2 Vital Beverages That Boost Collagen And Prevent Premature Aging, According To Doctors
1. Collagen Powder Mixed With Water
When thinking about the best daily drinks that help promote a more radiant, glowy complexion in anyone’s aging skin, green tea or orange juice might come to mind. While these drinks are certainly great for your health and skin, Jaliman recommends a simpler option, one that can be paired directly with a product designed to promote more youthful-looking skin.
She suggests “mixing collagen powder with water” to specifically target your goals. This powerful pairing helps with overall hydration as your body needs water at any age, and collagen powder directly links to collagen production. The more collagen we have, she says, the more youthful our skin will feel and appear.
“Water is preferred as you want to avoid sugary drinks,” Jaliman says. “Drink at least 7-8 glasses of water per day as drinking water increases blood flow in the skin and body.” If you’re experiencing dry, patchy, wrinkling skin and “feel thirsty,” she notes that this is your body “asking for” water. “Our cells and tissues are made up of mostly water,” she adds. “It’s important to stay hydrated.” She recommends opting for a collagen powder like NeoCell Super Collagen ($23.35 via Amazon), as it can "increase skin elasticity and can help your body’s skin repair process."
Collagen loss begins as young as the age of 21 and by the age of 40, women have lost "between 10-20 percent of their collage and 1% thereafter," Richards explains. "There are three primary types of collagen and it is best to consume a collagen supplement that contains most of the five forms," she says, "At the least it is ideal to take types 1 and 3 together." Collagen can be taken supplementally as a capsule or powder form. "When taken as a powder, especially mixed in with a protein powder, this can enhance absorption of the collagen," Richards advises.
2. Blueberry Juice & Smoothies
Since it isn't possible to completely prevent wrinkles from forming with age, staying hydrated and eating a myriad of nutrient-rich fruit is key to maintain a youthful glow.
One fruit that is linked to supporting collagen synthesis and that contains healthy antioxidants is blueberries. To really gain the benefits of this as prevent premature aging, one can drink blueberry juice daily or add these fruits to a healthy smoothie.
When it comes to boosting collagen and anti-aging, Loucas explains blueberries they are "thick in antioxidants, which help protect the skin from daily environmental and internal insults." Additionally, blueberries are rich in vitamin A & C, and the latter fights collagen breakdown.
Loucas says that blueberries are also well-known to have anti-inflammatory properties. "Inflammation is a common denominator for many skin ailments including photoaging, eczema, acne, and rosacea, just to name a few," he points out. With that said, adding these to your morning smoothie is a great way to boost collagen production.
The Bottom Line
If you don't know where to start, Factor concludes that beverages like simple water and fruit juices that are "high in anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties" may "improve the skin’s elasticity and protect against skin damage and premature aging." Drinks like collagen powder mixed with water and blueberry juice and smoothies are abundant in essential minerals, have the potential to enhance the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.
Adding more vitamin C to your diet through your diet can also "be effective at preventing the onset of wrinkles," Factor points out. She stresses that this consuming this nutrient, along with "drinking plenty of water, protecting your skin from the sun, not smoking, and managing your stress" plays a key role when it comes to "keeping your skin healthy and youthful." Good to know!