Our skin is 80% collagen. Together with elastin, it’s what makes our skin snap back when it stretches.  Collagen plays a big part in maintaining healthy hair and nails, too.  Plus, the glycine in collagen helps you sleep deeper so you wake up looking and feeling refreshed. We all want to find ways to boost make our skin healthy and glowing.  Ensuring our skin has all the collagen it needs to keep you looking your best is the first line of defense against aging.  

Our bodies naturally produce collagen, but as we age, our collagen product slows down.  Suzan Obagi, assistant professor in dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center, explains that as we age, collagen production declines by 1% every year after the age of 20 years.  One way we can boost collagen in our bodies is to eat foods high in collagen, such as fish, egg whites, berries, or red and yellow vegetables.  We can also supplement with high quality collagen powder.

There has been so much buzz about CBD and reports on how it has been found to reduce signs of skin aging. How do you make sense of all the buzz about CBD and skin care?  We do it by reading studies and trying products.  We found one study that shows potential how CBD might support healthy skin.  The study noted one possible way CBD can support healthy skin is by acting as an antioxidant.  An imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in our body causing what is called oxidative stress.  This is important because studies show oxidative stress speeds up the aging of our skin and even depletes collagen.

One of the best ways to battle oxidative stress is with antioxidants.  One study established that CBD demonstrates potent antioxidant properties. This is important because oxidative stress speeds up the aging of our skin and even depletes collagen.  You can also eat things like dark chocolate, berries such as blueberries, strawberries and raspberries and dark greens like spinach and kale to boost your antioxidant intake.