About 15% of your calories each day should be made up of protein calories. However, this can be challenging to reach if you're not used to eating high-protein meals daily.
Thankfully, there is now an easier way to make sure that you eat more protein, and it's by putting it in your favorite coffee.
But how do you make a protein coffee? And what are the benefits of it? Keep reading to find all the answers to this question (and more)!
The Good Stuff - Performance
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One scoop will infuse your coffee with healthy ingredients
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Ditch the bad stuff like sugar, dairy, and artificial creamers
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Fights inflammation and supports skin and joint health
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Makes your coffee taste great
What Is Protein Coffee?
Protein coffee is coffee that is also made with protein powder. You'll likely see it in an iced coffee drink since protein powder might not mix well with hot coffee.
Protein coffee is becoming popular because it's tasty and simple, but there are also a lot of health benefits from drinking it. Some people are even calling it "proffee."
It's very simple to create this protein drink. Some people prefer putting some protein powder in an iced coffee. However, if you get a collagen powder, you could also put it in your hot coffee.
Why Is It So Popular Now?
Over the last few years, social media users on TikTok have posted videos about how great protein coffee is. The hashtag #proffee has over 28 million views on the social media app.
There are all kinds of videos on there of people mixing protein into their drinks, and the slow motion of the swirling colors makes it look very appetizing. But why did they start mixing protein and coffee?
That's because many people finally realize the health benefits of having protein, and many discovered that it also tastes great when you combine protein into your coffee.
Having protein in your coffee can add even more health benefits on top of the benefits that coffee already gives you, but we'll dive into that more later.
Another reason people have started mixing protein into their coffee is that they love the taste of coffee, but it can cause acid reflux in some people. Protein is a great way to counteract that and make it taste great.
You can also quickly get all of these benefits by making this easy drink at home!
How to Make Protein Coffee
You can easily make this one drink at home, and you can use it with a protein supplement mixed with milk and water. You can also add your favorite protein powder to brewed coffee.
First, you'll need the right ingredients. You'll want to get your favorite coffee, ice cubes, and protein powder (or a shake).
Making the best protein coffee will also come down to the quality of the ingredients that you use. There are all kinds of different types of protein powders:
- Whey
- Hemp
- Pea
- Plant proteins
- Casein
- Collagen
The protein types are different, and they'll also mix with your coffee differently. You should try using collagen, bone broth, or hemp if you want one that has the most protein. It would be best to look for one with no fillers or sugars.
Once you've found the right protein, you'll have more luck when you combine it with a cold liquid.
You should also avoid putting in too much milk, creamer, or sugar if you're trying to keep your proffee healthy. A great alternative to these unhealthy additives is The Good Stuff - it will make your coffee taste delicious and contains collagen protein and other unique ingredients that will make your protein coffee even better.
What Are the Benefits?
Drinking coffee and protein has many benefits, and it can only get better when you combine them.
High-quality coffee has all kinds of impressive health benefits. Coffee is naturally high in antioxidants. It can also help increase your motivation, focus, and performance.
Coffee contains caffeine and antioxidants, which could help raise your metabolism and slow aging. Experts recommend drinking between three to four cups of coffee a day.
Build Muscle
Consuming protein also can help you have more energy and can help you build more muscle, and gain strength. When you combine the protein into something you drink daily, you'll start to see muscle gains.
You'll also help prevent any muscle wasting or loss of muscle mass. You could also improve your mental focus and improve your cognitive functions.
Could Help Reduce Weight
Having enough protein can make you feel more full, reducing your hunger and cravings and making you feel more full. This can help you cut the number of calories you'll eat throughout the day.
Protein will also give your body a metabolism boost. When your metabolism is higher, you'll start to burn more calories. Protein boosts your metabolism more than carbs or fats will.
If you consume enough protein, you can also keep your muscles strong while maintaining your muscle mass. This is important because your muscles burn more calories than fat (even when you're not working out).
So if you have more muscle mass than fat, your body will naturally start burning away calories. So it's essential to ensure that the lost weight doesn't come from your muscles.
Caffeine has a few weight loss benefits as well. For example, it can boost your metabolism, raise your feeling of fullness, and lower your hunger levels.
This is why the two together make such a great combination. If you're trying to lose weight, this can be a great natural way to lose weight.
Antioxidant Benefits
Coffee is also full of great antioxidants. These antioxidants can help to prevent conditions like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Caffeine and protein can help your body make more feel-good hormones, like dopamine and serotonin.
Inflammation is another thing the antioxidants from caffeine and protein can help with. If you have prolonged inflammation, it'll impact the rest of your body, but your immune system, heart, and brain will likely feel the effects the most.
Coffee has antioxidants that are also found in many fruits and vegetables. So if you're not eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, drinking coffee every morning can help you to get the most out of them.
Boosts Endurance
You'll get an energy boost if you drink a protein coffee about a half hour to an hour before your workout. Coffee also helps with protein absorption.
The protein powder will give you strength, and the coffee will provide you with the energy you need to complete your workout.
Caffeine can also help to increase your blood pressure and heart rate for a few hours. This will make it easier for your muscles to get the oxygen, fuel, and nutrition they need to complete a workout. This also happens in your brain, so you'll get more oxygen and blood flow to help you stay awake and alert.
Caffeine and protein can also help to relax your central nervous system (CNS). This means that you'll feel alert and mentally strong as well. Even if you don't think you can finish a workout that day, protein coffee can help you get through to the end of the workout.
Help With Workout Recovery
Caffeine is catabolic. This means that it helps to break down energy in your body. However, protein powders are anabolic. This means that the protein can help repair and rebuild the lost energy.
Having these two in the same drink will counterbalance the other one. This is another reason it's a great idea to drink before starting your workout.
The caffeine can help give you the energy you need until the workout is over (or until your body has used up all of the caffeine). This is why there are so many popular energy drinks for people to drink before they work out.
However, the protein will also help after your workout when your body doesn't have energy from the caffeine. The protein will help your body replace all of the lost energy. In addition, it can also help reduce the cortisol levels in your body (a stress hormone) you get while working out.
Another benefit that can help after your workout is that protein will dissolve in water and can be absorbed by your body faster. This means that there is enough of it to help you rebuild the tendons, fiber, and muscle tissue you destroyed while working out.
When your body can recover faster, you'll also see more muscle gains quicker. You will also be less likely to be sore the next day after your workout.
Boosts Heart Health
In the United States, heart attacks happen every 40 seconds. This results in 1,000 people dying from heart attacks each day.
One study found that eating large amounts of protein daily could help reduce high cholesterol. This is one of the leading risk factors for heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions.
Other research found that coffee can help your smaller blood vessels deliver nutrients and blood better so that the risks of a heart attack might be lower.
Combining protein and coffee can improve your circulation and lower your blood pressure and bad cholesterol. Overall, you'll have a more healthy cardiovascular system.
What Powder to Use?
If you want the best results, you'll need to know what powder to use. The great thing about making protein coffee is that it can be customized. You can choose whatever protein you would like.
However, you should find one that doesn't have any added sugars. Also, try to avoid flavored ones, like vanilla, caramel, and chocolate - these typically contain chemically-derived sweeteners.
Some protein powders have more nutrition and vitamins added to them. Please always read the ingredient list to ensure that you aren't adding artificial sweeteners, sugar, colors, preservatives, or anything else into your coffee.
You could also try using plant proteins or plant-based milk to double your protein intake.
How Much Protein to Add?
Depending on what recipe you follow, the amount of protein you'll add will differ depending on what brand of protein powder you're using.
You could add as much as you need, but you could start by adding a few grams of protein to your coffee. Look at the nutrition label for your protein and figure out how much you need to add.
What Does It Taste Like?
The coffee will vary depending on what roast you use and also what type of protein you use. The best thing to do is try and find an unflavored protein powder so that you can enjoy the taste of your usual cup of coffee.
What Is the Healthiest Type of Coffee?
If you drink coffee for the health benefits, you'll want to ensure that you're drinking the healthiest cup of coffee. The healthiest cup is either enjoyed "black" or with a performance supplement like The Good Stuff.
If you are sensitive to caffeine, then switch to decaf coffee. Decaf is still healthy as it contains antioxidants and also has many health benefits that full-strength coffee does.
The brewing style will also factor into how healthy the coffee is. You can also look at the antioxidant content of the coffee. These are the antioxidants that will help give you all the benefits that we mentioned earlier.
Keep in mind that everyone's body is different, and their body will process caffeine differently. If you pay attention to your body's needs, you'll be able to find the healthiest option for you.
Is it Worth It?
This option might only be for some, especially if you have trouble with different textures in your coffee. Everybody is also different, and some things might interact with you differently.
However, having some protein in the morning is worth it, whether it's with your coffee or not. Protein can have an impact on your cravings, hunger, and energy as well. Mixing protein in your coffee can be a great way to ensure you get it out of the way.
However, if you're already eating large breakfasts with a lot of protein, you might see fewer benefits from adding protein to your coffee. Protein coffee can be great for people who don't enjoy eating in the morning.
Why It Works
This is an excellent combination because coffee is energizing and stimulating, but it can also give you a lot of health benefits. Scientists have also been researching the health benefits of coffee and protein.
Combining them works because sometimes protein powder can cancel out the adverse effects of drinking coffee. For example, if you drink too much coffee, then your body might not be able to absorb iron as much. This is an essential mineral, and protein can help with that. Scientists found that protein powder can help with iron absorption.
Having protein powder can also help counterbalance some of cortisol's stress-related effects. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can be released after a workout and can hurt your health if you have too much of it.
If you're trying to get in shape and can't eat sugar or carbs, this is the best option to help you lose weight and build muscle.
