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Collagen has many benefits that make it worth including in your supplement routine. But the taste of collagen isn’t always the most pleasant, so you may be wondering if you can mix it with milk to disguise the taste.
Can you mix collagen powder with milk? Yes, you can mix collagen powder with milk without affecting the absorption of collagen. In fact, mixing collagen with milk can improve your bone health, sleep quality, and muscle growth in addition to the benefits of collagen itself.
Before you start mixing collagen and milk, it’s important to know if the benefits of mixing collagen with milk outweigh the drawbacks.
After reading this article, you’ll learn:
- The benefits of mixing collagen with milk
- The drawbacks of mixing collagen with milk
- When you should consume collagen and milk
- Which collagen powders are the best to mix with milk
Benefits of Mixing Collagen Powder With Milk

The benefits of mixing collagen powder with milk are that it:
- Supports bone health
- Increases protein content
- Enhances the taste
Supports Bone Health
Mixing collagen with milk is beneficial because milk contains a high level of calcium, and calcium and collagen are both important for building and maintaining strong bones.
The calcium from milk supports bone health by helping to build and maintain bone mass and, along with strength training, can prevent osteoporosis.
The collagen itself helps with bone health because collagen is a building block for bone tissue, and there is research showing that collagen supplementation could enhance the absorption of calcium and improve bone mineral density.
Increases Protein Content
Another benefit to mixing collagen with milk is that the milk increases the amount of protein that you’re consuming.
Collagen on its own is an incomplete protein, meaning that it doesn’t have all of the required amino acids to be used efficiently as a protein source by the body.
By mixing it with milk, an animal protein that is a complete source of protein, you’re increasing the quality and quantity of the protein available.
Although there still isn’t enough protein with collagen and milk combined to be considered high-protein, it is a step in the right direction.
Enhances The Taste
Mixing collagen with milk is also beneficial because it enhances the taste of the collagen, which is important so that you actually want to take it.
The taste of the collagen mixture is probably the difference between you taking collagen or not. If you buy collagen and you’re appalled by the taste, the chances of you wanting to take it are pretty low.
But if you can disguise collagen in milk, which is a very neutral taste, then the odds of you taking your collagen are probably much higher.
Drawback of Mixing Collagen Powder With Milk
The only drawback to mixing your collagen powder in milk is that you are increasing the calories that you’re consuming, which is a drawback for those trying to limit their caloric intake.
If you’re someone who is trying to diet to lose body fat, every calorie matters. If you’re drinking 2% milk every day, you’re increasing your calories by 120 calories (based on 8 fluid ounces).
Collagen itself has between 40-70 calories per serving (generally 1 scoop) based on the brand you’re using, so the combination of milk and collagen is around 160-190 calories. Per week, this is an additional 1,120-1330 calories that you’re consuming.
For someone who isn’t dieting, going over your daily calories may not matter as much. But for someone who is dieting, they could make a difference.
Collagen & Milk: When To Consume It

There are no specific times per day that you need to consume collagen for it to be effective, but it can help to add it to pre-existing routines so you’re cued to take it. It’s easier to remember to take your supplements when they’re added to a routine that you already have.
Is Collagen Mixed With Milk Good for Pre-Workout?
Collagen and milk could be a great option before a workout as long as you’re consuming it with some additional carbs to fuel your workout.
Pre-workout, it’s important to have an adequate amount of carbohydrates because they’re your body’s preferred energy source. If you don’t consume enough carbs before your workout, you won’t have the energy to train effectively.
If it’s around an hour before your workout, you could have the milk and collagen mixture along with some fruit, or you could use chocolate milk instead of regular milk. Either option will provide you with some fast-digesting carbs for your workout.
It’s worth mentioning that although the milk and collagen mixture is perfectly fine to have pre-workout, you’ll want to be mindful of the fat content, especially if you’re drinking whole milk. Consuming too much fat before a workout can delay the release of energy you’ll need to get you through it.
As well, there are people who can’t stomach dairy products before a workout without upsetting their digestive system.
I can attest to this because I cannot have a glass of milk and go work out or run without experiencing some discomfort.
But if you can tolerate dairy products and work out without discomfort after consuming them, having collagen mixed with milk before a workout is a great option.
- If you can’t consume dairy milk for any reason, check out these 3 dairy-free milk alternatives.
Is Collagen Mixed With Milk Good for Post-Workout?
Collagen mixed into milk could be a great option post-workout as long as you’re combining it with more protein and a source of carbohydrates.
After a workout, your body needs adequate protein and carbs to recover optimally by repairing any muscle damage that occurred and replenishing the energy stores that were depleted.
Collagen and milk on their own aren’t enough to meet these post-workout requirements, so they need to be paired with other sources.
I would combine milk, collagen, protein powder, and a banana (or other fruit) to form a post-workout protein shake that provides all the nutrients you need post-workout.
Is Collagen Mixed With Milk Good Before Bed?
Collagen mixed with milk before bed is a great option because having milk before bed could help with muscle repair and better sleep quality.
Research suggests that having warm milk before bed could improve your quality of sleep after just 3 days of consuming it before bed.
Additionally, studies have shown that consuming casein protein before bed could help enhance muscle recovery and promote muscle growth while you’re sleeping.
Casein is a protein from dairy products similar to whey protein, but it is absorbed at a slower rate than whey and therefore provides the body with a slower release of amino acids. This is ideal for periods of fasting, like during sleep, to promote muscle growth and recovery.
Therefore, mixing your collagen with milk before bed could have benefits beyond those of the collagen itself.
Who Should Mix Milk With Collagen Powder?

Collagen mixed with milk is appropriate for almost everyone who can tolerate dairy milk, especially those who want to improve their skin and joint health.
Mixing collagen with milk is an excellent option for those like me who don’t enjoy the flavor of collagen mixed in water. The milk disguises the taste of the collagen powder and makes it more tolerable to consume.
If you’re someone that doesn’t mind the taste of collagen mixed with water, you could consume it like that and save on some calories.
Who Should Not Mix Milk With Collagen Powder?
There are very few people who shouldn’t mix collagen powder with milk, such as those who can’t consume milk products or those who are trying to decrease their caloric intake.
Those with a dairy allergy or intolerance shouldn’t mix collagen powder with milk, but they could substitute for almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.
Additionally, if you’re dieting and trying to save as many calories as possible, you may want to stick to mixing your collagen with water or use unsweetened plant-based milk that is lower in calories.
Will Collagen Dissolve In Milk?
Collagen will dissolve in milk as long as you’re mixing it well with a shaker ball, blender, or a handheld mixing tool.
Collagen may not mix well with milk if you only mix it with a spoon because collagen tends to clump no matter which brand you use.
For this reason, I always recommend blending it using whichever method you prefer before consuming it to make it a more enjoyable experience.
- Related Article: How To Mix Collagen Powder Without Clumping (6 Tips)
Best Types of Collagen Powder to Mix With Milk
All collagen powder will mix with milk if you use one of the blending methods mentioned above, but my favorite brands of collagen are:
Momentous Collagen Peptides

Momentous collagen peptides are my favorite collagen product because their formula delivers 10 grams of grass-fed collagen per serving and a full dose of FORTIGEL.
The quality of this collagen will be top-notch because it comes from grass-fed sources, but what sets it apart from other collagen products is the FORTIGEL that is added.
FORTIGEL was developed by GELITA, a manufacturer of gelatin and collagen peptides. It is a collection of collagen peptides (which are smaller, easily-digestible forms of collagen) that have been shown to promote the growth of new cartilage to ease joint discomfort and improve joint function and mobility.
This collagen peptide powder is truly the full package, offering skin and joint benefits based on the types of collagen Momentous has chosen to include in its product.
Lastly, Momentous collagen also earns bonus points because it is third-party tested for quality control and is reasonably priced!
CB Supplements Multi Collagen Protein Powder

My second favorite collagen product is the CB Supplements Multi Collagen Protein Powder because it’s free of common allergens like gluten, dairy, and soy.
I’m so excited about this product because of the quality of the collagen and the number of strains of collagen that are included in it. The CB collagen powder has 5 types of collagen included in its formula!
Including the 5 strains of collagen was genius on their part because they’re making their product an all-in-one collagen supplement that many other collagen supplements on the market are not.
I love that they’ve added an egg white protein powder (Albumen protein) to make this product a complete protein since collagen itself is not a complete protein.
My only complaint about this product is that it only has 7 grams of protein per serving, which isn’t much considering they added a protein powder to it, but overall I’m really impressed with the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Mix Collagen Powder With HOT Milk?
Collagen can be mixed with hot milk as it is not affected by temperature, but you may need to mix it with a handheld mixing tool, like a frother, so that it mixes evenly and is clump-free.
Does Collagen Taste Good With Milk?
Collagen does taste good when it’s mixed with milk, especially chocolate milk because the milk disguises the flavor of the collagen and makes it more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
All in all, it’s fair to say that mixing collagen with milk is a great option. For most people, the benefits of mixing collagen with milk far outweigh the only drawback of adding more calories.
What Else Can You Mix Collagen With?
- Can You Take MCT Oil & Collagen Together? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Whey Protein With Collagen? (Yes, Here’s How)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Orange Juice? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Yogurt? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Soda? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Gatorade? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Oatmeal? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Kombucha? (Pros & Cons)
- Can You Mix Collagen Powder With Tea? (Pros & Cons)
About The Author

Amanda Parker is an author, nutrition coach, and Certified Naturopath. She works with bodybuilders, Olympic weightlifters, and powerlifters to increase performance through nutrition and lifestyle coaching.
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