Collagen powder and glass of pure water on blue background. Natural bio supplement for skin, bone and joint health. Extra protein intake. Place for your text.

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I get asked all the time from some of my family members, friends, and coworkers for tips on eating healthier, as well as ways to live a healthier life in general. Those who know me, know that I love cooking and creating my own new recipes. However, a lot of times, sometimes making something healthier can be as simple as adding something into a recipe for a health boost… for example, COLLAGEN! There are so many reasons to add collagen to your daily routine, and so many ways to use it! 

It’s super important to look for high-quality collagen (well-sourced and grass-fed). I have two brands that are my go-to for collagen peptides – Ancient Nutrition, and Vital Proteins. I typically buy the unflavored collagen peptides, which makes it easy to use in any recipe! Even more, collagen has so many incredible health benefits. These include gut benefits, as well as skin, hair, and nail health benefits. 

Ok, so now let’s get into my 5 top ways that I use collagen… 

  • Smoothies:

    this is 100% my top go-to use for collagen – blended into my smoothies. I love adding collagen to my smoothie whenever I feel like I need a protein boost, especially if I’m having a smoothie post-workout. Because the collagen is flavorless and texture-less, it blends into smoothies so well, without altering the flavor or taste of your smoothie! 

  • Energy Balls:

    I love whipping up some energy balls for a quick and healthy snack that I can grab! I typically use a mixture of rolled oats, nut butter, honey, flaxseeds, shredded coconut, and dried cranberries. Then, I easily add a scoop or two of collagen to the mixture for an easy protein boost! These bites are so tasty, and perfect for a pre-workout snack, mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or even just when you need something sweet to munch on!

  • Baked Goods:

    I love adding collagen to baked goods because it can be used hot or cold and you can usually get away with not changing the recipe at all besides just adding a scoop or two of collagen. If you have a recipe that’s more complicated or you’re worried about how much collagen to add, I usually just play around with omitting some of whatever type of flour I’m using! 

  • Coffee or Tea:

    I love adding collagen to tea, especially on days where I don’t feel like I really need a protein boost. You can stir it into tea (again, it’s fine hot or cold) or coffee and it dissolves completely and is pretty much undetectable.

  • Lattes:

    Collagen is super easy to add to any latte, whether you’re craving some espresso, or something with less caffeine, like matcha.

Written by guest writer Kelly Wesolowski and edited by GUADS staff member Kate with contributions from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681787/