Tag: collagen synthesis

Daily Food Diary – Day 188 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 188 of my Daily Food Diary. 

This month I am focusing on collagen.  Collagen is important to everyone, but particularly so if one is born with genetic collagen issues and/or as we age.    By our mid twenties collagen production begins to decline.  😮

Since collagen affects every function in our bodies, it is important to be as proactive as possible in maintaining our collagen production and metabolism.

There are few foods that are actually a source of collagen for us – meat, fish, and poultry.   Each of these contains specific sources of collagen – generally organs, tendons, skin, and cartilage.  Bone broth and gelatin, made from these sources, are often used to access this collagen.

Our bodies produce most of the collagen we need, but we require specific nutrients to do so.

Some minerals (copper, zinc, and manganese) are an important part of collagen production.  Other minerals (iron and selenium) are required for collagen metabolism.

Amino acids (proline, lysine, and glycine) are also necessary for collagen production.

And finally, vitamins C, E, B12, and Biotin (B7) are required.

Every day this month, I am highlighting the foods I consume that contain collagen – or the minerals, amino acids, and/or vitamins that are needed for the production and metabolism of collagen. 

In the next few weeks, I will source out these different foods and note what they specifically contribute to the process.  (So far, I know that egg whites are a good source of proline. 👍)

The San Marzano tomatoes from our  patio planter will be a good source of Vitamin C and Lycopene (which protects our skin from sun damage and ultimately collagen breakdown).
Our parsley will be another source of Vitamin C plus iron

Daily Food Diary – Day 188

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) Eggo waffles (270)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1 1/2) tbsp Maple Syrup

Snacks:

(1) Mott’s Clamato Caesar (168)

Supper:

(1 1/2) serving nachos – Tortilla chips, ground turkey, red peppers, hot peppers, green onions, green olives, shredded marble cheese, salsa (875)

Total net calories: 1270

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1270 = 41 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 184 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 184 Days since I began keeping and posting my Daily Food Diary. 

It is 3 years and 4 months since I began living my Health and Fitness Lifestyle.  

It can be difficult, and honestly scary (terrifying),  to  begin the journey from being an exhausted, sickly,  weak, overweight, aging, couch potato to being a  healthy, happy, fit, strong, and  active senior. 

When you have multiple chronic lung issues , constantly struggle to breathe and your heart pounds every time you shuffle from your rocking chair to your snack cupboard, it is easy to imagine a heart attack if you attempt anything more strenuous than putting on your socks.

When you are born with collagen issues  and have failed at every effort to build any muscle or develop any coordination, failure is no longer a possibility – it is a probability.

Somehow, when you combine your two biggest fears – dying or failing (which has become an ultimate death sentence) – you can succeed. 🙄

When I began it wasn’t easy.  But, I did something I had never tried before.  I began where I was – at a point where I was comfortable. 

The first day of living my Health and Fitness Lifestyle I danced (shuffled around)  to one Buddy Holly song.  Five minutes tops.  And I built on that, gradually – until now I am doing aerobics six mornings a week, walking our dog Molly daily (weather permitting), and doing light weights and cardio three afternoons a week.   Plus I can, and I am, living a relatively active life – off the rocking chair and out of the snack cabinet. 

Exercise supports collagen synthesis – even for someone who has genetic collagen issues or anyone whose  collagen production has decreased due to aging.

Anyone who suffers from joint pain can  struggle to keep  active and fit.  This article by the Arthritis Foundation might help you to get started on your own fitness journey,  with the help of collagen supplements and/or  adding more foods that contain collagen, or support the natural production of collagen,  to your daily diet.

Can Collagen Supplements Help Arthritis? https://share.google/ILbq9yniGJb0a8JGu

We took a break on our walk this morning to allow Molly a short run at the off leash dogpark.

Daily Food Diary – Day 184

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1) oz marble cheese (113)

(1) serving homemade hash browns (80)

(2) tbsp bacon bits (60)

(60) oz water

Supper:

(5) oz barbecued pork chop (241)

(1/2) pkg ramen noodles (220)

(1) corn on the cob (90)

(3) tsp butter (103)

(1) serving rhubarb torte (286)

Total net calories: 1291

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1291 = 62 over 👎

With our temperatures soaring yesterday afternoon, daughter Jen took Maddy and Prim to Regina Beach to cool off . 
Thank you Maddy for the cheeky photo of Prim!

Daily Food Diary – Day 183 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 183 of my Daily Food Diary.  I am half-way there without missing a single day! 💃

Today  is also granddaughter Gabby’s 20th birthday!

Happy Birthday, Gabby and good luck in your 3rd year of psychology studies. 

Gabby truly is an amazing young lady.  Everything she does, from and for,  her education, to dancing, to basketball, to work, to friends, to family and especially to  being the BEST BIG SISTER to Lucas and Cason, she does with enthusiasm, love, determination, and her quirky goofy sense of humour. 

This month my health and wellness focus is collagen.  There are multiple natural foods that contain collagen or aid in the natural production/synthesis of collagen. 

I prefer to get the nutrients my body needs from the foods that I eat.   That being said, I do take Vitamin D daily because A. I live in Saskatchewan and B. It is particularly helpful for respiratory health.  With asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, and sinus issues, I need all the help I can get. 

I also take Vitamin B12 for my blood and Lutein for my eyes.

This morning, a regular visitor to my blog,   Martha  from  https://walkingchestercom.wordpress.com commented that  she has been taking collagen supplements for her knees (joints) and she has experienced wonderful results.  Since this is collagen month – I decided this would be a great time to add them to my wellness routine.  It generally takes six weeks to notice any significant improvement from any change in supplements, exercise program, or diet so I will give it a couple of months to determine if it helps me.

It is going to be a warm day for us today  +33 degrees celsius (91F).   It doesn’t seem like a great day for baking Rhubarb Torte,  but rhubarb is high in vitamin C, which is good for collagen production  and I was up until midnight last night peeling the two grocery bags of rhubarb that granddaughter Maddy dropped off yesterday.  So, baking it is,  today. 🤷

Daily Food Diary – Day 183

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(2) tsp raspberry jam (33)

Lunch:

(2) oz Piller’s shaved ham (57)

(2) oz marble cheese (227)

(6) Kirkland multigrain crackers (140)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) c spaghetti & meat sauce (574)

(10) Dorito tortilla chips (140)

(1 1/2) dill pickles (1)

(3/4) c Chapman’s French Vanilla Ice Cream (208)

(9) pecan halves (105)

(2) tbsp dark chocolate sauce (105)

(1) tbsp caramel syrup (130)

Total Net Calories: 1687

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1687 = 458 over 👎

* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significantly assist in collagen production/synthesis

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😊💝

Daily Food Diary – Day 182 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

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.

Me and our dog Molly, who is a BIG part of my fit & healthy lifestyle.

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! 🤗🥰🌞

Our first Laverna blossom 🥰