November 09, 2020 12 min read

In this article

    In this article:

    • Why add collagen to your coffee?
    • What are the health benefits of coffee?
    • Why collagen and coffee make a perfect combination
    • Explaining collagen degradation and the thermal stability of collagen
    • How to prevent collagen degradation
    • The difference between collagen degradation and denaturation

    For lovers of collagen coffee, we salute you for catching on to a caffeinated trend that isn’t going anywhere. Now that you’ve found your perfect morning ritual, it would be a shame if we rained on your parade by telling you collagen isn’t going to hold up in your cup of hot coffee. Well, we’re actually here to tell you that there’s nothing to worry about, as collagen and coffee truly do make a perfect duo!

    We believe in biohacking as a method of obtaining all the benefits that certain nutrients have to offer, while still enjoying your favorite beverages. Keeping up with all the nutrition trends and staying on top of your supplementation can quickly turn into a hassle, or just plain overwhelming. Besides, how many of these hacks actually become long-lasting rituals if they’re too arduous to prepare or understand? Not many. But combining coffee & collagen is different. In fact, it’s one of the most convenient methods of keeping up with your collagen supplements, while still enjoying your favorite coffee brew and going about your business.

    Collagen in Coffee? Here’s Why.

    First things first: let’s discuss collagen and the reason for you to jump on the collagen coffee bandwagon. Collagen is the most abundant insoluble protein in the body, accounting for one-third of the entire protein amount in the human body. Collagen is considered a hard protein since it consists of grouped collagen molecules that form long fibrils via crosslinking. The collagen our body produces naturally is referred to as endogenous, while the outside sources such as supplements are known as exogenous collagen. Even though we are able to manufacture collagen naturally, endogenous collagen is prone to breakdown and depletion, which is where collagen supplementation comes into play.

    Science & health benefits aside, many of us coffee snobs might be a little wary of adding collagen to coffee. Afterall, a good wine needs nothing at all, why would we want to mess with an impeccable brew? Valid point. Here’s the answer: a highly soluble & unflavored collagen powder won’t mess with the taste or texture of your beloved black gold. As a coffee aficionado myself (nothing happens without first a flat white), I have to admit, I was skeptical too. But after trying it for a week, I converted. To relieve your skepticism, we’ve even created an expert guide to adding collagen to coffee below. Download and get started.

    Back to the topic at hand, one of the most talked-about benefits of collagen concerns skin health and the graceful aging effect of collagen peptides. Collagen makes up a significant percentage of the structure of the skin - or its middle layer, to be exact. The role of collagen in the dermis is to form a fibrous network (fibroblasts), while also promoting the development of new skin cells and replacing the dead ones. As we age and the body produces less collagen, the structure of the skin is seriously compromised, and the consequences show in the form of textural changes such as wrinkles. Thankfully, oral collagen supplementation has been found to minimize the impact of harmful factors such as sun exposure, pollution, and nutrient deficiency. Furthermore, collagen improves skin hydration, elasticity, and density, a study conducted by L. Bolke and colleagues confirms.

    When it comes to collagen depletion, the skin is certainly not the only area affected. Decreased collagen levels are noticeable when it comes to connective tissue, as well as bone mass and structure. According to the study on the role of collagen in bone strength, collagen depletion is associated with low bone density, degenerative bone conditions such as osteoporosis, and an increased risk of bone fractures. What’s more, as a structural protein, collagen is responsible for much of our lean muscles as well. A study conducted by A. R. Gillies et al. suggests that collagen is a vital factor in muscle health and functioning, being that 1-10% of the entire muscle mass consists of this protein. Furthermore, consistent collagen supplementation has been linked to significant improvement in sarcopenia, as well as boosted lean muscle mass.

    Are you struggling with stiff joints? In case you experience limited mobility, flexibility, and strength of your joints, the core issue may be in your collagen levels. Collagen is essential when it comes to joint health since it preserves the integrity of cartilage. And because cartilage is a protective layer around your joints, the less of it you have, the more likely you areto develop serious degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis. Collagen has also been found to lower inflammation and joint pain, as well as to aid the recovery process.

    Health Benefits of Coffee

    If you’re a coffee-lover, you can probably already name a dozen benefits yourself. It is the daily ritual that allows us some peace and quiet, or some quality time with our loved ones. Coffee is in a category of its own, as its popularity is truly unprecedented. But besides the incredible taste, tempting aroma, and energizing effect, is there more to it? Even though you may not even expect more from your favorite cup of coffee, it does offer an array of health benefits.

    The instant energy boost you feel after a cup of coffee is not a myth, and it is just one of the beneficial effects of the stimulant, caffeine. Even though caffeine is a psychoactive substance, coffee is by no means considered dangerous, although it can be triggering for some people - especially when anxiety is involved. According to a study conducted by A. P. Smith and colleagues, coffee can promote mental alertness, energy levels, as well as performance on a variety of tasks. What’s more, caffeine has been found to promote various cognitive functions such as reaction times, vigilance, memory, and even mood.

    By stimulating the adrenaline (fight-or-flight hormone) levels in the body, caffeine consumption is considered excellent preparation for intense physical activity. What’s more, caffeine has been found to break down body fat, allowing the body to utilize free fatty acids as fuel. Having all the mentioned energizing effects, it is no wonder that caffeine has been shown to promote physical performance by a fascinating 11-12%, a study on the effects of caffeine ingestion on exercise testing suggests.

    Because there are numerous factors that could contribute to type 2 diabetesdevelopment, it is of utmost importance to raise awareness of this common disease. According to a study by S. N. Bhupathiraju, increased and consistent coffee consumption has been found to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes development by 11%. Moreover, an umbrella review conducted by R. Poole et al. confirms the beneficial effects of coffee when it comes to decreasing the chances of diabetes development, while also highlighting the role of coffee in lowering the overall risk of metabolic syndrome.

    The Perfect Blend: Why You Need Collagen Coffee in Your Life

    Let’s start by clearing one important thing up: your collagen supplement will not alter the taste, smell, or texture of your collagen coffee. Our premium hydrolyzed collagen supplement is flavorless, odorless, and highly soluble, meaning that it will dissolve or mix into most food or beverage. Therefore, it is safe to say that this superfood can become the secret ingredient of your morning coffee, unleashing all the health benefits we talked about. Collagen coffee is probably the most convenient method of keeping up with your collagen supplementation and getting those collagen levels up.

    Aside from their respective beneficial effects, there are quite a few fields in which collagen and coffee work together. One of the most talked-about benefits of collagen coffee concerns its role in healthy weight loss. In case you didn’t know, collagen is quite effective when it comes keeping you feeling satiated. If you're aiming to lose that excess weight, collagen protein provides a feeling of satiety. What’s more, glycine, collagen’s prevalent amino acid, is responsible for converting glucose into energy which fuels muscles. Furthermore, by promoting lean muscle growth, collagen also acts as a metabolism booster because it reduces the content of fat mass.

    Also a well-known metabolism booster, caffeine has been found to stimulate the nervous system to break down fat, a study on the effect of caffeine on metabolic responses finds. How much can caffeine really help in the fat burning process? You may be surprised (and thrilled!) to learn that caffeine has been found to increase fat burning by 10% in obese individuals, and by as much as 29% in lean individuals, a study conducted by D. Bracco and colleagues suggests.

    Collagen can be found in the structure of almost every part of the body, and blood vessels are no exception - hence its role in heart health. An overview of collagen protein suggests that faced with a collagen deficiency, arteries may become fragile, which could seriously jeopardize the functions of the heart and bloodstream. Furthermore, a study by N. Tomosugi et al. suggests that consistent daily supplementation with collagen could lead to significant improvement in coronary issues such as artery stiffness.

    Even though caffeine sometimes gets a bad reputation due to its effect on adrenaline production, there are studies emphasizing the role of coffee in optimal heart health. According to reports from the American Heart Association, coffee consumption may be associated with a decreased risk of the development of serious coronary issues such as stroke and heart failure. As the two mentioned health issues are the two leading causes of death in the world, these findings are quite promising. Nevertheless, coronary health is always a topic to discuss with a healthcare professional, and healthy lifestyle choices are just an added bonus!

    Q&A

    What is the thermal degradation of collagen?

    The topic of the thermal stability of collagen was brought up after certain reports suggested that collagen may be unstable at room temperature. Before diving into this matter, it is important to define the triple helix structure of collagen. We all know that collagen is a protein providing structure, but what can be found in the very structure of this protein?

    According to a study on the thermal denaturation of collagen, collagen has a triple helix molecule structure, and the molecules are grouped to form long fibrils. What seems to be the main advantage of collagen when it comes to thermal degradation is its ability to transform into a gelatin structure in contact with water at room temperature. Therefore, it is safe to say that the hydrothermal stability of collagen protein lies in its versatility and transforming capability.

    The mentioned study confirms that both collagen and gelatin undergo a two-level degradation under high temperatures, while gelatin reaches the second level at a much higher temperature compared to collagen.

    Should I be concerned about the thermal stability of collagen in coffee?

    No! Even though collagen’s structure is prone to thermal degradation in theory, when it comes to quality supplements, collagen does stay intact. What kind of temperature can a collagen supplement endure? Collagen preserves its structure up to 572°F (300°C), thanks to the adaptivity we talked about. Therefore, even if you like your coffee unbearably hot, we doubt you’ll ever have your collagen coffee reach the denaturation temperature of 572°F.

    What should I do to prevent the thermal degradation of collagen?

    Although we’ve already established that collagen will remain intact unless you bring it to beyond a boil at the highest setting in the oven, there are ways to preserve its quality by storing it correctly. In order to get the most out of your collagen supplement and collagen coffee, regardless of the brew, choose a brand that is rigorously tested for quality and purity in registered facilities, preferably adhering to cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices). Needless to say, you should always pay attention to the recommended shelf life of your collagen supplements and keep track of the “best before” information on the label. Recommended storage for collagen powder supplements should be in a cool, dark area away from heat or moisture.

    Does the type of collagen matter for the risk of thermal degradation?

    While certain studies imply that collagen reaches an irreversible state after 572°F, type I collagen seems to be far more resilient than the other types. There are at least 16 different types of collagen, but 80-90 percent of the collagen amount in the body consists of types I, II, and III. The reason behind the resilience of collagen type I could be in its long fibrils which form a diameter of 50-200 nm. According to a study conducted by E. Leikina and colleagues, even if thermal denaturation of collagen type I occurs, it is a fully reversible process. Therefore, it is safe to say that collagen type I is pretty much indestructible, even in its denatured state!

    Is collagen denaturation and degradation the same thing?

    You may have noticed that the terms collagen denaturation and collagen degradation are used interchangeably. Essentially, collagen denaturation is a kind of collagen degradation, which is why even in literature the two terms aren’t really distinguished.

    A more precise definition of collagen denaturation would be the breakage of hydrogen bonds within the protein molecule, which breaks up and reorders its structure. The disruption of the molecule structure is mild, and the structural changes can be seen in the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the protein.

    Summary

    As long as you choose collagen products that have undergone credible quality evaluations, and store them properly, there’s no need to worry about issues such as collagen thermal degradation. As we’ve learned in this article, collagen may not be 100% thermally stable, but in normal conditions, it won’t reach its breaking point. Therefore, your coffee (no matter how hot) will not damage your collagen peptides, but only enhance its beneficial properties. For our full assortment of all-natural non-GMO supplementation, head over to our online store.

    Summary Points

    • Collagen is a great addition to your coffee due to its numerous health and beauty benefits, including hydrated skin and healthy bones and joints
    • Coffee contains healthy benefits including a boost in energy and decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes
    • Collagen and coffee make a perfect duo, promoting satiety, lean muscle growth, and heart health
    • While collagen is thermally unstable in theory, it can be transformed into gelatin, and the temperature of your collagen coffee will never be high enough to destroy it

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