Where is collagen found

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Collagen is a protein — the most plentiful protein in your body. Collagen decreases as you get older, contributing to:.

Bradley says. When your body makes collagen, it combines amino acids — nutrients you get from eating protein-rich foods , like beef, chicken, fish, beans, eggs and dairy products. The process also requires vitamin C, zinc and copper. You can get vitamin C by eating citrus fruits, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and greens.

You can get the minerals by eating meats, shellfish, nuts, whole grains and beans. The body naturally makes its own collagen by breaking down dietary protein into amino acids. The amino acids are what build the various types of protein in the body, including collagen, according to Shannon Weston, a registered dietitian at the University of Texas Health School of Public Health in Houston.

You get the specific building blocks for collagen by eating a balanced diet of protein-rich foods chicken, beef, eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts and whole grains, for example and a variety of fresh produce, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A diet high in fresh vegetables and fruit has the added benefit of providing antioxidants, which protect the body from oxidative stress that can degrade collagen, Weston said.

The body's ability to produce collagen naturally decreases as we age, she said, but excess sun exposure, smoking and poor diet can also inhibit collagen production. Arthritis causes the collagen in joints to break down faster than it can be replenished, which results in joint pain and decreased mobility. But this method hasn't always proven effective, she said. A study published in the Journal of Arthritis found that oral collagen supplements helped relieve pain for patients with osteoarthritis , but collagen wasn't more effective than the existing leading drug treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

A study published in Nutrition Journal also found that collagen supplements helped relieve pain in patients with osteoarthritis. However, collagen is not likely to begin regrowing itself to completely reverse arthritis, even after a person takes oral supplements, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

On the other hand, surgically inserting collagen into arthritic joints may prove to be a promising treatment for arthritis, according to a study published in the journal PLOS One. Here are 12 foods and beverages to add to your diet for better skin health. You might notice this more on your face or on your body during certain times…. You are what you eat. Make sure your skin is at its best with these top tips for healthy skin, from the inside out. Beauty sleep — is it real?

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Fish and shellfish. Egg whites. Citrus fruits. Tropical fruits. Leafy greens. Bell peppers. Sugar and refined carbs can damage collagen. Some critical questions about collagen and diet. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R. The 12 Best Foods for Healthy Skin.