Collagen powders are all the rage right now. And what better way to get your daily dose of this beauty supplement than by mixing it into your morning cup of Joe?
But does collagen powder still work if you mix it into hot coffee or does the heat denature these precious proteins? Let’s take a deeper look and find out.
Does Heat Destroy Collagen?
Collagen, an essential protein for the structure and integrity of your tissues and joints, is believed to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving a more youthful glow to those who take it.
Amongst its popularity, many consumers have chosen to mix this protein powder into their coffee, raising concern over whether or not the heat from coffee dentures the protein in collagen, rendering it ineffective.
When protein becomes denatured, it is partially degraded and broken down. This changes the structure of the protein which can affect how it works.
While high heat levels can denature collagen proteins, the temperature of coffee tends to be much lower than that needed for this to occur. Therefore, I’m happy to report that your collagen coffee is safe.
At What Temperature Does Collagen Denature?
While your coffee may be piping hot, it’s still not hot enough to denature the protein in collagen to a point that would render it useless. So, what temperature will?
What if I told you that the proteins in most collagen powders were actually somewhat denatured, to begin with?
The process of extracting collagen from an animal source requires exposure to excessive heat, acidity, and alkaline solutions. All of which can denature the proteins. However, this doesn’t render them ineffective but rather makes them easier to digest and absorb.
What you want to avoid is further exposure of these collagen proteins to excessive heat to the point that the proteins degrade and are unable to function the same.
Researchers determined that this degree of degradation that would impact the effectiveness of collagen supplements doesn’t start until it is exposed to temperatures over 300 degrees Fahrenheit [1].
I don’t know about you, but I doubt my morning brew gets anywhere near these temperatures.
Can I Add Collagen to Hot Coffee?
So yes, you can add your collagen powders to hot coffee without fear that it will denature the collagen or make it any less effective. The average temperature of a cup of hot coffee is under 205 degrees Fahrenheit which is far below the temperature where degradation of these proteins would begin [2].
Will Collagen Make My Coffee Smell Weird?
Collagen powders are odorless. Adding an unflavored collagen powder to your coffee should not cause your coffee to smell weird. If you are using a flavored collagen powder it may cause an odor but this should align with whatever the flavor is. For example, if you use chocolate collagen powder in your hot coffee, it may smell chocolatey.
If you are adding collagen to your coffee and it has an off-odor, it may be rancid. You can usually tell this by the smell before mixing it into your coffee. Other ways to tell if your collagen powder is rancid are if the color has changed, if it becomes clumpy or grainy, if it has an off-taste, or if it has visible signs of mold.
Ideas to Add Collagen to Coffee
If you are new to adding collagen to your favorite brew, here are a few ways to try it out.
Choose Flavored
Try out a flavored collagen powder, such as chocolate or vanilla, and mix it with your hot coffee in place of a sweetener. To ensure a well-mixed product, consider using a milk frother to evenly disperse the powder into your coffee.
Try Out a Collagen Creamer
Many supplement manufacturers are recognizing the popularity of collagen coffee and various lines of collagen creamer have been developed to make this easier and more flavorful.
Try it Cold-Brewed
Collagen coffee is not limited to hot brew. Try collagen with your favorite cold brew coffee. Mix with your milk of choice and add a sugar-free or natural sweetener if using an unflavored option.
How Much Collagen Should I Take Per Day?
The amount of collagen you take per day varies depending on your goals and the form of collagen you are taking. Collagen supplements can be found in several forms but hydrolyzed collagen is the most popular.
Research has suggested there are benefits to taking supplemental hydrolyzed collagen in doses ranging from 2.5 to 15 grams per day [3].
Daily intake of doses of 2.5g has been associated with improvements in things like joint pain and skin appearance while larger doses of 15g have been associated with improvements in building lean body mass when combined with regular resistance exercise [4, 5, 6].
Benefits of Adding Collagen to Coffee
Despite all the benefits of taking collagen, many people find it challenging to take collagen supplements regularly. Unfortunately, they don’t have the same effect if you only take them now and again.
Combining your collagen with a consistent part of your routine, such as having a cup of coffee in the morning, is an easy and effective way to make sure you are getting it in daily. It also tastes delicious.
TL;DR
Adding collagen supplements to coffee is a popular new trend but many have concerns that the temperature of freshly brewed hot coffee may denature the proteins in collagen and render it ineffective but this is not the case. Coffee is brewed around 200 degrees Fahrenheit and collagen proteins only begin to denature over 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Adding collagen to your coffee doesn’t affect the taste (if unflavored) or the smell of your coffee unless it has gone rancid. Combining collagen with coffee is an easy way to remember to take your collagen daily so you can get the best benefit from it.
Research supports the benefit of collagen supplements ranging in doses from 2.5 grams to 15 grams. It’s also an easy way to boost your protein intake.
