In Jamaican culture, folks eat cow tripe (intestines) and cow foot. No animal part goes to waste.
In that way we are no different than many other areas of the world. For centuries, Chinese women consumed foods like pig’s feet, shark fins, and donkey skin in hopes of a smooth skin with no wrinkles and preserved aging joints.
The science says they were not wrong. It is the collagen in those foods that are acting like the fountain of youth.
In the 80s in the United States, collagen was used as an expensive injectable filler to plump lips and smooth wrinkles. But recently, edible collagen has gotten popular.
Collagen is the connective tissue that minerals cling to when bone is formed. It basically provides the structure for our muscles, ligaments and tendons.
Collagen from animal sources is really risky though. We’ve talked before about how dangerous animal fat can be for the body and works against health goals of losing weight and reversing type 2 diabetes, among other things.
Animal fat tends to act as sponges for contaminants and heavy metals. In one test of 14 popular collagen supplements, they found high levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal.
Dermatologists and consumer groups have also expressed concerns that collagen cold carry mad cow disease. Both mad cow disease and heavy metal toxicity causes neurological disorders.
We don’t need to consume collagen though as our body makes it utilizing vitamin C, minerals, and amino acids. You can however have depleted stores of it due to a variety of reasons but you can consume more vitamin C and minerals to produce collagen at a faster rate.
You can boost your vitamin C with the following meal ideas:
- Orange smoothie
- Kiwi smoothie
- Lemon water
- Broccoli and eggplant roasted and seasoned
- Cauliflower rice seasoned Asian style with coconut aminos and spices
- Brussels sprouts sauteed with a buffalo sauce
- Bell peppers sliced and put into a raw vegan collard wrap with a stuffing of your choice. I particularly like this tuna recipe
But if food is not enough for you, there are some high quality supplements out there.
Some collagen-rich vegan sources also include nuts and seeds, which you can use in making a variety of raw vegan delights. If you want to learn more about how to make clean eating happen for you in 2021, sign up for the Self Care Salon and get a year’s worth of raw meal plans.
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// HOST Samantha Salmon
Certified Integrative Nutrition Coach and Ambassador of Health and Happiness
// CO-HOST Dorrell Hylton Salmon
Mom, Wife, Hair Doctor, Beauty Parlor Counselor, and Prayer Warrior
The information provided in this broadcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration, or the equivalent in your country. Any products/services mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
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