Although eggs don't contain connective tissues like many other animal products, egg whites do have large amounts of proline , one of the amino acids necessary for collagen production.
In fact, collagen has been shown to be so prevalent in eggs that it is found in the shell membrane, yolk and egg white. In a 2015 study, researchers discovered how egg shell membranes have outstanding effects on the suppression of skin aging and protecting the skin from UVB radiation.
Eggshell membranes are especially concentrated in type I collagen, which is by far the same type found in the greatest amounts in the human body. Eggshell collagen also inherently features other beneficial compounds such as: chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine hyaluronic acid, elastin and keratin.
Bone Broth
This tops the list of food sources that contain high amounts of collagen. You can buy bone broth at the grocery store or make it yourself. To make bone broth at home, simply cook beef, pork, poultry, or fish bones in water.
Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body as both are important for skin. Foods such as oranges, red peppers, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries are all rich in vitamin C.
Many healthy foods promote collagen production, but there are few actual collagen sources in food. Thankfully I have good news — eggs have collagen!
Eggshells, on the other hand, are comprised of an inner and outer membrane consisting of fibers. These fibers are composed mainly of proteins- about 10% of which are collagen proteins.
Eggshells contain nutrients that promote healthy joints, like collagen, chondroitin, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid.
Eggs include lutein, which can enhance skin moisture and suppleness, and protein, which helps rejuvenate and tighten the skin.
Foods to boost collagen production
[6] These include fish, poultry, meat, eggs, dairy, legumes, and soy. Collagen production also requires nutrients like zinc that is found in shellfish, legumes, meats, nuts, seeds, and whole grains; and vitamin C from citrus fruits, berries, leafy greens, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
"It's worth remembering that coffee doesn't destroy collagen, it inhibits its production," says nutritional therapist at the Pulse Light Clinic, Lisa Borg.
What foods naturally contain collagen? While collagen has been added to foods like peanut butter, it is found naturally in other protein sources like meats, according to LeVeque.
There is no upper limit on how much collagen you can take per day, but most experts recommend taking between 15 and 30 grams per day. If you're new to taking collagen supplements, start with the lower end of this range and increase gradually as your body adjusts to the supplement.
Can you take too much? Collagen is generally considered to be a safe and nontoxic daily supplement for healthy individuals, and most people won't experience adverse side effects. Still, some have reported symptoms, such as an unpleasant taste, feeling overly full, or other stomach complaints ( 27 ).
To increase skin's elasticity, firmness, and texture, and help prevent fine lines and wrinkles, studies show that taking up to 2.5 grams is effective. Here's a caveat: most users will find that they need less than 2.5 grams of hydrolyzed collagen to see skin-benefiting results.
With naturally occurring vitamin D, and also rich in antioxidants (vitamins A, E), eggs help prevent the formation of new wrinkles. It's the vitamin E in eggs that work to combat those free radicals responsible for cellular damage. Eggs are also dense in vitamin A, which helps boost the skin's elasticity.
Anti-ageing benefits of using eggs. The proteins in an egg-based face mask help to bind moisture to the skin, providing anti-ageing benefits. The hydration offered by eggs, plumps out the skin—makes lines and wrinkles less visible.
The antioxidants in eggs can start to repair the damage. Your skin can look younger and healthier, regardless of your age. Egg whites help to lift the skin and smooth out wrinkles.
Ultraviolet rays, aka sunlight, cause collagen to break down faster. With sun exposure, those UV rays damage the skin by entering the dermis (the second and thickest layer of our skin) which causes collagen to break down faster.
Collagen levels decrease with age and, unfortunately, there's no way to prevent this. The good news is that there are several cosmetic treatments that can rebuild or restore collagen.