How To Mix Collagen Powder Without Clumping

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The Importance of Collagen

Oh, the dreaded collagen clump. Collagen is one of the few ingredients that can simultaneously support your muscles and joints while making your skin look clear, healthy, and fresh. This naturally-derived protein is found in the bodies of fish, birds, and mammals alike, including humans. Years of studies have illustrated just how important collagen is to the healthy functioning of the body.

Despite its importance, collagen production slows with age and can bring about side effects like joint pain, sagging skin, wrinkles, and muscle loss. Collagen supplements can help to reverse these side effects and make you look and feel as young as ever. Since collagen protein is already found in the human body and can be sourced from a variety of animals, adding this powerful supplement to your day fits many different lifestyles, diets, and health goals. It's also much easier on the stomach than dairy-derived whey protein powder. 

In order to be absorbed and used by the body, collagen protein needs to be broken down into a more bioavailable form called collagen peptides or collagen hydrolysate. Once the collagen peptide powder is consumed, it is then broken down into its primary amino acids, namely glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. From here, these amino acids stimulate the body to produce new collagen and increase collagen levels overall.

How to Choose the Best Collagen

With that said, not all collagen supplements are created equally; the quality and source of the collagen supplement you choose to purchase can determine its efficacy, taste, and tendency to clump. Here are some quick tips to ensure that you are getting the most effective and clean collagen supplement possible:

• Choose unflavored collagen.Flavorless or unflavored collagen (i.e., pure collagen) not only reduces the amount of calories per scoop, but it's also a great indicator of the product's purity. High-quality collagen supplements should have a very faint or even undetectable flavor and smell. This also makes them easier to blend into your favorite food and drinks! 
• If you want your collagen to go "undetected", don't use gelatin. Gelatin is a wonderful supplement and kitchen staple; it is a partially cooked form of collagen that has a unique gelling property. However, you should choose collagen unless you want a little extra firmness and jiggle in your yogurt or smoothie.
• For the best bioavailability, choose marine collagen.Marine collagen is up to 1.5x more bioavailable than bovine collagen, another bestseller supplement. Though they both have similar health benefits, marine collagen is a bit more bioavailable due to its small particle size.
• Avoid porcine, eggshell, and chicken collagen.These types of collagen are typically less pure and run the risk of contamination. Marine and bovine collagen are considered the cleanest, most reliable sources of collagen.  
• Look for grass-fed bovine collagen OR wild-caught marine collagen. Since collagen is an animal product, what the animals eat and how they are treated makes a huge difference both ethically and sustainably. Grass-fed cows are much happier and healthier than most mass-farmed cows that have a very narrow diet. Wild-caught fish do not run the same risk of antibiotic contamination as farmed fish do. Amandean's wild-caught marine collagen is sourced from sustainably fished North Atlantic cod and delivers maximum bioavailability and solubility.

The Clump-Free Collagen Method

Starting off with a high-quality collagen supplement is the key to a clump-free drink. Once you've found the right supplement, it's time to mix it into your favorite foods and drinks. 

We asked collagen fanatics how they make their collagen drinks without the dreaded powder clump. Here are some tips from the pros!

1.  Collagen is always more soluble in hot drinks than cold drinks.Although marine collagen and grass-fed collagen are soluble in cold drinks, it requires a bit more mixing than it would for a hot coffee. And when it comes to a cold drink, it’s best to forgo ice altogether. Collagen will clump in the presence of ice. 
2. Add your scoop of marine collagen BEFORE your drink. When you add your spoonful of marine collagen to the bottom of your cup and then slowly pour your hot liquids (or cold) on top, it helps to disperse the powder and avoid clumps or a moat of powder on top of your drink.
3. Add your scoop of grass-fed collagen AFTER your drink. Because bovine collagen is heavier in weight than marine collagen, it’s best to first pour your drink, and then stir in the grass-fed collagen powder. 
4. Avoid ice altogether.Collagen powder can stick to ice cubes and form clumps. Even if you mix the collagen in before adding ice, any remaining particles tend to seek out ice and cause clumping.
5. Milk frothers are your friend. Use a milk frother (like this trending handheld frother from Amazon) to seamlessly blend collagen with your lattes and give them a nice, foamy texture.
6. For quick and easy mixing, try a shaker bottle. Following the same steps as above, you can make a protein shake in minutes by adding a spoonful of collagen powder to your bottle and shaking on your way to the gym.

Collagen isn't just for hot water or coffee -- it's a great addition to a variety of dishes from bone broth, to fruit gummies, and even pie! With the right collagen supplement, the sky is the limit. Check out Amandean's collection of collagen and nutrient-infused recipes to spark inspiration!

Summary Points

In order to be absorbed and used by the body, collagen protein needs to be broken down into a more bioavailable form called collagen peptides or collagen hydrolysate.

High-quality collagen supplements should have a very faint or even undetectable flavor and smell.

Marine collagen is up to 1.5x more bioavailable than bovine collagen, another bestseller supplement.

Although marine collagen and grass-fed collagen are soluble in cold drinks, it requires a bit more mixing than it would for a hot coffee.

Because bovine collagen is heavier in weight than marine collagen, it’s best to first pour your drink, and then stir in the grass-fed collagen powder.