Everyone’s talking about the supplement collagen, right?! BUT, not everyone is talking about enjoying it. Except for maybe me lol. Seriously though… life is way too short to be using supplements that taste icky when there are delicious, quality ones available. Today, I am going to share the 5 ways that I use and enjoy my collagen supplements. From smoothie recipes to afternoon energy concoctions and the drink I use to curb my cravings… I hope you’ll find 1 use that you can enjoy too.
WHY COLLAGEN
First things first… collagen is the it supplement because of the numerous health benefits. Most people know collagen is great for hair, skin and nail health, but the benefits run even deeper.
My personal favorite benefit is the impact collagen has had on my joints. After pregnancy, I found it very difficult to do high impact training and running without my knees and ankles acting up; this is actually how I got back into collagen. I gave it a try, honestly noticed improvement and then shared the supplement with all of you in hopes of it helping one of you too.
The other benefit I notice is gut health. This isn’t really something you look in the mirror and see but I swear that when I take collagen regularly, I feel less bloated. AND, the way I discovered that was when I stopped using collagen.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body but as we age, our collagen levels decrease so it’s very helpful to use a collagen supplement.
THE COLLAGEN BRAND I SWEAR BY
You and I both know that I love a bargain (Forever 21 for chocker necklaces just to name one lol). However, when it comes to anything that I ingest or put on my face/skin, I am extremely picky about the quality.
When I was looking for a collagen supplement to buy for my achy joints, I chose the Vital Proteins brand because of 1) their quality and 2) the vast variety of products they offered. I highly suggest looking at the amount of collagen per serving a product offers. Vital Proteins was that hands down winner in my shopping search. Also, they offered more than just “plain collagen:…. they are so many options and that is how I slowly started my collagen collection haha.
MY 5 FAVORITE WAYS TO ENJOY COLLAGEN
Please note, I said enjoy lol…
1. UNFLAVORED COLLAGEN PEPTIDES IN SMOOTHIES FOR BREAKFAST
The classic, right?! VP collagen peptides was the first collagen product I tried from the brand. To this day, it’s still a staple because I can add it right to my smoothies. You can also mix it in any hot or cold beverage.
I did see a few of you ask about the source… the collagen peptides are derived from grass-fed bovine hides and it has 20 g of collagen per serving (that is a great serving for seeing benefits). They have marine collagen derived from wild-caught snapper.
COLLAGEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE:
Ingredients:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 scoop collagen peptides
- 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
- 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder (because the collagen has a nice amount of protein)
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
Instructions: blend + enjoy
2. BEAUTY WATER DURING MY WORKOUT OR ON THE GO
Hands down my favorite collagen product. The beauty water contains 12 grams of collagen AND 120 mg of hyaluronic acid! Hyaluronic acid is a powerful moisture-binding ingredient that keeps the skin plump and hydrated. It’s main function is to retain water but it also helps keep tissues lubricated too (=joint health).
You know I am a facts/science girl. I don’t want to just hear that a supplement is healthy and to take it… I want evidence. So, I looked some stuff up… this study found taking 80–200 mg of hyaluronic acid daily for at least two months has been shown to significantly reduce knee pain in people with osteoarthritis. And this study found that doses of 120–240 mg of hyaluronic acid per day for at least one month have been shown to significantly increase skin moisture and reduce dry skin in adults.
Plus, honestly guys this product tastes amazing. I drink mine over ice with a tiny bit of stevia added for sweetness. Because of the collagen and protein it also helps curb my cravings.
2 FAVORITE FLAVORS: favorite was Strawberry Lemon until this new flavor came out and now my #1 favorite is tropical hibiscus
3. COFFEE CREAMER
I know so many women who love love love this collagen creamer. I think the biggest benefit here is that you get your serving of collagen (+the benefits) by doing something you do daily already… having your cup of coffee. If you’re a coffee-lover, I would definitely try the collagen creamer.
The benefits of collagen are the reason I was attracted to the coffee creamer. And, there are MCT oils or medium chain triglycerides, which are such a healthy fat… this made me love the creamer Due to the shorter length of the fat chain, MCTs are easily digested and can be utilized as a quick energy source, especially for the brain. Perfect when you need a brain boost like in the mornings.
With collagen, I’ve found the biggest part of noticing the results is consistency so if you’re already drinking coffee, just add this in. There are a bunch of flavors… coconut, vanilla, mocha, gingerbread.
4. MATCHA FOR AN AFTERNOON PICK ME UP
And since we are on subject of caffeine, let me introduce you to my afternoon pick me up… matcha collagen. Matcha is powdered, high-quality green tea leaves so you get a little energy with added health benefits. Because the matcha is made from the whole green tea leaves, it is a more potent source of antioxidants called polyphenols. These antioxidants have been linked to benefits like blood sugar regulation, blood pressure reduction, metabolism boosting and anti-aging.
I’ve seen people add this to a smoothie which I’ve never tried but it sounds great.
MY MATCHA DRINK:
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 scoop matcha collagen
- honey to taste
5. BEAUTY GREENS FOR ADDED HEALTH BENEFITS
This was a product I added in after a few months of using collagen. I saw it as “I can get more bang for my buck” because it’s marine collagen mixed with 5 raw, organic greens (kale, spinach, wheat grass, alfalfa leaf and barley grass), a probiotic and hyaluronic acid. I would suggest mixing this product into a smoothie!
Those are my 5 most-used and enjoyed ways of getting in my collagen. I cannot recommend those 5 enough! Like I mentioned, just like with most everything… consistency is key. So, if you want to start collagen for health benefits, try to have 1 serving daily for at least 1-2 months. And, remember… enjoy! Find whatever offering looks tastiest to you!
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