Collagen: the key ingredient for radiant skin

You often hear the word in beauty product advertisements: collagen. But what exactly is it, what role does it play in our body, and how can you ensure you get enough of it?

What does collagen do?

Collagen literally holds the skin together and provides firmness and structure. It also keeps the skin supple and elastic. Additionally, collagen has the ability to bind a lot of body moisture. This gives your skin volume and makes it appear 'fuller' and smoother.

Collagen is found in many places in your body, such as your tendons, cartilage, teeth, and also in the supportive and connective tissues of your skin. After your twenty-fifth year, the production of collagen gradually decreases. As a result, our skin becomes less firm and the first wrinkles appear. Over time, collagen fibres also harden, making your skin less resilient.

Fun fact: Collagen is also widely used in shampoos to make hair appear fuller, as it forms a layer around the hair.

What is collagen made of?

For those in the know: collagen is a glue-forming protein fibre. It is composed of the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. About 30% of the proteins in our body are made of collagen, and no less than 75% of our skin consists of collagen! There are roughly 25 different types of collagen. Of these, types 1, 3, and 4 are mainly found in our skin. Certain cells in our dermis are responsible for the formation of collagen. We call them connective tissue cells or fibroblasts. They form fibres that bundle into collagen in the skin.

How do you protect collagen?

Collagen is very sensitive to sun exposure and the stretching of the skin. Therefore, protect your skin well against the sun, as well as other severe weather conditions. Additionally, you need vitamin C for the formation of strong and stable collagen fibres, and this vitamin also plays an important role in maintaining healthy and firm skin.

Ensuring sufficient collagen

Various studies show that regular exercise stimulates collagen production. But certain foods can also help, here is a list:

Salmon
This fish can rightly be called beauty food! Salmon contains type 1 collagen. Precisely, the type that is mainly found in our skin. Fish collagen also structurally resembles human skin collagen the most. Additionally, salmon is full of proteins for the building of collagen.

Kiwis
Kiwis are very good for collagen building. This is because these fruits are full of vitamin C which promotes collagen production. Moreover, vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it can neutralise free radicals. These free radicals could otherwise damage collagen and other protein fibres.

Oysters
Some people love them, others loathe them. If you don't like oysters, here's a reason to eat them anyway. Oysters are rich in zinc, important for maintaining healthy skin, and proteins essential for collagen building!

Yoghurt
Yoghurt is not only very tasty but is also a good source of riboflavin. What does riboflavin do? Just like vitamin C, riboflavin promotes normal skin function and nourishes the skin from within. As an added bonus, yoghurt is also a good source of proteins.

Blueberries
These small blue fruits are not only bursting with vitamin C but also contain an antioxidant called anthocyanin. This antioxidant protects the connective tissue in your skin. The mineral manganese, also abundantly present in blueberries, contributes to the formation of healthy connective tissue.

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Author: Sanne van der Rijt