How to Increase Collagen By Eating the Right Foods

When you pass the cosmetic counter these days, all you seem to see are anti-wrinkle creams. Do these products actually work and do they really keep your skin looking younger?  The anti aging industry is a huge business. Many of us want to look younger, which makes it easy for these big companies to convince us, their cream with collagen will do the trick

Most of these anti-wrinkle creams containing collagen and elastin, and won't do anything for us  at all due to the fact that that these two ingredients are structurally too dense to readily enter our skin. Unless both of these substances undergo extensive processing that will allow them to be absorbable then they will stay on the surface of the skin doing nothing.

Collagen is a type of protein, and works with keratin to provide the skin with strength, smoothness, elasticity and resilience. It is produced by the skin and other parts of the body. When you are young, you have an abundance of collagen in your body, which is why young children have such lovely shiny hair and smooth skin. It is referred to, as the cement which holds everything together. As you age collagen production declines and weakening of the skin occurs, this is when skin wrinkles, necks become saggy, lines form around eyes and mouth.

The skin is made up of three layers, epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The second layer of the skin (dermis) is where the protein collagen is found. Collagen molecules are bundled together throughout the dermis.

Always remember, anti aging facial creams with chemicals in them can actually age you instead of reversing aging. If these creams are not effective, what can be done to help stimulate skin cells , in order to boost collagen production.

There are ways to help you increase the collagen in your skin, so you have to know what nutrients your body really needs to do this.

Soy products  such as soymik and cheese contain an element known as genistein. The presence of genistein gives soy products their collagen production qualities, as well as helping to block enzymes that tend to break down and age the skin.  Just about any soy product contains enough genistein to be helpful, including soy products that have been developed as substitutes for meat products.

Dark green vegetables are also excellent examples of food containing collagen producing agents.  Add drak green leafy veggies such as spinach, cabbage and kale to your diet every day.  They are packed with an antioxidant called lutein.  You need 10 mg to get results - which equates to about  4oz. of spinach or 2oz. of kale.  Recent French research suggests this will boost skin hydration and elasticity, fighting wrinkles.  Rich in Vitamin C,  regular consumption of kale, spinach,collards, and asparagus help to strengthen the body's ability to manufacture collagen and to utilize the protein effectively.

Beans help your body produce a vital anti-ageing substance called hyaluronic acid.  Aim for at least two tablespoons of beans each day - broad or butter beans make a great substitute for mashed potatoes.