Why eating more collagen helps with aging
You’ve probably seen a lot of advertising for collagen peptides or bone broth collagen scattered throughout your social feeds. And there’s a reason for the collagen spotlight right now:
Collagen is the most
Think of it as the glue that holds these things together. And naturally, as we age, our production of collagen slows (hello, wrinkles and weak muscles!).
How to meet your body’s needs
Our bodies and dietary needs change as we age, especially as we reach our 40s.
On top of that,
Making sure you’re eating right from the beginning may help ease any age-related transitions.
Nutrients and vitamins to consider eating more of are:
- Vitamin C. Found in foods such as citrus fruits, kiwi, and pineapple.
- Copper. Found in foods such as organ meats, cocoa powder, and portabella mushrooms.
- Glycine. Found in foods such as gelatin, chicken skin, and pork skin.
- Zinc. Found in foods such as oysters, beef, and crab.
Luckily, there are plenty sources of collagen out there too, as well as antioxidant-rich foods to help boost your intake so your body stays in tip-top shape.
Follow our shopping list and recipes to get a feel for what it’s like to be eating an anti-aging diet. We promise it’s delicious.
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Keep reading to get a sneak peek of our anti-aging food guide.
We specifically created these healthy, antioxidant-boosting meals to help support your body’s natural production of collagen. These meals take about 40 minutes each to prepare and are perfect for people looking to meal prep. To have enough for the week, we recommend doubling the serving sizes.
For the full recipes, including step-by-step photos, download our guide.
Quinoa bowl with lemon vinaigrette
Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for bone and joint health as well as brain function. Pair that with a scoop of collagen peptides and some collagen-boosting ingredients — such as lemon, sweet potato, kale, and avocado — and you’ve got yourself a great anti-aging meal!
Serves: 2
Time: 40 minutes
Get the recipe!
Sweet potato tacos with spicy avocado dressing
Chicken is packed full of protein, which is essential for the health of our bodies. With the dressing already containing a scoop of collagen peptides, the sweet potatoes, onion, avocado, and lime will make this meal a true anti-aging friend.
This is also a great meal to prep ahead of time, especially if you live that on-the-go lifestyle.
Low-carb option: For the low, low-carb option, you can nix the tortilla and add some leafy greens to make it a gut-friendly salad.
Serves: 2
Time: 40 minutes
Get the recipe!
Kale Caesar salad with chicken
In most Caesar salads, you’ll see romaine as the base. We took a twist and packed our Caesar salad with more nutrient-dense leafy greens, like kale and spinach. We also refined the traditional Caesar dressing, which is usually filled with additives, to keep it as healthy as possible.
Pro tip: If you’re not feeling bread but still want some crunch, add some nuts or seeds. Or fry up some chickpeas!
Serves: 2
Time: 45 minutes
Get the recipe!
Sweet potato nice cream
Craving sweet potato pie but don’t have the time to make it? We get it — pie crust alone can be a hassle. Insert sweet potato nice cream: Your craving in ice cream form, sure to satisfy all your needs while also adding (and boosting) collagen dosage.
It serves two, but we’re sure you’ll want to at least triple this recipe.
Serves: 2
Time: 5 minutes
Get the recipe!
Incorporate these anti-aging, collagen-boosting foods into your diet and feel your body get stronger. Our easy, go-to shopping list is based off how well they’ll support your body. You can’t go wrong with this.
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Produce
Ingredients
- sweet potatoes
- kale
- spinach
- shallots
- avocado
- garlic
- lemon
- red onion
- scallions
- lime
- banana
Proteins
Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- salmon
Dairy
Ingredients
- almond milk
- flax milk
- parmesan (365 Everyday Value)
- plain goat milk yogurt (Redwood Hill Farm)
Pantry staples
Ingredients
- quinoa
- red wine vinaigrette
- black beans (365 Everyday Value)
- almond butter (365 Everyday Value)
- cocoa powder (365 Everyday Value)
- vanilla extract (365 Everyday Value)
- anchovy paste
- Dijon mustard (365 Everyday Value)
- Worcestershire sauce (365 Everyday Value)
- sprouted whole-grain bread
- tortillas
- collagen peptides (Primal Kitchen)
Spices and oils
- salt
- pepper
- cumin
- smoked paprika
- chili powder
- cinnamon
- olive oil
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We’ve partnered with companies like Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value, Kettle Fire, Redwood Hill Farm, and Bob’s Redmill to create this collagen-friendly grocery list.
You may notice these signs and symptoms if your body is low on collagen. Some of the symptoms you may experience are:
- achy joints
- leaky gut
- symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome
- wrinkles and fine lines
- skin dryness
- cellulite
- hair thinning
- blood pressure issues
To combat these symptoms…
…or minimize them, stop with the
While you definitely don’t need to “feel older” in order to try this diet, research
So, you’ve got your collagen peptides and collagen protein. You’ve made these recipes, but you’re still wanting more to vary up the rest of your week. Here are some other ingredients you can add to your shopping list:
- berries
- butternut squash
- tomatoes
- avocado
- Brussels sprouts
- eggplant
- asparagus
- legumes
Some spices to add include:
- turmeric
- ginger
- green tea
- superfoods like maca, spirulina, and acai
By incorporating these nutrients and vitamins alongside increasing your collagen intake and collagen-boosting foods, you’re sure to help your body age as gracefully as possible.
Ayla Sadler is a photographer, stylist, recipe developer, and writer who’s worked with many of the leading companies in the health and wellness industry. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and son. When she’s not in the kitchen or behind the camera, you can probably find her toting around the city with her little boy or working on her passion project MaMaTried.co— a community for the mama. To see what she’s up to, follow her on Instagram.
