From burning fat and building muscle to improving mood and reducing stress, most of the benefits of exercise are well-known. But, if you need yet another reason to hit the gym, research suggests that exercise can boost collagen levels, helping you tone not only your muscles but also your skin.
According to Audrey Kunin, dermatologist and author of The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual, exercise increases delivery of nutrients to skin's cells and provides optimum conditions for collagen production, thus keeping away wrinkles and those oft-discussed fine lines.
Exercising has been shown to increase skin elasticity, give you a healthy glow and even combat common skin conditions like acne. The knowledge that you can fight aging and acne with some exercise might even put an extra pep in your step and really rev up your workout regimen.
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.
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.
A diet full of protein-rich foods, whether from plant or animal sources, can help supply these critical amino acids. Other nutrients that aid the process of collagen production include zinc, vitamin C, and copper. So, fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and minerals are also a friend to supple skin.
The collagen tissues support the formation of bones, tendons, and cartilage that form depending on the level of mineralization. However, an individual can lose collagen components in the body due to exposure to ultraviolet light, tobacco, excessive intake of sugar, and aging.
It can't reverse aging, per se, he cautions, but “there's clear evidence that exercise can activate the machinery necessary for DNA repair.” Of course, the sooner you begin and the longer you remain physically active, the better. But physical activity is important at every age.
It helps you get rid of impurities and dirt and opens up the pores. This enables your skin to get a fresh dose of oxygen. What's more, it improves its elasticity and makes you look younger. Workouts get your blood running faster, which not only boosts your energy levels but makes your skin looking gorgeous, too.
“When you work out, your blood is pumping more, which improves the circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, including your skin and ultimately leads to that post-workout glow,” dermatologist Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, M.D., tells SELF.
Sweating gives your skin glowing results
It boosts your circulation and delivers more nutrients to your skin via increased blood flow[4]. It can also stimulate the body's production of collagen over time, helping your skin to appear plumper and healthier[5].
What is runner's face? If you haven't heard the term, you've likely seen it. It is the face of a lifelong runner with leathery, saggy skin and a gaunt appearance. It is the result of lots of sun exposure and little body fat.
You can go the nonsurgical route and add firming creams or facial exercises to your skincare routine. There are also cosmetic procedures that provide quicker results, such as laser surfacing or ultrasound skin tightening. To find the best solution for you, consult a board-certified dermatologist.
Does Collagen Tighten Saggy Skin? Studies have indicated that supplemental collagen is beneficial for skin health, including tightening sagging skin (known as elasticity), boosting hydration, and lessening the appearance of wrinkles.
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.
Stress. High amounts of cortisol (the stress hormone) can break down the skin's collagen and elastin to form wrinkles. Chronic stress can be understood to have such negative effects on the skin that premature ageing takes place due to the inflammation and the body being unable to repair itself.
Current research reveals that collagen use could result in a reduction of wrinkles, rejuvenation of skin, and reversal of skin aging [16], which may improve skin hydration and elasticity [17].
A diet full of protein-rich foods, whether from plant or animal sources, can help supply these critical amino acids. Other nutrients that aid the process of collagen production include zinc, vitamin C, and copper. So fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and minerals are also a friend to supple skin.