Come, run along with us as we share our joy of everything running.
Unlocking Strength & Radiance: How to Support Your Collagen Naturally
Let’s talk about collagen—the beauty protein, the joint soother, the skin plumper, and the not-so-secret weapon of wellness lovers everywhere. While you’ve probably seen collagen powders and gummies all over your feed, here’s something even better: understanding how your body actually makes collagen and how to fuel that process from within. Collagen helps athletes by strengthening joints, tendons, and bones to support injury-free, high-impact training.
✨ Why Collagen Matters
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It keeps your skin firm, your joints cushioned, your hair and nails strong, and your gut lining healthy. As we age, collagen production starts to decline—hello fine lines, stiffer joints, and slower recovery.
But here’s the magic: your body can still make collagen. You just need to give it the right building blocks.
The Amino Acid Trio: Collagen’s Core Ingredients
Collagen is made of specific amino acids—namely glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. These aren’t always abundant in a modern diet unless you’re sipping on bone broth daily (which, let’s be honest, most of us aren’t).
To help your body produce collagen naturally, eat foods rich in:
• Glycine: Found in skin-on chicken, bone broth, gelatin, and pork.
• Proline: Found in egg whites, cabbage, dairy, and mushrooms.
• Hydroxyproline: This one’s formed when proline meets vitamin C—more on that below!
Protein-rich foods like fish, poultry, legumes, and tofu provide the essential amino acids your body uses to build everything—including collagen.
🍊 Vitamin C: The Collagen Catalyst
Vitamin C doesn’t just support your immune system—it’s essential for collagen synthesis. Without it, your body literally can’t make collagen.
Think of vitamin C as the ignition key that turns your collagen production engine on. It helps convert proline into hydroxyproline, a key step in creating stable, strong collagen fibers.
Add more of these vitamin C-rich foods to your daily ritual:
• Bell peppers
• Oranges, kiwis, and strawberries
• Broccoli and Brussels sprouts
• Pineapple and papaya
Or keep it simple with a high-quality vitamin C supplement, especially if you're boosting your protein intake.
💧 Daily Ritual Tips from The Wellspring
• Start your day with a smoothie made of collagen powder, frozen berries, and a squeeze of lemon. Protein + vitamin C = collagen gold.
• Add bone broth to soups or use it to cook grains.
• Snack smart with hard-boiled eggs, citrus slices, or a few squares of dark chocolate with vitamin C-rich fruits.
• Stay consistent. Collagen isn’t a one-and-done supplement—it thrives with daily nourishment.
• Keep track. Use a journal to keep track of your daily supplements and wellness routines. It helps with consistency and accountability. GoneForaRun’s Running Journal is the perfect tool to not only track your daily miles and exercise routines but also your daily supplements and wellness routines.
The Takeaway: Your Body Knows What to Do
You don’t need a cupboard full of fancy powders (though they can help). You just need to feed your body the tools it already understands. Collagen is within reach—through whole foods, balanced nutrients, and intentional living.
Because wellness isn’t about extremes. It’s about aligning with what your body already knows how to do—one amino acid, one orange slice, and one deep breath at a time.
Stay radiant, stay rooted.
– The Wellspring Journal
Disclaimer: The content in this blog is only intended to inform about the nutritional and physiological processes of food, supplements and wellness protocols. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.