Believe it or not, playing culinary matchmaker with your meals could be the key to improving nutrient absorption. According to “7 Food Combinations That Can Improve Nutrient Absorption,” pairing certain nutrients offers a greater physiological impact, though no combination compensates for an unbalanced diet. For instance, adding five to ten grams of healthy fat like olive oil to asparagus helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. Another study of about 250 participants found evidence that combining turmeric with black pepper may increase curcumin bioavailability by roughly 2,000 percent. Another beneficial pairing is protein and vitamin C, which are vital for collagen production, leading naturally to the supplement aisle. In “What Collagen Supplements Can Really Do for Your Skin and Joints,” a meta-analysis of 113 trials found supplementation may improve skin elasticity, musculoskeletal health, and osteoarthritis, though evidence for cardiometabolic benefits is less convincing. Dr. David L. Katz notes that intact collagen doesn’t survive digestion, but peptides provide the raw materials for new collagen, provided your overall health supports the process. If you supplement, research suggests somewhere between 2.5 to 40 grams a day is effective. As we noted in our last issue regarding “Expert training and fueling tips from Kate Aseltine,” we recently spoke with the NativePath Creative Marketing Director on the SMM Podcast (which you can listen to on Spotify or Apple Podcasts). If you want to see how a targeted collagen peptide supplement might fit into your routine, SMM readers can unlock 45 percent off at this link.

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