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Collagen is to beauty like how the Queen is to England. A word mentioned so freely in the world of skincare and wellness, it’s as if everything starts and ends with collagen – and it just might be.
Such is the star power of collagen, it has since transcended its medical and aesthetical identity… and gone culinary.
Collagen hotpot, or more widely known as “beauty in a pot”, has been making the rounds in dining circles in recent times.
Often complemented with a chicken soup base, collagen hotpot is consumed steamboat style, with actual beige-coloured jelly-like collagen lumps in the soup, mingling with your customary vegetables, meat and steamboat staples.
The largely female patronage widely believe in the skin-nourishing qualities of those lumps of collagen, and food outlets islandwide are scrambling to add collagen hotpot as one of their offerings, to keep up with the competition and cope with the increasing demand.
What exactly is it about collagen, and why is it so revered by everyone who cares about their skin?
#1. They’re the “building blocks” of your skin
All the various cells, parts and systems in your body need to be held together by an adhesive of sorts, and collagen is that adhesive that holds it all together and gives it structure.
The most abundant protein that’s in our body, collagen is all about strength and connection; it holds everything together, most particularly your skin.
This is the reason why the tightness and suppleness of your skin is relative to how much collagen is available in your system. Coming of age signals the slowing down of collagen production, so you might need an accelerant of sorts to prevent your skin from succumbing to gravity.
Products like Unicorn Tears keep the collagen-churning machine in your purring in mint condition, while protecting you from the elements of the environment.
#2. Collagen actually boosts your metabolism, and the formation of lean muscle mass.
All the various cells, parts and systems in your body need to be held together by an adhesive of sorts, and collagen is that adhesive that holds it all together and gives it structure.
The most abundant protein that’s in our body, collagen is all about strength and connection; it holds everything together, most particularly your skin.
This is the reason why the tightness and suppleness of your skin is relative to how much collagen is available in your system. Coming of age signals the slowing down of collagen production, so you might need an accelerant of sorts to prevent your skin from succumbing to gravity.
Products like Unicorn Tears keep the collagen-churning machine in your purring in mint condition, while protecting you from the elements of the environment.
#3. Collagen can heal your wounds.
Now we all know by now how great collagen can be for our skin. If it can lift your skin, it can heal your wounds as well.
Collagen has the ability to attract cells like fibroblasts and keratinocytes to an open wound, fast-tracking the regrowth of tissue that is required to close and heal the wound. The growth of new tissues in turn purges the infected ones, making recovery seamless and speedy.
Such is the prowess of collagen on wounds, collagen wound dressings are a prevalent fixture in the medical world, for treatment of minor burns to major open cuts.
#4. You can actually replenish your own collagen levels.
As previously mentioned, the amount of collagen your body produces will start to dwindle as you get on in years.
In fact, after the age of 25, we lose an estimated 1% of collagen each year, more if we do not take care of ourselves. The bulk of our tell-tale signs of aging is inherent from our dipping collagen levels.
The good news is, the amino acids that make collagen in our body can be found in protein-rich food like beef, chicken, beans and eggs. Vitamin C you can find in fruits, greens and peppers also significantly contribute to the production of collagen.
One lesser known item you can consume to increase your collagen level can be found in the bones of beef, venison or poultry.
Increase your inner collagen by upping the intake of the aforementioned foods, and wash it down with a very rich, steamy bowl of soup boiled with authentic chicken broth – not the instant ones, mind you!
#5. There are procedures that can greatly stimulate collagen production
DIY methods of boosting collagen in your body do work to a certain extent, but you need a huge dose of discipline and patience to really see the results.
If you belong in the post-40 bracket of the age spectrum, you might not be able to afford the time to actually watch your new dietary habits bear fruit.
Say thank you to science, because advances in aesthetic technology have made the stimulation of collagen production stronger and faster…way faster.
One such procedure that is fast gaining traction is Ultherapy, once touted as the “ultimate beauty secret” in aesthetic circles.
This FDA approved procedure is non-invasive, but extremely efficient in the jumpstarting of collagen production from within, by way of ultrasound technology.
While your body starts producing collagen like you’re 20 again, the aging that you wear in the form of wrinkles and fine lines also start to disappear owing to Ultherapy, making you look and feel young again.
So have your fill of collagen whichever way you want it – the options are aplenty
