Daily Food Diary – Day 182 of 365

Today is Day 182 of sharing my Daily Food Diary. 🥰💃

This month, my focus is on COLLAGEN.  Since I am celebrating my 70th birthday later this month, this focus was a natural for me.  Most people recognize collagen for it’s role in skin and hair care – especially as we age.  

But college affects far more that our skin and hair – as noted in this quotation taken from an online article posted by The Cleveland Clinic.

https://share.google/YSN7onJmkUuvxPbQc

“Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It accounts for about 30% of your body’s total protein. Collagen is the primary building block of your body’s skin, muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, and other connective tissues. It’s also found in your organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining.”

Collagen production tends to decrease as we age so this is naturally when most people start to notice it (or the lack thereof).   Genetic conditions, such as  Ehlers Danlos syndrome (some forms of which are life threatening),  create collagen challenges from birth. 

When collagen levels are inadequate to function as they should, all kinds of fun things can happen to make life interesting.   There are the obvious wrinkles, thinning hair, and fragile nails.  There are the  unstable joints and weakened muscles which create mobility and dexterity issues.   There are circulation and breathing issues as  blood vessels and airways lose elasticity and stability.   There is even  vertigo caused by the weakness of the connective tissues that are supposed to be supporting the small bones in our inner ears.  There is pain, often excruciating pain, from muscle cramps to migraines to intestinal issues and more. (Fortunately pain is something that seldom  affects me, personally).

There is no magic pill or medical intervention available to ‘fix’ collagen synthesis deficiencies.   For now, the only treatments available deal with  managing the symptoms and  the health issues caused by the collagen failure.

But, there is good news!  A lifestyle focussed on exercise, diet, and stress management can do a lot to increase collagen production and efficiency in our bodies – especially if aging or benign collagen disorders is the root cause.

Since this blog is my Daily Food Diary, I will be highlighting foods that are rich in collagen and foods that support collagen synthesis within our bodies. 

Because much of my Health and Wellness Journey, that I started three and a third  years ago, involves fitness and stress management, I will be touching on them regularly as well – especially as they relate to collagen production and dealing with collagen deficiency issues.

Daily Food Diary – Day 182 of 365

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1) c homemade hash browns (80)

(2) eggs (160)

(2) oz ham (160)

(2) green onions (16)

Snacks:

(1) apple (95)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(1/6) c dry roasted peanuts (131)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) c pork fried rice – pork, rice, celery, onion, mushrooms *, soya sauce, olive oil, butter  (363)

(2) c chicken stir fry – chicken, red onion, red pepper, carrots, mushrooms*, Bok choy, cabbage, garlic, olive oil, teriyaki sauce (264)

(12) oz carbonated water

*There are specific types of mushrooms, such as Shiitake mushrooms that do help with collagen synthesis.

Total Net Calories: 1208

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1208 = 21 under 👍

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 🤗🥰🌞