All About Collagen The Protein That Holds Us Together
skin smoother and stronger for longer. Collagen begins in the body as procollagen, which is created when two amino acids, glycine and proline, combine. Vitamin C aids this process, so any foods with high concentrations of these nutrients help your body produce more collagen.
Even if you have heard of collagen, chances are you don’t know much about what it does for the human body. Collagen makes up a third of the body’s proteins. In some ways, it is the glue that holds our bodies together (the first part of “collagen” comes from the Greek
word “ kolla ,” meaning “glue”). Getting your body to produce more collagen can have amazing health benefits, particularly for those who are aging and noticing more wrinkles. There are around 16 types of collagen proteins in the body, but type 1 collagen makes up roughly 90% of a person’s collagen count. Type 1 collagen gives structure to our tendons, bones, connective tissues, and skin. When we’re younger, our bodies produce enough collagen to keep our skin tight and strong. However, as we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen, which contributes to thinner skin and wrinkles.
Egg whites are a great source of proline, along with foods like asparagus, cabbage, and dairy products. Additionally, pork skin, chicken skin, and gelatin all have high levels of glycine. If you want to get your vitamin C levels up, citrus fruits, bell peppers, and strawberries are tasty choices. Watch out for foods and habits that can damage your collagen production, like eating lots of refined sugar, exposing your skin to too much sunshine, and smoking.
By adopting habits and diets that enhance collagen production, you can keep yourself looking younger and feeling better, even as you get older.
Fortunately, there are certain foods and nutrients you can consume to boost your collagen production and keep your
Patient
of the Month
ZACHARY LEBLANC TOMORROW FUND
treatment and its compassionate approach to children and their families.
The Tomorrow Fund was founded in 1985 to ease the traumatic financial and emotional stress of childhood cancer. These vital programs are made available to their patients and families from the time of diagnosis, throughout treatment, into recovery, and beyond. They rely solely on contributions to fund their programs. The clinic is widely recognized for its outstanding medical
“I chose the Tomorrow Fund clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in honor of my sister Gabrielle, who was treated twice there for pediatric cancer. The Tomorrow Fund was extremely helpful to my family during that time; because of their care, my sister is healthy and now a nurse who is able to give back to others.” –Zachary 2 • www.ProPTinc.com | Professional Physical Therapy
Zach is recovering from a significant surgery and has been making excellent gains and progress. Zach always works hard when he is in the clinic, and it is evident that he is working hard when he is at home as well. Zach’s time is winding down here, and we wish him the best and it was a pleasure working with him.
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