Have you ever wondered about the secret to healthy skin, strong joints, and flexible cartilage? It turns out, it all comes down to something called collagen. While many people think of bone broth or egg whites, there’s a super-secret, collagen-rich food that most people don’t even know about. This article will spill the beans on this amazing food and other great sources of collagen to help you feel your best.
💡What Is Collagen Anyway?
Collagen is a big deal for your body. It makes up about 30% of all the protein in you! Think of it like the glue that holds everything together. It helps keep your skin from sagging and getting wrinkles, makes your arteries stretchy so your blood pressure stays good, and keeps your joints cushioned. Basically, it’s super important for keeping you feeling young and moving well.
Here’s a little secret: you can’t get collagen from plants. Nope, not a single bit. If you see “plant-based collagen” products, they’re usually just things that help your body make its own collagen, like vitamin C. And vitamin C is important! Without it, your collagen can fall apart, like what happens with scurvy where gums start bleeding. But for actual collagen, you need animal sources.
Another thing to know is that you don’t get much collagen from regular meat, maybe only 1% to 3%. So, if you’re just eating a steak, you’re not really loading up on collagen. You need to look for other animal parts to get the good stuff.
📌Why Does Collagen Matter So Much?
As we get older, even after we hit 25, our collagen starts to go downhill. Think about a young person, maybe 17 or 18. Their joints are super flexible, and their skin is bouncy. That’s because they have tons of collagen. But as we age, that starts to change.
Collagen is also really important for your arteries. Your arteries should be nice and stretchy. If they lose collagen and get stiff, you can end up with high blood pressure and hardened arteries. Nobody wants that!
And here’s a big one: eating a lot of junk food, like refined sugar, starches, and seed oils, can make your collagen disappear even faster than just getting older. So, what you eat really makes a difference.
➡️Different Types of Collagen
It’s not just one type of collagen; there are a few, and they all do different jobs. To get the most benefits, you want to get a variety of them.
- Type 1 and Type 3 Collagen: These are found in things like fish skin, chicken skin, and bone broth. They’re great for your skin, bones, and hair. They help keep your skin elastic and prevent it from sagging.
- Type 2 Collagen: This type mainly comes from cartilage. If you’ve ever boiled a chicken leg, you can get this from the cartilage. It’s super helpful for your joints.
- Type 5 and Type 10 Collagen: You can find these in organ meats and the membranes inside eggs. These types are good for your eyes and help out at a really deep cellular level.
So, to cover all your bases, it’s a good idea to eat a mix of different collagen-rich foods.
✅The Best Collagen-Rich Food (That No One Talks About)
Alright, drumroll please! The absolute best, highest-quality source of collagen that hardly anyone talks about is rooster comb! Yes, that little red crest on top of a rooster’s head. It’s packed with something called GAGs, which are super important for your joints, skin, fascia (the stuff that surrounds your muscles), and even your cell membranes.
Some plastic surgeons used to inject this into skin to make it look younger, but guess what? You can eat it and get similar benefits! Rooster comb is like a superfood for your skin, helping with joint repair, gut healing, and even osteoarthritis. It’s about 90% collagen, which is incredible.
You probably won’t find rooster comb at your regular grocery store. You’ll have better luck at a Chinese or Filipino grocery store, or even by finding a local farmer who raises chickens. Sometimes you can even find it at a farmers market.
Key Takeaways:
- Rooster comb is an amazing source of high-quality collagen.
- It’s great for skin, joints, and gut health.
- Look for it in specialty grocery stores or from local farmers.
✅Other Great Collagen Foods
If rooster comb is a bit too adventurous for you, or if you just can’t find it, don’t worry! There are other fantastic sources of collagen you can add to your diet:
- Chicken Feet: These are a close second to rooster comb in terms of beneficial collagen. You can put them in a stew or boil them to get all that good stuff out.
- Fish Skin: When you buy fish, especially salmon, try to get it with the skin on and eat it! It’s super good for you.
- Beef Tendons: These are another excellent source of collagen.
- Bone Broth: This is a classic for a reason. It’s a great way to get a variety of collagens into your diet.
Remember, the goal is to get a variety of these foods to support different parts of your body, whether it’s your joints, skin, gut, or eyes. So, next time you’re planning your meals, think about adding some of these collagen powerhouses to your plate. Your body will thank you!