A nutritionist has explained the benefits of taking collagen and how you can add it to your diet. 

Superfoods and health fads come and go but one trend - which has recently risen in popularity across social media - looks like it's here to stay.

#collagenbenefits has garnered over 21 million views on TikTok and Google searches for 'collagen-rich foods' have seen an impressive 122% rise in the past month.

But beyond the hashtags, what is collagen, what benefits can it have on our health and how can we implement it into our diet?

Oxford Mail: A nutrionist has explained why collagen is so popular and what the benefits are. ( Getty Images)A nutrionist has explained why collagen is so popular and what the benefits are. ( Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

To answer these questions, Kyle Crowley, a nutrition expert at Protein Works has shared some advice.

You should note that the following information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

You should consult a doctor before making any changes to your diet or taking any supplements.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a protein that we produce naturally in our bodies, Lloyds Pharmacy explained.

We need it for strengthening our skin, muscles, connective tissues and more.

It's particularly popular with the skin and hair care communities, leading to endless products like creams, serums, and shampoos.

However, Lloyds Pharmacy noted that Collagen is becoming increasingly popular in the form of edible powders, supplements, and drinks.

What is the benefit of taking collagen?

“Collagen has many benefits, including supporting the bones, skin, muscles and other areas of the body," according to Kyle.

The nutrition expert added: "The protein has become particularly popular for women looking to improve their skin health because as you age, the body produces less collagen, which can lead to wrinkles forming.

"Studies have shown that collagen may help to slow down the ageing of the skin by reducing dryness and, in turn, the wrinkles it causes.”

What foods are rich in collagen?

The nutritionist also shared the collagen-rich foods you should be adding to your diet:

Bone Broth

The popularity of bone broth as a health remedy has continued to grow throughout the past year, becoming one of the biggest wellness trends.

Bone broth is one of the easiest and most effective ways for people looking to increase their protein intake and add probiotics to their diet, with one of the main proteins in the broth being collagen.

Collagen is the protein found in bones, tendons, and ligaments, so as the broth is cooking, these parts break down into collagen-derived gelatin, which helps with overall bone health.

Another benefit of broth is its gut health benefits as it contains probiotics that help rebuild the gut lining with beneficial bacteria left behind from the gelatin in the boiled bones.”

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Chicken

Chicken is a great source of collagen as both the skin and connective tissues contain a lot of the protein.

Poultry is a rich source of dietary collagen and an easy way to get the protein into your diet as it’s a common meat already eaten by many.

As chicken is a good source of protein, it is also beneficial for helping to promote muscle growth, and as it is low in calories but high in protein, it’s a popular choice for those looking to improve their overall health.

Fish

Fish is a great source of collagen, but in contrast to other foods, it contains marine collagen.

Marine collagen has been in the spotlight, in particular, for its anti-ageing properties as fish collagen is absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently into the body than bovine, cow-derived, collagen.

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What are collagen-rich foods for vegetarian and vegan diets?

The nutrition expert noted that many collagen food sources aren’t vegetarian or vegan-friendly.

However, Kyle explained that if you do eat a meat and fish-free diet then there are things you can do to boost your body’s ability to naturally produce more collagen.

He elaborated: “Foods rich in vitamin C like berries, garlic, leafy greens, citrus fruits, beans, oranges, tomatoes, whole grains and nuts are key to helping the body better produce collagen.

"These foods can help to boost the production of collagen as vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis.”