tryadietforamonth.com

Category: Recipes

How to Increase Collagen Levels in Your Body

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in the human body. It is the primary structural protein in the extracellular matrix, which makes up our body’s connective tissue. Collagen accounts for 25% to 35% of the total protein content of the human body. It also has a large role in the development of skin and joints. When properly used, collagen can protect and promote healthy skin and joints. There are many ways to increase collagen levels in your body. Collagen can be found in a variety of forms and is typically prepared by boiling animal bones, skin, and cartilage. The gelatin produced from this process is thought to promote collagen production in the body. Many eating plans advocate high-protein diets to encourage the production of collagen. High-protein foods include fish, meat, eggs, and dairy. They also contain zinc and vitamin C, which are important for collagen production. Bone broth is a great source of collagen and can be incorporated into many recipes, such as soups, stews and curries, as well as being drunk by itself or in a smoothie.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is easily and cheaply produced by simmering a chicken carcass or a piece of cheap meat that includes a piece of bone marrow (such as shin) in a slow cooker for about 36 hours. Adding a couple of bay leaves to the slow cooker gives flavor and adding 2 dessertspoonfuls of apple cider vinegar improves the amount of nutrients provided in the broth.

Supplements

Supplements containing collagen are another way to get the amino acids you need to maintain collagen levels in your body. While collagen creams and collagen injections can be helpful, they are not the best solution for everyone. There are safer and more natural ways to obtain collagen. Because collagen is so complex, scientists have had difficulty recreating it in the lab. However, they are getting closer. You can also take collagen supplements that come in powder and capsule form. Many of these products are also easily incorporated into smoothies, baked goods, and teas.

Collagen

Collagen is an important protein molecule that helps form connective tissues in the body. It is resistant to stretching and provides structural support. It is also essential for skin elasticity and firmness. The molecule is naturally found in the flesh of animals. If you consume animal products like eggs and beef, you are supplying the body with the materials it needs for the production of collagen.

Collagen has two primary structures: fibrillary collagen and meshwork collagen. These are similar in structure but different in alpha-peptide composition. The most common collagen is fibrillary, whereas meshwork collagen is often involved in filtration systems. There are also several other types of collagen. Each one is triple-helix, but the differences between them lie in the type of alpha-peptides in the collagen. It’s essential to remember that there are several kinds of collagen, and this makes it necessary to understand the difference between them. There are several collagen supplements available on the market. Some people use collagen supplements for cosmetic purposes, while others use them as a means to improve their health.

Ingesting collagen is an excellent way to increase your collagen levels, improve your skin’s texture, and prevent wrinkles. You should also consult with your doctor about a collagen supplement if you suspect that it’s right for you. Collagen is a structure protein that plays an important role in the phenotype of cells, tissue regulation, and infrastructure. This protein is composed of regions containing high concentrations of proline and hydroxyproline. Proline contains a carboxyl group and hydroxyproline is a secondary amino group. The amino acids glycine and proline contribute to the left-handed helices.

Type I collagen is the most common type of collagen and accounts for up to 90 percent of the body’s supply. Type II collagen is composed of shorter fibers and helps form tough, flexible tissues. Type III collagen is found in the gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels, and helps with blood clotting and wound healing. While collagen is easily broken down, it is widely used in medical products and supplements.

Gut Healing

Collagen is also known for its ability to help with leaky gut syndrome. It repairs damaged cell walls and soothes the gut lining. It also helps build muscle mass and heal wounds. Collagen is also beneficial for osteoarthritis and helps ease the pain associated with this condition. It also improves the quality of life. Consuming a healthy diet and reducing risk factors is an excellent way to increase collagen production. Dietary supplements and proper exercise can also increase the amount of collagen in the body.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet – Breakfast

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Sufferers from inflammatory bowel diseases, such as IBD, IBS, Celiac disease, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, etc., have often been told they will “need to eat a bland diet from now on, with no fiber, etc”. Sufferers have also been told that what they eat makes no difference to the course of the disease.

Those who suffer from any of these diseases may try eating bland diets but what is a bland diet and does it really help to alleviate the problems that people with Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis, etc experience? One sufferer was told that he must eat pasta and mashed potato, no fiber of any kind, no fruit, etc. Others have been told to stay off spices. Some people are also allergic to, or suffer from food intolerances with milk or gluten (bread).

Desperate For Help

One mother was desperate to help her 4 year old child, suffering from chronic Ulcerative Colitis. Most doctors could not help, they learned nothing about nutrition in medical school and many still do not, even these days. Finally, she found Dr. Sydney Haas who had been successfully treating people with Celiac disease and he was able to help her child through changing her diet. The mother was Elaine Gottschall and she went on to fully research the whole area of inflammatory bowel disease, working closely with Dr. Haas and gaining a degree and a masters degree in subjects related to the area. Elaine wrote a book, “Breaking The Vicious Cycle” which has has been through 18 reprints and which has helped countless sufferers from inflammatory bowel disease to live much improved lives. If you want to know more about helping relieve the kinds of problems such as gas, inflammation, pain, bleeding and diarrhea, that people with IBD, etc., experience, then read the book.

NOT A Bland Diet

The recommended “bland” diet actually comprised the very foods that, according to Elaine Gottschall’s book, were CAUSING the bowel problems. Foods like bread, potatoes, pasta, sweet potatoes, cakes, cookies and anything with sugar or flour, etc are not allowed on this diet. Yet you can happily eat most fruit and many vegetables, along with meat, fish and eggs, to provide a balanced, healthy, nutritious diet. And if you want a bit of sweet stuff, honey is allowed!

For those suffering badly from any of these diseases, an initial food of carrot soup prepared in a particular way is very helpful, followed a short while later (a few days) with a special 24 hour yogurt made at home, usually in a yogurt maker.

Recipe And Meal Plan

Breakfast

So what can you eat for breakfast? No problem. How about scrambled eggs? (NO MILK). Melt a bit of butter in a saucepan, add your mixed eggs and cook to your preferred consistency. If you cannot take butter, you can scramble the eggs without, provided you take care and keep stirring. There’s also poached egg on spinach or a boiled egg. Remember, no toast, unless you make up some special almond flour bread from one of the recipes in the book “Breaking The Vicious Cycle“, by Elaine Gottschall.

Alternatively, what about a banana? Make sure there are brown spots on the skin. This means the carbohydrate in the banana has changed to the easily digestible form.

If your insides are very painful or you have a lot of symptoms, try mashing the banana before eating. Once the symptoms have subsided, you could also add dates and grapes to make a super-healthy, filling breakfast. You could even add a special almond and honey muffin.

The picture shows a honey, almond and coconut muffin but these should only be eaten after all diarrhea has stopped. Until then, eat the honey almond muffins made with the recipe in the book “Breaking The Vicious Cycle“.

Another possibility is a bowl of the 24 hour yogurt with stewed fruit. This can also be a delicious dessert. Pears, eating apples or plums are all delicious when stewed in a little water (no sugar). If you need more sweetness, drizzle some honey on top of the yogurt and stewed fruit – delightful.

SCD Legal Meals – Lunch

Note: This post contains Affiliate Links

Lunch

How do you fancy a tasty omelette?

This omelette is totally SCD legal.

Recipe – serves two for a filling, satisfying lunch

Half a red pepper cut into small pieces
6 slices of zucchini
5 or 6 small mushrooms, sliced
5 eggs, beaten,
Butter to fry
salt and pepper to taste.

Method

1. Fry the red pepper, the mushrooms and zucchini gently in the butter until cooked.
2. Add the beaten eggs with some salt and pepper.
3. Cook gently until the omelette is ready.
Serve With:
Tinned tomatoes, or salad

Other optional items

You can replace any of the items in the omelette filling with sliced fresh tomato if you choose, or leave out any items if you don’t like them or they disagree with you.

NOTE: Check the label to see that your tinned tomatoes do not contain any sugar.