As you age, you start noticing changes throughout your body. Maybe your bones and joints aren’t as strong as they used to be, or you see some wrinkles appearing on certain areas of your body. Whatever the issue is, you want to continue keeping your body as healthy as possible.
The reason behind some physical changes in your body is the lack of collagen production. It’s a combination of essential amino acids that support joint, ligament, and tissue development. But it dwindles as you get older.
After speaking with your healthcare provider about possible solutions, they recommended taking collagen powder to increase its abundance in your body. The issue is that you’re not sure how to take it. Look no further; we’ll outline a few methods to ensure you get all the collagen you need.
1. Add It to Water
One of the simplest ways to take collagen powder is by adding it to water. The process is straightforward:
- Grab your shaker bottle
- Fill it with water
- Add a scoop of collagen powder
- Shake for about 15 seconds
Afterward, you’ll be able to drink collagen with no issues. However, one thing you’ll need to be aware of with this method is clumping. Collagen is a sticky substance that can bunch together when added to a cold liquid. But reputable brands ensure this doesn’t happen. To find one, look for products with an NSF certification.
2. Put It In Your Morning Cup of Joe
The first time you try a new supplement, it can be challenging to figure out how to add it to your diet. You usually don’t want to deviate from what you know. And with collagen powder, you don’t have to. A beautiful component of this supplement is that it’s best served with hot liquids because of how quickly it dissolves.
So if you want it first thing in the morning, add it to your (first) cup of coffee. Add a scoop and mix for about 15 seconds, and there you go. Plus, if you have an unflavored collagen supplement, you won’t taste anything except the flavor of your coffee.
3. Place It Into Protein Shakes
Most people will wonder if you can combine collagen powder with other protein powders, and the answer is you can. It’s a great way to treat your body after pushing it through an intense workout. With the additional proteins, you can support your body’s recovery processes.
You don’t need to do anything special; follow the same procedure that you would when creating a protein shake. What you should be cautious of is the flavoring—you don’t want to have two conflicting flavors in your shake. So try to find flavors that complement each other or have one flavorless supplement.
4. Make Collagen Treats
You get the picture—it’s easy to add collagen to liquids. What about eating it? That’s also a simple way to add it to your diet; it doesn’t have to be through traditional foods. You can make collagen treats such as:
- Brownies
- Waffles
- Pancakes
- Muffins
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
Follow the baking recipes like you usually do and add the supplement to the base before baking anything. Then you’ll be eating your favorite treats with a hint of collagen. And again, ensure you’re not using a collagen product with a conflicting flavor. But if you want to flex your creative juices, try using a flavored product and see if you can use that as the base of your treat. You may surprise yourself and create a new favorite treat!
5. Try It In Rice or Pasta
We probably got you excited thinking about dessert before dinner, and for that, we apologize (not really). However, you can add collagen to your diet by putting it into pasta or rice. The image you have in your mind might reflect adding a scoop of collagen to a finished meal. While that is possible, your taste buds wouldn’t appreciate the texture.
Instead, add a scoop of the supplement to the water before cooking the food. As mentioned above, collagen dissolves quickly when it’s in hot liquids. So as you’re boiling water for rice or pasta, add it and watch how fast it disappears. Then place your grains in the pot and cook them normally. When you serve it, all you’ll taste is the food and the seasonings you enhanced it with. You won’t even remember you added collagen to the water.
Here are Various Ways to Take Collagen Powder
As you can see, taking this supplement in its powdered form is very simple. You won’t need to deviate from your standard practices; all you have to do is add a scoop, and you’ll increase your collagen intake. As a result, your body will be grateful, and you’ll see the differences in no time.