We've all heard that "Black don't crack". It ultimately comes from the belief that due to the extra doses of melanin that we've been blessed with, our skin doesn't age as quickly as, well, others do. Yet when it comes to taking preventative measures to keep our skin as ageless as possible, for as long as we can, it's also important to keep our collagen levels up. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our system and, thanks to the approximately 16 different kinds that we have around connective tissues like tendons, teeth and bones, when we've got a good amount of it in our body, it helps to keep our joints healthy, increase our muscle mass, give us longer hair and stronger nails, increase our protein and offer our skin extra hydration and elasticity.
So, as you can see, collagen is essential. Unfortunately, with just about every birthday, the fibers that make collagen up start to become thinner and looser. That's why it's imperative that we become as proactive as possible about boosting our collagen levels over time. While again, collagen is necessary for a myriad of health-related reasons, today, I'm mostly going to focus on how it can get your skin (and hair and nails) right, so that you can be as timeless as possible for as long as possible. Here are 10 tips to make that happen.
1. Become a Huge Fan of Vitamin C
If you want to produce more collagen, it's absolutely essential that you get more Vitamin C into your system. The reason why is because it's the nutrient that actually helps your body to produce more collagen; it does this by boosting up the synthesis of collagen. You can get more collagen into your body by eating foods that are loaded with Vitamin C such as citrus fruit, chili peppers, kale, broccoli, kiwi, guava, tomatoes, potatoes, mangoes and cauliflower or by taking a Vitamin C supplement. Oh, and if you want to get some Vitamin C into your skin from "the outside in", a Vitamin C serum certainly can't hurt either. Oprah Daily published a list of some of the best current Vitamin C serums that are on the market. You can check it out here.
2. Eat Less Sugar and Caffeine
If you've been trying to cut back on coffee and sugar, here's a major motivator to do just that. While sugar actually breaks down collagen, caffeine then turns around and reduces the amount of new collagen that forms within your body. That's why, as far as your sweet tooth goes, it really is better to consume more honey. It contains a type of alpha hydroxy acid known as gluconic acid that helps to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. And if you feel as if you need a bit of a caffeine fix, even after what I just shared, how about some green tea? The antioxidants in it help you to maintain your collagen levels while still giving you a bit of an energy boost too.
3. Eat More Hyaluronic Acid Foods
I'm pretty sure you've seen a skincare commercial that talks about its products having hyaluronic acid in it before. Well, did you know that it's actually a substance that your body produces — one that helps to keep your skin, connective tissues and eyes moist? Not only that but it's the kind of acid that helps with cellular regeneration, wound repair and it supports collagen remaining healthy.
Believe it or not, there are foods that are full of hyaluronic acid. Some of them include bone broth, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens (because the magnesium in them help to produce hyaluronic acid), carrots, beets, Tempe, tofu, liver, cocoa and whole grains (the zinc in them help you to maintain your hyaluronic acid levels). If you eat more of those, there's no need to spend a mint on beauty products that contain it.
4. Cook with Fresh Herbs
Do you enjoy cooking? If so, another way to add more collagen into your system is to cook with the kinds of herbs that stimulate production of it in your body. Some of those include cilantro, calendula, thyme, paprika and rosemary. Just make sure they're as fresh as possible; that way, you can get more collagen (or Vitamin C) from them.
5. Drink Some Aloe Vera Juice
You don't have the time and I don't have the space to talk about all of the benefits of Aloe vera. As far as beauty is concerned, it contains bioactive compounds, antioxidants and antibacterial properties which help to strengthen your hair; soothe an itchy scalp; protect your hair and skin from UV damage; replenish dry skin; help to heal eczema and psoriasis and reduce the appearance of acne. Aloe vera is also dope because if you drink it in pure juice form, it's able to significantly increase the amount of collagen your skin produces as well as improve your skin's elasticity over the period of a couple of months. So, make sure that the next time you pick some up that you not only get some 100 percent gel to put on your body but that you also get some juice (or tablets) that you can take internally as well (most health and vitamin stores carry it, by the way).
6. Consider a Collagen Supplement
Listen, when it comes to giving my body more of what it needs, I am all about adding a supplement into my system. As far as what a consistent dose of a collagen supplement can do, it's able to relieve joint discomfort; prevent bone loss; promote gut health; keep your hair and nails strong; boost your metabolism levels; increase muscle mass and so much more. As far as if there is a downside of taking this supplement, the main thing to keep in mind is you should read the labels before making a selection. The reason why is because some of them contain shellfish or egg protein which isn't good if you happen to be allergic to either one. Anyway, if you want some help in picking out the best collagen supplement for you and your lifestyle, Health has some of the best ones that were selected by health experts that you can check out here.
7. Or an Algae One
Did you know that one of the main reasons why our skin ages before its time is due to oxidation? If you're familiar with that word yet you're not exactly sure what it means, it's when our skin is exposed to things like inclement weather and air pollution and, as a direct result, the cell growth of our skin is damaged. A great remedy for this is algae. The properties in it are amazing when it comes to blocking oxidation from happening; plus, it reduces the appearance of cellulite; deeply hydrates your skin; helps to tone your skin; speeds up the healing process of pimples and even diminishes the appearance of hyperpigmentation. While red, green, blue and brown algae are all beneficial, green or red is probably what you should look for in a supplement. Most health and vitamin stores carry this too.
8. Create DIY Ginseng and Tamanu Seed Oil Face Mask
If you're someone who likes to treat yourself to a DIY facial (and if you aren't, you definitely should become that kind of person; check out "8 Solid Reasons Why You Should Give Yourself A Facial Once A Month"), consider making a face mask out of ginseng and tamanu seed oil every once in a while.
Ginseng is dope because it's packed with nutrients that help to remove dead skin cells and nourish your skin. Not only that but it's also an herb that balances oil production, reduces the appearance of dark circles underneath your eyes and decreases the appearance of acne (thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties). Also, because it contains phytonutrients, ginseng has the ability to protect your skin from free radicals, boost its metabolism and yes, stimulate the production of collagen.
As far as tamanu seed oil goes, because it's an emollient, it's loaded with fatty acids that will moisturize your skin. It's also loaded with vitamins C and E. And, thanks to other properties that it contains, tamanu seed oil can help to prevent damaging UV rays from breaking down the collagen that's in your skin as it boosts the production of collagen simultaneously.
To create a ginseng and tamanu seed oil face mask, just blend two teaspoons of ginseng powder with a teaspoon of magnesium powder, a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and 5-7 drops of tamanu seed oil. Let the mask sit on freshly washed damp skin for 10 minutes, then rinse with first warm and then cold water (cold water will close your pores). Finally, apply your favorite moisturizer. Your skin will almost immediately start to glow! (Etsy and online shops like iHerb are where you can easily find tamanu seed oil).
9. Apply a Carrot Seed Oil Blend onto Your Face (and Neck) At Night
If there are two oils that I will do a free commercial for, right here and right now, it's sweet almond oil and rosemary oil. These days, I pretty much apply the first in the day, the second at night and lawd — the wonders it does for the texture and appearance of my skin! On the collagen-boosting tip, one that you might want to consider using is carrot seed oil. Aside from the fact that its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties are great at treating/healing acne, because it is also rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, carrot seed oil can also repair damaged tissue and rebuild the collagen that is underneath your skin too.
10. Stress. Less.
A hormone that we naturally have in our body is cortisol. Some health experts call it a "built-in alarm system" because it's what goes up and down based on your stress levels. Well, when we're too stressed out, something that automatically happens is your collagen gets damaged and that ultimately leads to fine lines, wrinkles and less firmness in your skin. That's why, I don't care if it's a person, place, thing or idea — be hypervigilant about not allowing anyone or anything to "get you there". It's not good for your overall health or well-being, including your skin. Amen? Amen.
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So, before we look up and — boom — we’re just a few weeks away from summer (because that really is how this year is going, y’all), take a moment to learn more about spring fever and how you can actually make it work for you in ways that you may not have ever even considered before.
Spring Fever. What Is It All About?
GiphyA fun fact about me is I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. If you add to that the fact that my mother is a New Yorker, perhaps that is why my favorite times of the year are fall and winter (check out “There Are Actually Scientific Reasons Why So Many Of Us Adore The Fall Season”) — including the fact that, yes, I like it cold and dark. Oh, I so enjoy cuddling up in cable-knit blankets in a room that is filled with candles. It is absolutely my thing.
In fact, I hate that I didn’t plan better this year, so that I could take a vacation to Colorado during this month since, reportedly, March is when a lot of the state tends to have the most snow. And if you add to that the fact that I am a bona fide ambivert — listen, if anyone is perfectly content with spending most of my time indoors (my house, specifically) with a cup of hot chocolate and a book or a good movie…she is I and I am her.
Still, that doesn’t mean that, over the past week or so, I haven’t felt the urge to get out more than I typically do. And from what I’ve read, that is probably due to, yep, spring fever — a time when many people feel more restless and/or like they have more energy than usual. And although it’s not technically a medical condition, many experts on the topic say that spring fever should be taken quite seriously.
The main reason is because when daylight savings time “springs forward,” it gives us extra daylight. When that happens, it actually has an impact on your circadian rhythm (the pattern that your body experiences every 24-hour cycle). There are actually pros and cons to this because while, on one hand, “losing an hour of sleep” can up your stress levels (including when it comes to your heart) which is a con, more sunlight also has a way of increasing your serotonin levels which is a pro. You see, serotonin is one of the “feel-good hormones” in your body that causes you to feel happier; it also makes you want to stay awake for longer periods of time.
Something else about spring fever that has some science to back it: You do tend to take a bigger interest in dating and sex (even though fall is reportedly the best time of year for copulation — check out “Did You Know Fall & Winter Are The Best Times To Have Sex?”). There is actually a pretty scientific basis for why this is the case (that you can read here). For now, I guess the best way to explain it would be that sunlight hits your optic nerve which influences the part of your brain known as your pineal gland. When that happens, less melatonin is produced and, since melatonin can actually lower your libido — there you have it: suppressed melatonin can increase your interest in flirting, dating, and intimacy, and being out in the sun more helps to make all of this happen.
Not to mention the fact thatother reports have stated that spring is a time of the year when people tend to be more body image conscious too. Since layering season is gone and yet it’s not quite time to pull out a bathing suit (check out “These 12 Tips Will Make You Feel More Confident In Your Swimsuit”), springtime is a time of preparation. And since you’ve got all of that extra energy — and potential dating interest — spring fever can help to make you more focused on getting your body in the shape that you want it to be in over the course of the next few months.
A final thing about spring fever — it may causeyour moods to be a bit…erratic. That makes sense when you really stop to think about it because spring weather tends to be the same way with all of its roller-coaster ride temperatures, “April showers” and whatnot. So, more than usual, you may feel like you want to hang out for hours with friends one day and then not even want to answer your phone another — which is pretty much a reminder that spring is a season when you should really listen to your mind, body, and spirit to see what it needs.
5 Ways to Handle Spring Fever (So That It Doesn’t Control You)
GiphyOkay, so now that you know that spring fever isn’t just a saying, that it actually has some solid truth to it, here are a few tips that can help to keep it from throwing you off course:
1. Be intentional about stabilizing your moods. It’s not good enough to know that certain things will impact your moods in a random way and then do nothing about it. And since spring fever may have you a bit all over the place, eat foods that will help to make you feel better (check out “In A Bad Mood? These Foods Will Lift Your Spirits!”), look into supplements that will boost your moods (like probiotics, magnesium, and vitamin D), and do some meditating outdoors. The combination of sunlight and deep breathing can do wonders.
2. Get on a sleep schedule. More sun really can throw your sleep patterns off, so you might want to consider putting your body on a sleep schedule. Y’all, I actually read that spring is the season when heart attacks and strokes increase, in part, due to sleep deprivation — so please don’t be out here thinking that just because you may not feel like sleeping that you don’t actually need to. YOU. DO. (Check out “12 Monthly Sleep Habits To Transform Your Rest In 2025”).
3. Exercise…even if it’s in baby steps. There are a billion reasons why we all need to exercise, no matter what time of year it is; however, if the body image thing is really on your mind, there are so many ways to get your body toned up. Jumping jacks, lunges, squats, mountain climbers, bicycle crunches — these are all things that you can do from the comfort and convenience of your house. And walking around your neighborhood either before work or after dinner (or both), especially now that it’s warmer — that is a cool way to get some cardio in. Anyway, Healthline has a helpful article on this topic. Check out “30 Moves to Make the Most of Your At-Home Workout” when you get a chance.
4. Date with a “sober” mind. A wise person once said, “Feelings don’t have intellect.” Yeah, don’t get me to preachin’ up in here (again) about just how much I hate the saying “Follow your heart” when the Good Book clearly says that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9-10). For now, let’s just leave it at this: You get that science says that your urge to, umm, entertain more, may increase right now. Just make sure that you don’t just “go with the flow of your feelings”. Bring some common sense, street smarts, and even patience to the table. Springtime is just one season. Make choices that will make the rest of the year awesome as well.
5. Put all of that extra energy to wise use. You already read that feeling restless is pretty normal these days; that doesn’t mean that you’ve gotta do reckless things, though. The way that I see it, extra energy can help you to make some plans, reach a goal (whether it’s long-term or short-term), or try something new that you’ve always wanted to do. Bottom line: just because spring fever may have you feeling like you’re all over the place, that doesn’t mean that you can’t cultivate some real direction. Use this time to make you end this year in a way that makes you smile. All because you used spring fever…instead of allowing it to use you!
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