Coffee isn’t what it used to be. As health and wellness knowledge has grown, it has become abundantly clear that what was once thought of as the world’s most acceptable addiction is actually really good for you — and there’s research to prove it. Not only that, the health factor of your coffee can be boosted even further with the addition of functional ingredients, like collagen. So, what are the health benefits of coffee?
One study found that drinking four cups or more of coffee per day can increase longevity, and coffee’s health benefits don’t end there. Coffee is rich in antioxidants, and specifically in polyphenols, which may help protect against numerous health issues. The study also showed that regular coffee consumption can even encourage good cardiovascular health.**
With all the health benefits of coffee, did you know there’s an entire movement dedicated to making your coffee even more healthful? It’s called biohacking, and it’s all about adding the right ingredients into your coffee to support your health, boost your energy and improve your focus.**
biohacking with coffee
First, let’s talk about your traditional coffee options. There’s drip coffee — the standard black coffee that’s popular in the United States — and there’s espresso, which is made from extra-strong espresso beans. Unlike drip coffee, espresso is extremely concentrated. You can sip it as a shot or combine it with milk, cream, water or other ingredients to form popular espresso drinks such as lattes, cappuccino and flat whites.
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ingredients to make your coffee healthier
Once you’ve decided on your favorite brew, it’s time to take it to the next level. Enter butter coffee, MCT oil coffee and, our personal favorite, collagen-infused coffee.
Butter: Butter coffee involves mixing your coffee with butter to boost its fat content. When consuming this drink in an otherwise fasted state, the saturated fat from the butter will help to keep you full without requiring an insulinogenic response (the release of insulin into the bloodstream, which occurs when you consume carbohydrates and some proteins). As a result, you can get full while remaining fasted, which has numerous benefits for health and longevity.
MCT Oil: Another option is to combine your coffee with MCT oil or coconut oil. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a type of fat that is found naturally in coconut oil. MCTs convert to energy quickly and efficiently, helping to give you a major boost if you’re in a fasted state. MCTs have also been correlated with helping to promote a healthy weight.**
Collagen: Collagen can be mixed into your coffee either on its own or alongside butter or MCTs. Unlike butter or MCT oils, collagen does not contain any fat. Collagen makes up the majority of the body's connective tissues. As we age, our natural collagen production begins to slow, which is one of the reasons why aging is correlated with a loss of elasticity in the skin. Adding this nourishing ingredient to your coffee can help to keep you full while helping to support your connective tissues and overall health.**
Finishing Touches
Last but not least, when you’re trying to build the ultimate healthy coffee drink, it’s important to consider flavor! An all-natural coffee creamer can be a delicious mix-in, but be careful: Many conventional creamers are loaded with unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and trans fats. Instead, look for a natural creamer like Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer®, which comes in four delicious flavors and is made with only natural spices, flavors, and real-food ingredients.
You can also consider adding organic spices for extra flavor. Cinnamon, vanilla bean, nutmeg and ginger are a few delicious add-ins that can give flavor to your coffee without the artificial ingredients.
why collagen?
Let’s go back to collagen for a second. This ingredient was once a major component of our ancestors’ diets. Because it is such a major component of the bones, connective tissues and ligaments, collagen was plentiful in our ancestors’ diets thanks to bone marrow, organ meats and nourishing broths. These ingredients have fallen out of favor, and what collagen remains is often removed through modern food processing.
Here are just a few ways that collagen can positively impact your health.
Hair, skin and nail health: Often known as a beauty supplement, collagen is an important component of strong nails, healthy hair and youthful-looking skin.**
Musculoskeletal health: Collagen can also help support the bones, joints, ligaments and tendons.**
the best collagen for coffee
When it comes to selecting the right collagen for your coffee, here are a few ideas.
Collagen Peptides: Our Collagen Peptides is a great choice for coffee. These Collagen Peptides are easily digested and absorbed by the body, and they are completely odorless, flavorless and soluble in both cold and hold liquids (so they’ll go great in your cold brew, too!). Made from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine hide, Collagen Peptides is a very versatile form of collagen, and it won’t impact the taste of your coffee.
Marine Collagen: Much like Collagen Peptides, Marine Collagen is odorless, flavorless and soluble in both cold and hot liquids. However, Marine Collagen is made from the scales of wild-caught, non-GMO white fish, making it a good choice for pescatarians.
Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer®: Hoping to add some flavor to your brew? Our Collagen Creamer™ supplements come in three flavors (Coconut, Vanilla and Mocha), and combine Collagen Peptides with healthy MCTs from coconut milk. The coconut milk powder in these creamers will lend a smooth taste to your coffee as well.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to take a look at our options! Remember: The keys to a health-boosting coffee drink are choosing your favorite coffee, adding in healthy fats and proteins, and steering clear of sugars and artificial ingredients.
step 1: coffee
- Drip coffee
- Drip coffee with full-fat cream
- Long Black (espresso with hot water)
- Flat White (espresso with warm full-fat milk)
- Latte (espresso with steamed full-fat milk)
- Cappuccino (espresso with steamed full-fat milk, topped with lots of milk froth)
- Cold brew coffee
step 2: healthy fats and proteins
- MCT oil
- Coconut oil
- Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
- Vital Proteins Marine Collagen
- Vital Proteins Collagen Creamers
- Full-fat cream
step 3: additional flavors
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla bean
- Natural low-calorie sweetener, like stevia or honey (used extremely modestly)
why vital proteins?
Vital Proteins’ collagen products are sourced from either bovine hide or wild-caught fish scales. The quality of these collagen products is important — Vital Proteins routinely batch tests to ensure quality, and never includes added sugars, GMOs, or artificial ingredients of any kind.
*We recommend discussing your health goals with your licensed healthcare professional. They can best provide you with the diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition and assist you as well in deciding whether a dietary supplement will be a helpful addition to your regimen.
