BEAUTY SECRET LEARNED IN CHINA

We all know that food can do a lot for your skin, along with exercise and your lifestyle.
The effects of a healthy diet – the backbone of your skin capital – are to be seen on the long run however. One must be patient and dedicated to see these efforts paying.

Little did I know that a soup would give me the satisfaction of instant and impressive results. Not any kind of soup though.

This is what I discovered in Shanghai, when my Chinese roommate suggested I tried spicy pig’s feet soup with beans – a Sichuan Chinese specialty. This suggestion wasn’t exactly appealing to my westerner tastes. Adventurous as I was though, I finally managed to gulp down this very spicy and greasy mixture – which is not so bad actually when you get used to the gelatinous weird feeling of the pig’s feet skin.
I wasn’t expecting much from it, as I knew from experience that a diet brings you benefits on the long term. However, when I woke up next morning, my face was plump, glowing, rejuvenated and healthy looking! It was a total epiphany.

Image source: http://foodmayhem.com/2011/04/pigs-feet-and-peanut-soup.html

The reason why pig’s feet soup is so good for your skin is because bone broth is a great source of collagen – among many other benefits. And the broth with most collagen are the ones made from pig’s feet.
Collagen is a natural constituent of our body, it supports our joint, skin tissue, articulation, hair… it is the largest and most abundant protein in our body. In our mid to late 20s however, we stop producing collagen. Hence the importance of supplying our skin with an external source. Note that there are several different types of collagen, and collagen I and III are the ones that will help your skin look more youthful.

Image source: https://www.renewalliance.com/Collagen-Facts

With all that said, the only thing left for you to do is try making – and drinking – some pig’s feet bone broth!
And the making of a good bone broth is not that easy, it’s almost an art. You will need to follow a few steps and let simmer your broth during 12 to 24h at lowest temperature possible. It was easy for me in China as I would just buy it from restaurants.
But, as the saying goes, a good bone broth will resurrect the dead so it is totally worthwhile for you to learn how to make them. As for me, I bought the online tutorials: How to make bone broth 101 which was very helpful in understanding the different steps to make it.

Now I just have to wish you a nice and healthy food experience with these collagen-filled bone broth! Btw, if anyone knows where I can buy traditional pig’s feet soup in London I would still be interested ;-)