Why Collagen Matters (Especially In Motherhood)
Collagen is one of the most important proteins in your body. It supports your skin, joints, hair, nails, gut and connective tissue. Essentially acting like the “glue” that holds everything together. (Read more about it here)
As moms, our bodies go through a lot: pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation and ongoing physical and emotional demands. While collagen naturally declines with age, these life stages can make that drop feel more noticeable: in our skin, joints, hair and overall recovery.
The good news? There are gentle, realistic ways to support your body as collagen levels decline.
How Collagen Changes Over Time
From our early 20s onward, collagen production slowly decreases, often by about 1% per year. Over time, this can show up as:
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Fine lines and reduced skin elasticity
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Drier, duller skin
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Joint stiffness or slower recovery
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Thinning hair or brittle nails
For many women, these changes become more noticeable in their 30s and 40s, often right alongside motherhood.
Lifestyle factors like sun exposure, chronic stress, poor sleep, nutrient gaps and highly processed diets can also accelerate collagen breakdown.
Signs Your Body May Need More Collagen Support
Reduced collagen can affect multiple areas at once, including:
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Skin that feels less firm or hydrated
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Joint discomfort or reduced flexibility
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Weaker nails
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Thinner or less resilient hair
These shifts are normal, but they don’t have to be ignored.
How Moms Can Support Healthy Collagen Levels
1. Eat collagen-supportive foods
Traditional diets included more collagen-rich foods like bone broth, slow-cooked meats and connective tissue. Adding these back in, along with vitamin C–rich foods (berries, citrus, leafy greens), helps provide the building blocks your body needs.
2. Support collagen with supplementation
For busy moms, collagen supplementation can be a simple, consistent way to support skin, joints and hair.
Native Nutrition collagen is designed to fit easily into real life, stirred into coffee, smoothies or oats, offering gentle support during seasons of fatigue, recovery and high demand.
Collagen doesn’t replace your body’s own production, but it helps support it by supplying key amino acids your body uses daily.
3. Focus on nourishment, not perfection
Adequate protein, healthy fats, hydration and stress management all play a role in collagen health. Small, consistent habits matter more than doing everything “right.”
A Gentle Reminder
Collagen loss is a natural part of aging and motherhood. Supporting your body isn’t about reversing time, but about feeling strong, supported and well in the season you’re in.
Simple nourishment, rest where possible and daily rituals, like adding collagen to your morning routine, can go a long way.
By Adela Jusufovic (Co-Founder of Native Nutrition)
