gets to deeply repair itself, enticing more collagen to be produced in order to reinstate a more youthful-looking skin.
Unfortunately, not a lot of people are getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night due to stress and anxiety, most especially those who are leading very busy lives.
If you are one of them, make sure that you look for ways to combat insomnia naturally. Meditating and doing yoga are both scientifically proven to help reduce high levels of stress. You may drink calming herbal teas like chamomile or jasmine before you hop into bed. There are lots of relaxing essential oils that you may give a try.
Increase Your Vitamin C Intake
According to skin specialists, the body requires vitamin C in order for it to produce collagen. It’s for this reason why it is a good idea for someone like you who wish to fend off skin sagging and wrinkling to include lots of vitamin C-rich foods in the everyday diet, especially if you cannot afford those pricey collagen-containing anti-aging products.
Some of the top food sources of vitamin C include citrus as well as tropical fruits. Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, spinach, winter squash and bell peppers are included.
If you feel that your diet does not consist of enough servings of foods that contain vitamin C, you may supplement with ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate daily. However, make sure that you inform your doctor about your plan on taking supplements if you have a known medical condition.
Exercise on a Regular Basis
Getting your regular dose of exercise, according to experts, also helps in enhancing the body’s production of collagen. But other than making your skin appear firmer and younger-looking, exercising on a regular basis also helps fend off various health problems, ranging from diabetes to heart disease.
It’s a good idea for you to opt for aerobic exercises as well as strength training ones. The combination of these exercises is good for collagen synthesis and optimized health.
Just because exercising can encourage the body to produce more collagen doesn’t mean that you should overdo it to really make your skin wrinkle-free. Actually, exercising more than necessary can accelerate the process of aging as it can increase the formation of free radicals known to damage healthy skin cells.
Save Existing Collagen From Damage
Aside from the generation of more collagen, you should also focus on things that can help in keeping currently existing collagen out of harm’s way. Experts say that you should considerably limit your exposure to environmental pollutants and the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Make sure that you reduce your consumption of processed foods. It will also help a lot if you consume alcohol in moderation and turn your back on cigarette smoking. Reducing stress is highly recommended.
