Collagen supplements have surged in popularity in recent years, with the global collagen market expected to reach $7.5 billion by 2028.
As collagen drinks and powders gain traction, new products continue emerging, including collagen-infused coffees like Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee. But do these trendy new collagen coffees live up to their claims?
As a savvy consumer, it’s wise to carefully evaluate any new health product before trying it yourself.
In this comprehensive review, we’ll analyze Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee in detail, examining its purported benefits, ingredients, potential side effects, and what unbiased experts have to say.
Read on to make an informed decision about whether this collagen coffee is right for you.
Table of Contents
Overview of Collagen and Its Purported Benefits
Before analyzing Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee specifically, let’s start with a primer on collagen and its supposed benefits for the body.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, making up 30% of total protein content. It’s the main structural protein in connective tissues like skin, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Starting in our mid-20s, our bodies produce less and less collagen, leading to signs of aging like wrinkles and joint discomfort.
Collagen supplements have emerged as a popular way to counteract this age-related collagen loss. The proposed benefits of collagen supplements include:
- Reducing wrinkles and dryness and increasing skin elasticity
- Supporting joint, bone, and muscle health
- Improving hair thickness and nail strength
- Helping manage weight by increasing satiety
- Boosting metabolism and fat burning
However, the existing research on supplemental collagen is conflicting. While some studies show modest benefits for skin and joints, other studies show negligible effects. High quality clinical trials are still limited. More research is needed to verify health claims about collagen supplements.
Now that we’ve reviewed the basics on collagen, let’s dive into examining Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee specifically.
Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee: Product Overview
Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee is a powdered collagen supplement blended with instant coffee powder to create a collagen-infused coffee beverage.
Product Details:
- Manufactured by Nugen
- Comes in single-serve sachets
- Each sachet contains 10g of collagen peptides and 8g of robusta instant coffee
- Simply add hot or cold water to dissolve sachet contents
- Unflavored and unsweetened
- Contains 45 calories per serving
Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee aims to provide the perks of your morning coffee plus the purported benefits of collagen all in one.
Some of the claimed benefits highlighted in Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee’s marketing materials include:
- Boosting metabolism and burning fat
- Reducing cellulite
- Toning and tightening skin
- Increasing skin elasticity and hydration
- Reducing appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- Strengthening nails
- Growing thicker, fuller hair
- Easing joint pain
- Supporting strong bones
- Speeding recovery from workouts
- Increasing energy
Clearly, the marketing for Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee makes some very impressive claims about what this collagen coffee can do. But are these claims backed up by actual evidence? Let’s analyze the ingredients list and existing research in the next sections.
Analyzing the Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee Ingredient List
To fully evaluate the Nugen Bloom collagen coffee, we need to closely examine its ingredients and the science behind them. The ingredients per sachet are:
Collagen peptides (10g): Collagen peptides simply refer to easily digestible collagen protein derived from animal sources like cows or fish. The research on supplemental collagen for benefits like skin, joint, and muscle health is still preliminary. More robust clinical trials are needed.
Instant coffee powder (8g): This provides pure caffeine as a stimulant. The caffeine gives you a boost of energy. Caffeine may also have metabolism and fat burning effects. However, the research is inconclusive.
Natural coffee flavors: These flavors improve the taste but don’t offer any functional benefits.
Silicon dioxide: This is used as an anti-caking agent to prevent clumping. It has no therapeutic effects.
Key Takeaways: The two functional ingredients – collagen peptides and caffeine from instant coffee – may offer some benefits, but the existing evidence has limitations. The other ingredients are just for taste or to prevent caking.
Assessing the Potential Benefits and Claims
Now that we’ve analyzed the key ingredients in Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee, let’s evaluate some of the specific benefits claimed in its marketing materials against the current scientific evidence:
Claim: Boosts metabolism and burns fat
- Evidence review: The caffeine in coffee may slightly increase metabolism and fat burning, but the effects are minor. One study found 100mg of caffeine only increased the metabolic rate by 5-8% over 150 minutes. More research is needed on whether collagen itself impacts metabolism or fat loss.
Claim: Reduces appearance of cellulite
- Evidence review: No studies support that collagen supplements reduce cellulite. Cellulite is linked more to genetics and estrogen levels rather than collagen deficiency. Weight loss, exercise, and diet changes may help improve the appearance of cellulite.
Claim: Tones and tightens skin
- Evidence review: Limited evidence suggests oral collagen supplements may moderately increase skin elasticity and hydration. But the effects are small and unlikely to dramatically “tighten” skin. More rigorous data is still needed.
Claim: Strengthens nails and grows thicker, fuller hair
- Evidence review: Very limited evidence suggests collagen supplements may slightly improve nail growth and strength as well as hair thickness. But the studies are low quality. Much more research is required to support these beauty claims.
Claim: Eases joint pain and promotes strong bones
- Evidence review: Several studies suggest supplemental collagen may reduce joint pain and discomfort associated with osteoarthritis. However, the effects are mild. High quality data on bone health is still lacking.
Claim: Speeds recovery from workouts
- Evidence review: Currently no good evidence that collagen supplements enhance workout recovery. Proper rest, nutrition, and hydration are more important.
Key Takeaways: While some preliminary studies show minor benefits for skin, hair, nails, and possibly joints, Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee’s claims around fat burning, cellulite reduction, and workout recovery aren’t well substantiated. The existing research has limitations. Independent, high quality clinical studies are still needed to verify health and beauty claims about supplemental collagen.
Potential Side Effects and Safety Concerns
Before trying any new supplement, it’s prudent to consider possible side effects and safety issues, especially with a trendy new product like collagen coffee that hasn’t been extensively tested.
Here are some potential side effects and safety considerations with Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee:
Allergies: Collagen is derived from animal sources, so people with beef, fish, or shellfish allergies need to avoid collagen products entirely due to risks of hypersensitivity reactions.
Drug interactions: Caffeine can potentially interact with certain medications like lithium, clozapine, and ephedrine. Caffeine also has a diuretic effect, so it could interfere with drugs altered by fluid changes.
Digestive issues: Some users report bloating, gas, and diarrhea from collagen supplements, likely due to the high protein load. Start with smaller amounts to assess tolerance.
Heavy metals: Collagen sourced from fish may contain traces of mercury. Choose brands that lab test for heavy metals.
Quality control issues: As collagen products have surged in popularity, quality control problems with some unscrupulous brands have come to light. Independent lab testing is essential to prevent contamination. Always buy from reputable companies.
Caffeine overdose risks: While rare, excessive caffeine consumption can lead to symptoms like rapid heartbeat, anxiety, tremors, insomnia, and headaches. Carefully monitor caffeine intake from all sources if you’re caffeine sensitive.
The bottom line: While relatively low risk for most healthy adults, potential side effects include allergies, digestive upset, and caffeine overdose. Those with medical conditions or taking medications should get professional guidance before trying collagen coffee.
Expert Opinions on Collagen Coffees and Supplements
Rather than relying solely on product marketing claims, it’s prudent to listen to impartial experts when evaluating a new health product. Here are some perspectives on collagen supplements from independent professionals:
Registered Dietitians: Many dietitians recommend getting collagen from real foods first before trying supplements. They caution that research on collagen products is still emerging. Results may be modest at best.
Dermatologists: Some dermatologists are optimistic about collagen benefits for skin, hair, and nails, but others argue benefits are likely minimal. Most emphasize the importance of overall healthy nutrition first.
Doctors: Many doctors advise being wary of aggressive marketing claims from supplement companies. They encourage patients to keep expectations realistic about potential collagen benefits lacking robust clinical evidence.
Pharmacists: Pharmacists often warn that collagen supplements may interact with certain medications, including antibiotics and diuretics. They advise consulting your pharmacist about potential interactions.
Nutrition Scientists: Independent nutrition scientists note that high quality clinical trials are still lacking to fully substantiate many marketing claims about collagen supplements. More rigorous, unbiased studies are needed.
The consensus among unbiased experts: Collagen shows promise for some beauty and joint benefits, but the evidence remains limited. Experts recommend a healthy, balanced diet first before trying trendy supplements with inflated marketing claims.
Tips for Safely Evaluating Collagen Coffee Products Online
The internet is filled with flashy health products making impressive claims. But how do you separate clever marketing from credible products? Here are some tips for safely evaluating health products like collagen coffee that you encounter online:
Research the brand: Search for reviews of the brand online and complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Reputable brands will have mostly positive reviews over many years. Be wary of unknown or newer brands with big claims.
Verify label accuracy: Do the ingredients list and nutrition facts align with what the marketing claims? Or are they vague or misleading? Accurate labeling indicates serious quality control measures.
Look for certifications: Legitimate certification seals like NSF International or US Pharmacopeia indicate that independent labs verified quality and purity standards.
Consider pricing: Suspiciously cheap products could signal poor quality ingredients or lack of purity testing. But high prices don’t necessarily guarantee quality either.
Check COAs: Reputable brands provide certificates of analysis (COAs) confirming that independent labs tested for purity and specific collagen levels. Beware of products lacking COAs.
Avoid unrealistic claims: Claims around “rapid fat loss”, “miraculous anti-aging benefits”, or “clinically proven to…” often indicate marketing hype without real evidence. Maintain healthy skepticism.
Following basic online safety tips like these can help you spot potential red flags and choose collagen supplements wisely.
Final Verdict: Should You Try Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee?
After thoroughly analyzing Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee, examining its ingredients, assessing the claims, reviewing expert opinions, and providing tips for evaluating collagen products, let’s summarize the key takeaways:
- Early research shows some potential minor benefits for skin, nails, hair, and possibly joints. But clinical evidence remains limited.
- Claims around fat burning, cellulite reduction, and supercharging workouts aren’t well supported by current studies. Stay skeptical.
- While low risk for most, potential side effects include allergies, digestive issues, and caffeine oversensitivity. Those with medical conditions should consult their doctor first.
- Independent experts caution that despite marketing hype, results from collagen supplements tend to be modest at best according to existing data.
- It’s wise to start with a healthy diet first before trying trendy but unproven supplements with inflated claims.
Overall, the verdict is… While Nugen Bloom Collagen Coffee may provide some benefits, the current evidence is still preliminary. It’s fine to try it if you remain realistic in your expectations, pay close attention to any side effects, and continue prioritizing basic healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits first and foremost.
But based on the existing data, collagen coffee shouldn’t be viewed as a miracle solution delivering all the dramatic anti-aging, body-transforming benefits that the marketing implies.
