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Spicing up your morning latte might mean sprinkling in cinnamon or stirring in brown sugar. But what if there was an ingredient that could satisfy your taste buds AND boost your wellbeing?
You’re in luck. Collagen is a type of protein that plays a key role in building and supporting body tissues-from bones and cartilage, to skin, hair, eyes and nails. As registered dietician Trista Best explains, collagen is especially good for keeping your skin moisturized and elastic, ultimately preventing wrinkles and acting as a line of defense against premature aging. Taken with your coffee, it’s an unexpected-yet trendy!-combo that tastes good and boasts major health benefits too.
“Most people add collagen to black coffee, but adding it to a latte is a great way to spice things up. I find that using a milk frother is key to making your collagen blend into the coffee,” Life Insurance Star nutritionist Heather Hanks recommends. Furthermore, “be sure to avoid cow’s milk as it’s highly inflammatory and may cause digestive upset. Also, do not include any refined sugars.”
Noted! Here are four collagen latte recipes to transform your mornings and help you achieve glowing skin and strong hair and nails.
Collagen Latte
For any collagen latte newbies, Heather's simple take on the collagen-coffee trend is a great one to start with.
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut or almond milk
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 tsp. monk fruit sweetener or raw honey
- 1 scoop grass-fed collagen powder
First, prepare the espresso. Heat the milk in a saucepan or microwave. Add the espresso to your mug, then top with the milk. Add the collagen powder and sweetener. Use the milk frother to combine all ingredients, and enjoy hot.
Golden Turmeric Elixir
Dr. Ailynne Marie Vergara-Wijangco, a clinical dermatologist and researcher with ThankYourSkin, encourages you to mix other healthy ingredients into your collagen latte for a double dose of wellness.
For example, turmeric is taking center stage in everything from skincare to cooking, thanks to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Here's her take on a golden turmeric elixir:
- 1 cup + 1/4 cup almond milk, divided
- 1⁄2 tsp. ground turmeric
- 1 scoop collagen powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp. agave syrup
Bring the milk and turmeric to a simmer in a pan over medium heat. Remove from heat, and stir in collagen and agave. Whisk the remaining milk until frothy, and spoon over latte.
Coconut Chai Contentment
Like turmeric, coconut is another ingredient that benefits your skin by boosting nutrients and minimizing the signs of aging. Try Dr. Ailynne's coconut-chai contentment recipe, which helps support stronger hair, skin, nails and joints.
- 1 cup + 1/4 cup light coconut milk, divided
- 1 chai tea bag
- 1 scoop collagen powder
- 1 tbsp. turbinado sugar
Bring milk and chai tea bag to a simmer in a pan over medium heat. Remove from heat and steep for 3-5 min. Stir in the collagen and sugar. Whisk the remaining milk until frothy, and then spoon over your latte.
Matcha Latte Magic
Last, but certainly not least, matcha has proven to possess plenty of health benefits, particularly for those looking to lose weight. According to Healthline, "Some studies show that green tea extract helps increase metabolism and fat burning, both of which may aid weight loss."
Matcha also contains natural caffeine and the amino acid L-theanine, making it a much healthier choice than sugary coffee drinks. Whip up a version of Dr. Ailynne's 'Matcha Latte Magic' to provide you with an energy boost that's worth waking up for.
- 1 cup + 1/4 cup 2 percent milk, divided
- 2 tsp. matcha powder
- 1 scoop collagen powder
- 1 tbsp. honey
Bring milk and matcha to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in the collagen and honey. Whisk the remaining milk until frothy, and spoon over your latte. Enjoy!
