In the past few years, coffee has garnered superfood status, and for good reason. According to the latest research the caffeine-fuelled drink contains special prebiotic fibres and polyphenol compounds which help to nurture the gut. Impressively, it’s also been associated with a lower incidence of type two diabetes, heart disease and even Alzheimer’s disease.
In the UK, 98 million cups of coffee are drunk daily, and your morning mug is getting more sophisticated than ever. Protein-packed cappuccinos and mushroom blends have been all the rage with wellness influencers, but now collagen coffee is the latest ‘functional beverage’, with a string of A-list fans that include Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston. Searches for ‘collagen coffee’ have doubled in the past month alone and even high-street chains are jumping on the bandwagon with Joe & The Juice charging up to £9 for a collagen skin-plumping drink whilst mainstream supermarkets are now stocking collagen-infused juices and shots.
Jennifer Aniston arrives at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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How to supercharge your shot
As with most things in life, there can be too much of a good thing. Every cup of coffee contains around 100 milligrams of caffeine and according to the European Food Standards Agency, we should limit caffeine intake to 400 milligrams per day (around four cups) to avoid the jittery and anxiety-inducing effects that caffeine can trigger in some people. But if you want to supercharge your mug, sneaking collagen into your coffee could be the trick you need.
Collagen is a protein that’s found in skin, bones, muscles and tendons. It’s synthesised when three specific amino acids bind together (proline, lysine and glycine) to make a tough chain-like structure. Vitamin C, a collagen ‘prompter’ is an important nutrient co-factor needed to help this process, along with other micronutrients like zinc and copper. There are many different forms of collagen but type 1 is the most abundant in the body and one of the forms that’s readily blended into supplements.
Does eating or drinking collagen really improve skin elasticity?
As we age, our collagen levels naturally drop which changes our skin and bone structure, so if your joints are feeling more weary than usual or you’re noticing more fine lines – a loss of collagen could be one of the culprits. A 2019 systematic review of eleven collagen studies found that participants who used collagen supplements for a period of between four and 12 weeks experienced notable improvements in skin elasticity and hydration.
And it’s not just beauty benefits that collagen is famed for. Collagen is a well-known workout aid as it helps to protect the cartilage surrounding joints making it a useful aid for high impact workouts like running and HIIT.
The one rule you must always follow
If adding collagen to coffee, let the coffee cool down first, or it will be less effective
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Adding a scoop of collagen to your coffee could be a good way to increase levels of this powerful protein. Its neutral flavour passes the taste test and thankfully most powders mix well into a warm cup of coffee minus any chalkiness. One thing to bear in mind however is that, like many supplements their nutritional benefits can be destroyed by high temperatures so it’s a good idea to let your cup of coffee cool down for five minutes or so before adding powdered collagen, (research shows that collagen remains intact when mixed into coffee brewed at a maximum of 96ºC). Most collagen supplements contain animal derivatives and come in the highly absorbable form of bovine or marine collagen. However, there are vegan alternatives available. These use genetically modified yeasts and bacteria combined with a digestive enzyme to form a structure similar to collagen.
If you don’t like coffee, try collagen-rich foods instead
Swigging back a collagen coffee isn’t the only way to harness the benefits. Collagen can be acquired through our diets, with meat, poultry and fish being the main sources.
If you don’t like coffee, there are other ways of including collagen in your diet, like bone broths
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Gelatinous bone broth (made by boiling up the leftover bones from your Sunday roast) has also been touted as a collagen-rich superfood, and everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Kylie Jenner have sworn it’s helped their health. If you do fancy dabbling in collagen coffee, here are three brands to try:
The best collagen coffees on the market:
1 Dose & Co Unflavoured Beauty Collagen
Sustainably sourced and made from bovine collagen peptides and vitamin Cm this high dose powder dissolves into hot liquids powder-free. £29.99, uk.doseandco.com
2 ProteinWorks Collagen Protein Coffee
This ready to go collagen coffee is made from Brazilian coffee beans infused with collagen types 1 and 3 peptides and vitamin C to support overall health and wellbeing. £23.99, theproteinworks.com
Protein Works Collagen Protein Coffee
Protein Works
3 Absolute Collagen Crystal Clarity Collagen Powder
With an undetectable taste, each pre-measured sachet can be stirred into hot drinks.
£33.99, absolutecollagen.com