How to Naturally Boost Collagen

Even though your body may not produce the same levels of collagen as it once did, stimulating your collagen production has the potential to reverse some signs of aging. It might be easy to jump to the conclusion that taking collagen supplements for your skin would help, just as you can take calcium supplements to maintain strong bones.

However, the solution isn't as simple in the case of collagen, because you're trying to affect the way your body produces a protein, not just the way it absorbs a mineral. Collagen supplements come in pill and liquid form, and because collagen is found in your skin, bones and cartilage, you can combine it with other supplements. Collagen supplements may be mixed with glucosamine or chondroitin, two supplements used for joint and arthritis problems.

Since collagen gives cartilage its strength, it can also be helpful for those suffering from osteoarthritis [source: WebMD]. However, if you don't have joint problems, you might want to opt for collagen hydrolysate or collagen peptide supplements instead. Additionally, if you decide to give collagen supplements a try, you should also boost your vitamin C intake, as vitamin C helps the body produce collagen [source: Medline Plus].

As with any treatment, how soon someone see results after taking collagen supplements will vary from person to person. Be aware that dietary supplements are not regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they do not undergo the same testing as prescription drugs. If you are not sure whether taking a collagen supplement is right for you, ask your doctor.

If taking a pill doesn't sound right for you, perhaps a topical treatment is more acceptable. Read on to find out about collagen boosting creams.

If you've watched television or flipped through a magazine lately, you may have seen advertisements for anti-aging moisturizers and anti-wrinkle creams that claim to promote collagen production. The key to choosing the right product is studying what's on the label. If you're looking for an anti-aging moisturizer that will give your daily cleansing and moisturizing routine a collagen boost, look for these key ingredients:

Collagen creams can help improve the firmness and texture of your skin in the short term, but the overall goal is to stimulate your body's ability to increase collagen production [source: American Academy of Dermatology]. While creams can give your skin a healthy glow, however, there's no guarantee they will make you look like you're 20 again.

Now that you've explored the possible benefits of supplements and creams, read on learn about how certain foods may increase collagen production.

The building blocks that make up all proteins, including collagen, are called amino acids. If you lack the amino acids that combine to form collagen, your body's cells can't produce enough of it. What are the amino acids necessary for collagen production, then, and how can you make sure you're getting enough for your body?

Threonine is an essential amino acid for collagen production. An essential amino acid is one your body cannot make, so you have to get it from food or dietary supplements. You can get threonine from foods such as lentils, peanuts, eggs, milk, pork, beef and chicken. If you prefer a vegetarian diet, you can also get threonine from soybeans, chickpeas, hummus, snap beans and asparagus [source: Das]. Everything from a chicken dinner to a mid-day peanut snack may provide a benefit to your skin.

Another amino acid that aids in collagen production is proline. Unlike threonine, proline is a nonessential amino acid; nonessential amino acids are ones that either the body or other essential amino acids can produce. You can also help your body by eating foods high in proline, such as gelatin, soy, milk, cheese, beef and cabbage [source: Nutrition Data]. And as we mentioned before, vitamin C works along with proline to promote collagen production. Foods such as oranges, lemons and limes contain vitamin C.

You don't have to wait until the fine lines on your face turn into heavy wrinkles to think about preventing the signs of aging. You don't have to resort to expensive plastic surgery, either. To find out lots more information about collagen and basic skin care, see the links on the next page.