According to research, a diet rich in refined sugar and refined carbohydrates can increase glycation - a phenomenon when sugar molecules bind to proteins, including collagen, creating products at the end of glycation, making collagen hard and prone to fracture. This condition not only causes the skin to lose elasticity but also contributes to premature aging.
The Mayo Clinic also recommends consuming too many processed foods, fried foods, and saturated fats to stimulate the inflammatory response in the body - a natural collagen-destroying factor. Chronic inflammation reduces the ability to produce new collagen and accelerates the breakdown of existing collagen, causing damage to the skin and connective tissue.
In addition, the World Health Organization has warned that micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin C - an essential element for collagen synthesis - are also common in people with a poor diet of fruits and vegetables.
Vitamin C is an important factor in the hydroxylation of proline and lysine two essential amino acids that create a stable structure of collagen. Prolonged vitamin C deficiency not only reduces collagen production but also causes skin weakness, peritoneal and connective tissue.
Unhealthy diets not only affect overall health but are also a direct cause of collagen reduction, accelerating the aging process.
To protect collagen, it is necessary to maintain a diet rich in quality protein, vitamin C, antioxidants and limit sugar, processed foods according to the recommendations of prestigious global health organizations.
