Unlock Youthful Glow: Collagen-Boosting Foods for Radiant Skin | Glowing Skin | Dr. Hansaji

Namaskar! Today we are going to discuss about skin care but mostly from inside not from outside. There are some foods and lifestyle habits which can naturally improve your collagen to give you fresh looking radiant skin. But what is collagen? It is simply a protein that plays very important role in maintaining elasticity and firmness of skin. As you age your collagen production decreases leading to wrinkles and sagging skin. But you can improve this condition by eating certain foods and following lifestyle tips that can help you increase collagen production naturally. So first let's start with a popular superfood of India and that is yogurt or curd. This probiotic rich dairy item helps improve gut health which in turn enhances collagen synthesis. Include a bowl of fresh yogurt in your daily diet and give your skin a natural glow. Second, colorful vegetables. Let's talk about salad. Have plenty of colorful vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, cucumber. These vegetables are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and silica all of which supports collagen production and skin health. And don't forget the varieties of leafy green vegetables in your diet such as spinach and coriander. These greens are rich in chlorophyll which improve collagen and help detoxify your skin. Citrus fruits among fruits include vitamin C rich fruits such as oranges and strawberries in your diet. Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids will improve the texture of your skin and increase the level of collagen in your body. Nuts are also excellent source of collagen boosting nutrients because they contain zinc. Almonds in particular are packed with vitamin E which aids in protecting skin from harmful UV rays and maintain its suppleness. Now let's move on to our lifestyle tips. Stress can hamper collagen production so you must manage stress by practicing yoga, asanas, meditations and so on. Regular practice of kapal radha dhoti which provides facial massage can work wonders for stimulating collagen production. The simplest and most important tip is stay hydrated because drinking sufficient amount of water will keep your skin healthy and it would help your body produce collagen effectively. Avoid smoking because tobacco smoke reduces production of collagen and elastin. You must also avoid too much exposure to the sun and the diet high in sugar and processed food. Finally I will give you a face mask recipe for bringing suppleness to your skin. Mix mashed papaya with a teaspoonful of honey and dash of lemon juice. Apply this mask to your face and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. Papaya contains enzyme that promotes collagen production while honey and lemon add extra nourishment to brighten the skin. Always remember the natural beauty starts from within. Make an effort to include these foods and lifestyle tips into your routine and you will soon notice difference in your skin and in your general health. Namaskar