Chicken is rich in collagen. In fact, some collagen supplements are produced using connective tissue from chicken cartilage. While all chicken meat contains some collagen, areas with lots of connective tissue tend to be the highest in collagen content.
Another natural source of collagen protein is organ meats. These include the liver, tongue, heart, kidneys, and brains from beef, pork, or chicken (León-López, 2019).
Beef also contains type I collagen, which is the most abundant type of collagen in the body. Beef also has a more balanced omega-3: omega-6 ratio when compared to chicken.
Pork is generally more tender than beef because pigs are usually slaughtered at a younger age than cows, and so their muscles are less developed and have less collagen than do those of cows.
Research has shown, however, that bovine collagen tends to be more beneficial in muscles and bones and marine collagen tends to be more beneficial for joints.
Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is our top choice because it is NSF certified for sport and gives you 18 g of protein with no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. It's not only a great option for adding collagen but also gives you a good dose of protein if you're looking to up your intake.
If you're taking collagen for the anti-aging benefits, look for type I, or a combo of type I and type III. Both are found in the skin and support skin health (think: improved skin hydration, firmness and texture, as well as fewer wrinkles, per a review study in 2019 in the journal Molecules).
Initial results from collagen restoration treatments are usually visible immediately. However, new collagen growth can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks to complete. Keep in mind that while certain procedures can be very effective at restoring and replacing collagen, these results aren't permanent.
Fish, such as salmon and mackerel, are high in collagen, as are shellfish. However, the flesh of fish is not a particularly rich source of collagen. Instead, most of this vital protein is in the “less desirable” tissues of the fish, such as the scales, eyeballs, fins, and bones.
Eating foods that contain vitamin C and antioxidants, avoiding smoking, limiting caffeine intake, and protecting the skin from sunlight may all help preserve collagen or boost its production.
Nuts and seeds like pumpkin seeds, cashews, almonds and sesame seeds are rich sources of zinc and copper that promote collagen synthesis in the body [13] [14].
Which Fruits Have The Most Collagen? Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit are known for being foods high in collagen-producing properties.
Zinc. Zinc, a cofactor in the production of collagen, plays a vital role in collagen synthesis. This mineral is essential to cell repair and helps protect collagen in the body from damage. Zinc deficiency can reduce the amount of collagen produced, therefore getting adequate amounts is important!
Collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. "Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look," says dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz.
