The plant based diet in general is going to give you AWESOME skin. That’s just a fact there’s no escape from, but did you know there are still certain foods you can eat to promote collagen production even more?
This wonderful, collagen boosting tropical smoothie for glowing skin is the perfect addition to your plant based diet to boost your skin beauty even further.
What Is Collagen
Collagen is a protein made primarily from the amino acids proline, glycine, and hrdroxyproline. Together they form three strands, making up what is known as the ‘triple-helix structure’, which is what gives skin its taut, plump appearance.
As the most abundant protein in the human body, collagen accounts for 30% of over-all bodily protein. It is also the primary building block to bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and very importantly (if you want to look good on the outside), the skin.
Known as a ‘structural’ protein, collagen helps in the maintenance of the shape, strength, and integrity of these organs and is therefore VITAL in the anti aging process.
Collagen is also vital to the plumpness and elasticity of skin, which is the main reason why you see the words ‘collagen’ everywhere these days. It’s pushed heavily in supplement form for internal use, and also promoted in skin-care products for its anti ageing benefits.
But, NOTHING works better than obtaining your collagen-boosting nutrients from plant food sources in their whole form.
How Do I Obtain Collagen?
It’s a common misconception that you can simply put collagen ‘into’ the body in the form of certain foods and supplements, but this isn’t how collagen works. The body is the only thing thing that can produce collagen that is useable to you and it does so by acquiring the correct amino acids and nutrients from the food you eat.
The most common way to obtain the amino acids to make collagen would be to eat animal products such as bone broth and organ meats, but these come with their own inflammatory drawbacks and are not ideal.
It’s far better to obtain your collagen promoting nutrients by eating a whole food plant based diet. In doing this, you will not be able to help but get everything you need daily to support collagen formation and maintenance (very important too).
How Do I Obtain Collagen Without Animal Products?
There are a multitude of ways to obtain the right amino acids and nutrients for your body to produce collagen by eating just plants. In fact, nearly ALL plant foods contain amino acids and nutrients that enable you to do this. When you eat just ‘whole’ plant foods, you are pretty much going to be boosting your collagen production with every bite, and you won’t even have to think about it.
The nutrients in this collagen boosting tropical fruit smoothie are a prime example of some of the best collagen boosting nutrients, without the side effects of INFLAMMATION.
When you look about you, it’s not the Keto dieters’ or big meat eaters that have that beautiful, glowing skin. On the contrary, eating too many animal products in the form of meat and dairy (even though they are very high in collagen boosting amino acids) can make you look positively grey in palour and, quite frankly, not very healthy and vibrant. This truly says it all when it comes to collagen production and how it works in the body.
Oh yes, it’s the people who eat a ton of fruits and vegetables that look vibrant, every time.
Which Nutrients Are Needed For Collagen Production?
Collagen production requires an array of different amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that are abundant in all plant based foods. We are talkin about whole plant foods specifically, not oils or refined sugars, and definitely not vegan ‘junk’ foods.
These amino acids, vitamins, and minerals include:-
- Proline (amino acid)
- Lycine (amino acid)
- Hydroxyproline (amino acid)
- Zinc (mineral)
- Vitamin C (vitamin)
- Copper (mineral)
- Antioxidants (all fruits and vegetables)
Which Foods Are Best For Collagen Production?
For the best, all-round collagen support, production, and maintenance, you ideally should eat a whole foods plant based diet with an emphasis on raw foods as much as possible. This will ensure a good array of amino acids and nutrients.
The best plant based foods for collagen production and maintenance that contain all the above nutrients needed are as follows:-
- All fruits (but, specifically tropical fruits like the ones in this smoothie) for vitamin C, antioxidants, and bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapple that helps inhibit collagen breakdown).
- All vegetables, due to their vitamin C and antioxidant content.
- Healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, and seeds, which contain zinc and vitamin E.
- Soybeans (tofu, tempeh, miso paste), legumes, and peanuts for all round amino acids.
- Potatoes, cacao, shitake mushrooms, sunflower, and sesame seeds for copper.
What So Good About This Collagen Boosting Tropical Smoothie?
This specific tropical smoothie recipe is high in all of the above nutrients needed for collagen production, support, and maintenance.
When drunk regularly, and along with a high intake of other plant base foods, this smoothie will get your skin GLOWING on a level that you may never have experienced. Seriously, PEOPLE WILL NOTICE!
Every element of this smoothie works together perfectly to get you glowing from the inside out.
Ingredients of collagen boosting tropical smoothie are:-
PINEAPPLE
- Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps inhibit the breakdown of that precious collagen in your body. Always use the core of the pineapple as this is where the highest concentration of bromelain lies.
- This highly nutritious tropical fruit also contains branch chain amino acids, which aid collagen production.
- High vitamin C content.
- High in antioxidants.
MANGO
- Abundant in vitamin C.
- Contains NINE branch chain amino acids.
- High in polyphenols such as ‘mangiferin’, which help protect cells from oxidative stress.
- High in antioxidants.
- Contains copper.
BANANA
- High in vitamin C.
- High in potassium, which helps maintain skin hydration and elasticity.
- High in manganese, a co-factor for the enzymes involved in collagen synthesis.
- Contains zinc.
PAPAYA
- High in vitamin C.
- Contain the enzyme ‘papain’ which helps you to absorb nutrients from your food (AKA antioxidants!).
- High in beta-carotene to help fight free radicals in the body, which promotes anti aging on a cellular level.
HEMP SEEDS
- High in ALL amino acids.
- Rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which help protect the skin from inflammation and oxidation – both of which accelerate collagen breakdown.
- High in lignans, a plant compound that promotes skin elasticity.
- Contains B1 and magnesium, both essential for skin. These nutrients work together to boost cellular repair.
Collagen Boosting Tropical Fruit Smoothie For Glowing Skin
Equipment
- High speed blender
Ingredients
- 2-3 cups filtered water Use the higher end if you like a thinner smoothie and the lower end if you like it thick. You can use 1 cup water if you want to turn it into a thick, pudding consistency.
- 1 cup fresh pineapple
- 1 cup fresh mango OR papaya (or a mix of both)
- 1 large very ripe banana (ideally frozen)
- 2 Tbsp raw, shelled hemp seeds Can be subbed for soaked cashew nuts
Instructions
- Whizz up your hemp seeds with the water first to make a creamy milk.
- Next add all your fruit. Ideally it's good to have some part of your fruits frozen so that your smoothie gets nice and frothy and is chilled down. It doesn't matter which fruits are frozen, but half and half is good.
- Whizz on high speed for at least 40 seconds, or until super creamy and smooth. Do not under blend as you really want to break up all ice and fruit particles if you want this smoothie to be as creamy and delicious as possible.Check consistency. You may wish to add more water if you like a thinner smoothie.
- Serve immediately!
Video
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