How to increase collagen production when you are plant-based

Posted March 25, 2019

Updated September 25, 2025

Article written by Rhiannon Lytle

How to increase collagen production when you are plant-based - Organika Health Products

You’ve heard all the hype around Enhanced Collagen powder. You know that it is essential for healthy skin, nails and hair growth. It also can can help to reduce joint pain and inflammation. However most collagen supplements are animal based, usually from marine, poultry or bovine sources. So if you are plant-based, you may think you can't increase collagen production in your body. But plant-based eaters, fear not! You too, can increase collagen production with the help of a few boosters, especially with Vitamin C!

First, let chat a bit about collagen production.

If you’ve checked out our blog, you already know that collagen has some amazing benefits. Along with that, you likely have read about the different types of collagen, what each one does, and know that our body’s ability to produce collagen starts decreasing as we age.

What do you need to know to increase collagen production?

1. Free radicals Free radicals, from things like refined sugar, too much sun exposure or environmental toxins. How we can combat this? With a diet high in antioxidants! Ensuring you are eating a diet high in antioxidants, particularly Vitamins A, C, E, along with minerals selenium and zinc, is important to help boost your collagen production, especially if you are not consuming it in supplement form. With this understanding, one ingredient to add to your collagen boosting arsenal is the moringa plant. This plant, which you may have heard of before for its high iron content and as it is one of the few complete protein sources in the plant world, is also composed of something called Ben oil, that is rich in antioxidants.

Increase collagen production

2. Vitamin C So what’s the hype around Vitamin C? Well, vitamin C is essential for the amino acid, lysine, to be converted into procollagen in your body, which is then converted into one of the other 27 types of collagen in your body. You can find l-lysine in many fruits and vegetables, along with dairy products. However, pairing it directly in supplement form will provide the body with the necessary intake for optimal collagen production. Now you understand how vitamin C can contribute to collagen synthesis, but let us look at how it acts as an antioxidant. Our epidermis and dermis contain high concentrations of vitamin C. Those are our very top layer of skin, and the layer of cells found just underneath its surface (1). This makes sense as vitamin C has been shown to increase the production of Type 1 and 3 collagen - the type most abundant in our skin, hair and nails. Studies have also shown that vitamin C act to stabilize the collagen molecule structure and aid in its gene expression (1). However, as we age, levels of vitamin C in both will decrease. This, in turn, decreases our levels of collagen. This is why many people will choose to supplement with collagen. Using products, like Organika’s new Plant-Based Collagen Booster, with Moringa Powder, and Vitamin C from Acerola Cherry, you can help to boost your bodies ability to increase its own collagen production!