Deciding to add collagen to your wellness routine is an easy choice. Who doesn’t want healthier skin, hair, nails, bones & joints?** The tricky part is knowing when to take collagen for the best results. Should you take it in the morning or before bed? With food or on an empty stomach? Let’s break it down.
Why Timing Your Collagen Matters
Collagen works best when taken consistently, but certain times of day or ways of consuming collagen may be a better fit for your lifestyle. Whether you’re after better skin elasticity, healthier hair, or post-workout recovery, it’s important to know when taking collagen makes sense for you:
- Morning: Many people like beginning their day with a dose of collagen, adding it to their coffee, tea, or smoothie. Taking it in the morning may support things like energy metabolism and help you start the day feeling hydrated and nourished.
- Evening: Others swear by collagen before bed, when your body’s natural repair processes are most active. Taking collagen at night may help to support overnight recovery, especially if your goals include joint comfort or muscle repair.
Bottom line, there’s really no proven time of day that is “best” for taking collagen. What matters most is consistency and preference.
RELATED: How to Use Collagen (Plus, 14 Recipes to Get You Started)
Should You Take Collagen on an Empty Stomach?
Some believe taking collagen on an empty stomach aids absorption since stomach acid helps to digest proteins. While this may be true in theory, there is no strong evidence that timing it this way makes a significant difference. In general, it is good to take any supplement with the support of a nutritionally balanced diet.
Collagen and Vitamin C: A Dynamic Duo
Vitamin C plays an important role in collagen synthesis, helping your body to naturally produce more of it.** While you don’t need to take vitamin C at the same time you take your collagen, including vitamin C-rich foods like citrus, strawberries, or bell peppers can help you maximize your results.
Different Forms of Collagen and How to Use Them
- Collagen Peptides: Easily dissolves in hot or cold drinks like coffee or smoothies which makes it great for any time of the day. It can also be added to your water, slow-cooker pot roast or Keto Fat Bombs.
- Collagen Gummies: Perfect for on-the-go use, and can often be taken in the morning as part of a daily supplement routine.
- Beef Gelatin: Our Beef Gelatin is partially hydrolyzed, meaning it’s only soluble in hot liquids and solidifies in cold or lukewarm liquids. This makes it the optimal collagen option to add to your diet if you’re looking to thicken stews or make homemade chili. It’s also helpful for users who follow diets for sensitive gut health.**
Making Collagen a Daily Habit
Consistency is key when it comes to seeing the results you want from your collagen routine. The best time to take it is the time that fits seamlessly into your day, whether that’s in the morning, post-workout, or right before bed. Try incorporating it into your daily routine in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. Here are some easy ways to incorporate collagen into your diet:
- Add a scoop of Vital Proteins® Collagen Peptides to your morning coffee.
- Mix Vanilla Collagen Creamer into your tea or oatmeal for a creamy, nourishing boost.
- Blend Collagen Peptides into your post-workout shake to support muscle recovery.
- Enjoy Collagen Gummies as a nightly wellness treat before bed.
When collagen becomes a habit, that’s when you’ll start to see - and feel - the difference.
