Keratin is a protein found in the outer layer of the human skin. Keratin offers benefits to the parts of your body that require protein to maintain strength and a healthy appearance such as your hair and skin. You can find many foods that are rich in keratin.
About Keratin
Keratin comes from processed animal fats and collagen. You can find keratin naturally in many of the foods that you eat. However, keratin is also produced through the processing of animal fats and as a protein in foods with gelatin. Keratin is the main substance that contributes to strong hooves in animals, and you can also find keratin naturally in non-animal foods.
What Foods Contain Keratin
Marshmallows and gelatin both contain keratin. Additionally, you can find this protein in meats such as chicken and turkey. Carrots are another good source of keratin. Other orange-colored fruits and vegetables typically contain keratin including mangoes, sweet potatoes, and cantaloupe. You can also find keratin in some greens such as spinach and broccoli and in non-meat proteins such as eggs.
Helping Your Body Use Keratin
After you consume keratin from food sources, your body metabolizes and uses the keratin. However, to properly metabolize and utilize the keratin, your body requires several vitamins and minerals including vitamins B and C, zinc, sulfur and magnesium. According to "Proteins: Structure and Function," without these vitamins and minerals present, your body can not properly metabolize and utilize the keratin and will excrete the protein through waste. Broccoli is, therefore, an excellent source of keratin because this vegetable contains both keratin and the vitamins and minerals required by your body to metabolize and utilize the keratin.
The Benefits of Keratin
The visible benefits of incorporating keratin into your regular diet include healthier and stronger skin, hair and nails. Beyond eating foods rich in keratin, many beauty experts also recommend using skin and hair care products that contain keratin. Using skin and hair care products with keratin adds external protection and strengthening forces to your skin, hair and nails. This external protection works in combination with the internal sources of keratin you obtain through the foods you eat that contain keratin.
References
- "Proteins: Structure and Function"; David Whitford; 2005
- "Introduction to Protein Science: Architecture, Function, and Genomics"; Arthur M. Lesk; 2010
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Dennis Kasper et al; 2004
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