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Skin Health and the Clinical Findings from Daily Collagen intake 4 | The Harvest Table

What Lifestyle Habits Reduce Collagen Production?

There are certain lifestyle habits that reduce your body’s natural collagen production, including smoking, sun exposure, stress and insufficient sleep. As the most abundant protein in the human body, collagen provides essential support for overall health and vitality. In this article, we explore the lifestyle habits that can reduce collagen production. 

Your body’s natural collagen supply

Your body produces collagen naturally to keep your skin plump, your joints flexible, and your bones strong.  As you get older, your body’s collagen production starts to decline. This typically starts around your late twenties or early thirties. If you’re not taking care of your body, the rate of your collagen production may not keep up with the rate of collagen breakdown. This can lead to visible signs of ageing, such as wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint stiffness.

Lifestyle habits that reduce collagen production

There are certain lifestyle habits that can affect your body’s ability to produce collagen. This can prematurely increase visible and invisible signs of ageing. Some of the lifestyle habits that reduce collagen production include:

Smoking

Smoking is one of the largest contributors to collagen depletion in your body. The chemicals in tobacco interfere with collagen synthesis. This promotes the breakdown of existing collagen fibres. People who smoke are more likely to experience premature ageing, including wrinkles and dull skin. Quitting smoking will help you preserve your collagen levels and maintain healthier looking skin.

Excessive sun exposure

You may enjoy sun tanning, but spending too much time in the sun can accelerate collagen breakdown. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can damage collagen fibres in the skin. This can increase the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. If you want to protect your collagen levels, you should limit sun exposure and wear protective clothing and sunscreen.

Stress

Stress can also negatively affect your body’s collagen levels. Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that can accelerate collagen breakdown. Over extended periods of time, stress can reduce collagen production in your body. Try to incorporate stress management tools and regular exercise to help reduce stress levels. 

Lack of sleep

Lack of sleep can interfere with your body’s ability to produce collagen. When you sleep, your body enters a state of restorative rest. This allows your body to produce collagen and repair damaged tissues. Lack of sleep can disrupt collagen production in your body, leading to accelerated ageing. Prioritise getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night to support collagen production.

Unhealthy diet

An unhealthy diet can reduce collagen production. Diets high in sugar, processed foods, and unhealthy fats can reduce collagen production. To support collagen production, focus on consuming a balanced diet. A balanced diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.

Explore collagen supplementation

Supplementing your daily diet with collagen is an inside-out approach. Regular collagen consumption can improve your skin and hair condition, reduce wrinkles, strengthen bones, repair joints, and reduce inflammation. You can supplement your daily diet with collagen from The Harvest Table. Our Multi Collagen Granules are an excellent product to start your collagen journey. You can enjoy all the benefits of type I, II and III collagen in their ideal ratios. Enjoy improved skin, hair and nail condition with a wide range of The Harvest Table collagen products online. Shop now.