Japanese eat collagen in attempt to stay young.

Submitted by reader JenK. From the Telegraph:

From winter hot pots and pigs trotters to sweets, jams and noodles, Japanese women are embracing a raft of new foods and menus which are promoted as being rich in collagen.

Across the country, a growing number of "beauty" restaurants are specifically devoted to serving collagen hot pots in which clear chunks of the translucent tasteless protein are melted into a medley of vegetables, meat or fish.

Dishes which are naturally rich in collagen such as pigs trotters, shark fin and chicken skin have also soared in popularity and are appearing on menus in restaurants as anti-ageing specials.

Meanwhile, supermarket shelves and convenience store shelves are piled high collagen-rich food products, including noodles, sweets and supplements.

Sales of collagen hot pots - known as "nabe" ­ at 7,300 outlets of the convenience store chain Family Mart have also sold more than double their initial target since going on sale last November, according to reports.

But the craze has been cast into the spotlight by scientists who claim eating collagen has no discernible anti-ageing benefits.