It seems like everyone is taking collagen these days, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Our bodies are natural collagen machines—until we hit the ripe old age of 23! After that, collagen production starts to drop off, and it’s downhill from there. That’s when the fine lines, achy joints, and brittle nails start creeping in. But don’t worry, there’s a way to turn things around!

Back in the day, grandma had the right idea with her collagen-rich chicken soups and bone broths. She used to boil bones, cartilage, and even chicken skin to make a delicious, nutrient-packed broth. Nowadays, we rarely eat those collagen-rich parts of animals, and let’s be real, many of us aren’t simmering bones for 24 hours to make our own broth.

Collagen is like the glue that holds your body together. It supports skin, hair, nails, joints, and even gut health. Your body makes its own collagen, but it needs a ton of vitamin C to do it—up to 12 grams a day! Since we’re not getting that from oranges and kale alone, supplementing vitamin C is a great idea, but even better is simply eating more collagen.

If you’re not up for DIY bone broth, don’t worry—you can buy high-quality pre-made broth or supplement with collagen powder. Not only will your skin and hair thank you, but your joints and gut will too.

And for our vegan friends, don’t feel left out! You can take collagen peptides and pair them with vitamin C supplements, which provide the building blocks your body needs to make collagen naturally. So, whether it’s through a hot cup of broth or a convenient powder, adding collagen to your routine might just be the glow-up your body has been craving!