Collagen Secrets for Skin, Hair and Energy Boost

Collagen is my new best friend. The Latte and Choc recipes below are fab but this Cashew Frapp has my heart now:

Cashew Frappaccino

In the month or so since I have been taking this regularly in lattes, smoothies and more, I have noticed these major changes:

1. Longer eyelashes
2. Stronger nails
3. Softer, plumper skin
4. Less achey joints after workouts/sleeping weirdly
5. Less sugar cravings
6. Feeling fuller and less in need of snacks

Collagen Hot Chocolate is a favourite

 

It is a protein that we need to make skin, teeth and hair, but it declines with age (from our twenties we lose 1% a year) it holds our connective tissues together so as we lose it this is essentially what leads to wrinkles, saggy skin, chipping nails, lacklustre hair, decrease in bone density and achey joints as the elasticity levels go down.

But fear not! There are plenty of ways to up your collagen and I've been blown away by what it's done for me in the last couple of months. You can get it from eating foods that are high in it like: Chicken stock, fish, meat, eggs and pulses. (Which makes it harder for vegetarians)

1. The three things we can stop that damage our collagen production massively are: SUGAR, as it stiffens the collagen proteins and stops it working,
2. too much SUN
3. and CIGARETTES (sorry!)

 

Or you can scoop a load of this collagen powder into a latte or a smoothie every day and get a super dose of it to recharge and restore! You want the Hydrolysate type specifically, and this is my favourite, grass fed, and unflavoured:

Great Lakes Collagen Powder

Apparently you guys have bought it all and Amazon are out! If they've had a run on try here instead:

Great Lakes Collagen

 

For a Marine Collagen option have a look at this.

 

 Bare Biology's Skinful is glorious

And a Vegan option that I haven't tried:

Garden of Life - mykind Organics Organic Plant Collagen Builder - 60 Vegan Tablet(s) I have tons of health related goodies in my cupboards, some work some not so sure, some I get given and some I read up on and buy to try out. Basically I'm working hard as your guineau-pig and I love finding out the cutting edge nutrition tricks on what is actually going to make us feel better, look better and just be as fabulous as we can be. And whilst my main focus is food and goodness for the whole family and keeping our kids full of health, this one is all for you. I have been blown away by what this one product has done. This is the one I have been taking, which looks pricey - it's lasted me more than a month so far - but it's because its super high quality - it doesn't taste of anything, it dissolves in anything and is sourced from grass-fed, organic cows, rather than the cheaper alternatives. Great Lakes Gelatin Collagen Hydrolysate Unflavored Beef Kosher Gelatin, 16 oz. - Frustration-Free Packaging by Great Lakes There are other options here that I haven't tried that are cheaper if you wanted to have a try, and do let me know what you think: Collagen Hydrolysate Gelatin. Soluble Beef Gelatin Powder Dissolves Readily, Even in Cold Water by Sanct Bernhard And just a regular supplement if you want to take a pill and be done with it! NeoCell Super Collagen and Vitamin C Tablets (250 Tablets) Here are my fave ways of adding it in to my day: Creamy Vanilla Latte

• 1 Cup brewed coffee or dandelion/chicory root dandy blend
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1- 2 tbsp Collagen Hydrosalate
• 1 tbsp Coconut Oil

Brew your regular coffee, or make a decaf or Dandy Blend the chicory root coffee substitute that I had when I was pregnant and loved: Home Naturals Dandy Blend - Instant Dandelion Beverage - 7.05 Oz Add all of the rest of the ingredients to your blender and whizz up for 10-15 seconds until creamy and frothy looking - you can add milk, cream or butter too if you fancy a creamier one. Pour into a pretty glass and sip for great morning energy boost. Chocolate Collagen Smoothie

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1-2 tbsp collagen powder
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 frozen banana

Whizz everything up in a blender - use a regular banana if your blender can't take a frozen one - and drink up! Here's to plumper skin, stronger bones and glossier hair for everyone! And if you want to read more on all things anti-ageing, this is an amazing book that forced me to take collagen seriously and commit! Where I've been toying with it for ages: Younger: The Breakthrough Programme to Reset our Genes and Reverse Ageing