Although Collagen is not Vegan, Can We Get it from Vegetables and Fruits?

Veganism is a lifestyle that excludes the consumption and use of animal products such as meat, eggs, dairy products, honey, and leather. That means that most collagen supplements are not suitable for them and the sources of natural collagen are limited since most of them are not vegan. Vegans mostly eat plant-based food and especially fruits and vegetables, so is it possible to get collagen from them?

Yes! There are some specific fruits and vegetables that can help you boost your natural production. Some of them are:

Citrus fruits

Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pomelo, and mandarines contain large amounts of vitamin C which is essential for collagen production as it is involved in the production of collagen precursor, procollagen.

Strawberries

Strawberries are high in vitamin C too so they boost your collagen production apart from the fact that they are packed with antioxidants that promote skin health. The best season to pick them is spring so get ready for your collagen booster!

Berries

Blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, blackberries, cranberries, and many more berries are also full of vitamin C and antioxidants.

Tropical fruits

Tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, kiwi, and guava are high in vitamin C. Also guava contains zinc which is essential for cell repair and protects collagen from damage but it is also a cofactor in collagen production.

Garlic

Garlic apart from the flavor also helps with collagen in your diet. It is high in sulfur that helps in collagen production but it also prevents its breakdown. If you want to boost your collagen production by garlic consumption, the better way to do it is by adding an everyday supplement because too much garlic consumption and especially raw, can lead to stomach pain and heartburn.


Leafy green vegetables

Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, cabbage, romaine, and leek contain vitamin C and chlorophyll which apart from the green color, increases the amount of procollagen in your body. The vitamin C is destroyed by high temperatures so it is better to consume the greens raw, either in a salad or a smoothie with other fruits and vegetables.


Red bell peppers

Red bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and capsaicin which has anti-inflammatory properties and can alleviate the signs of aging.


Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain high amounts of vitamin C and lycopene, an antioxidant that helps you fight sun damage and collagen breakdown.


Vegans have a lot of options for vegetables and fruits that boost their collagen production. There are also some other foods that are accepted and can also increase collagen production such as nuts, beans, seeds, and soy products. Our Diamond Liquid Collagen Drink is not vegan as it contains marine source collagen, but it is suitable for pescatarians which are vegetarians that prefer to not exclude fish and seafood from their diet.