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TikTok is the birthplace of many food trends, and it\u2019s also home to an ever-evolving fitness culture. The convergence of these two themes has given rise to a popular new drink category: protein coffee. Sometimes called \u201cproffee,\u201d the trend is more like a type of drink than one exact recipe.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also fueled by a wave of health claims about its potential benefits. But how much of that hype is actually backed by evidence? Below, we dig in on what protein coffee is\u2014and what it can and can\u2019t do for your body.<\/p>\n
What is protein coffee? <\/p>\n
Protein coffee is typically made by combining coffee or espresso with protein powder<\/a> or a ready-to-drink protein shake. It\u2019s often served iced, as some protein powders don\u2019t blend smoothly into hot coffee and most pre-made shakes are already cold.<\/p>\n Is \u201cproffee\u201d healthy?<\/p>\n You might\u2019ve heard that protein coffee prevents cravings<\/a>, helps maintain energy, and can aid in muscle growth. With these claims, it\u2019s no surprise that proffee is taking social media by storm. But just how much truth is there to these assertions?<\/p>\n As far as cravings are concerned, it\u2019s true that having protein in the morning (or really, at every meal) can help reduce cravings if they are caused by blood sugar<\/a> fluctuations. While protein coffee can help curb cravings, you could just as easily manage by reaching for protein sources like eggs or yogurt with breakfast<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to acknowledge that there are many complex reasons someone may be experiencing cravings and increasing protein intake is only addressing one of these potential causes: blood sugar fluctuations. Beyond this, cravings can also be emotional, a response to an overly restrictive diet<\/a>, hormones, or a response to nutrient deficiency. In any of these cases, protein coffee isn\u2019t a cure and additional help may be needed.<\/p>\n As for energy, regular coffee contains caffeine<\/a>, which can boost alertness. But \u201cenergy\u201d is a tricky term, since technically any food or drink with calories provides it. In that sense, protein coffee may provide more energy than regular coffee because it typically contains more calories.<\/p>\n Still, the way a person feels after drinking it may have more to do with blood sugar balance. Drinks or meals that lack protein and fat can cause a sharper rise and fall in blood sugar, which may leave some people feeling tired or hungry soon after. Since protein digests more slowly and helps moderate that rise, protein coffee may help promote a more sustained feeling of fullness and energy.<\/p>\n As with cravings, though, that effect isn\u2019t unique to protein coffee. Any source of protein can help. For people who already drink coffee, protein coffee may simply be a fast and convenient option, and not necessarily a more effective one than other protein sources.<\/p>\n One thing to keep in mind is that our bodies fundamentally need food (a.k.a. calories) to have energy. It\u2019s very common for people to skip breakfast in the morning. And if you forego the meal, it makes sense that switching from plain old black coffee\u2014which contains just a couple calories per 8 ounces\u2014to protein coffee is going to increase your energy. Think about it: You\u2019d be going from having just coffee to coffee with protein<\/a> (and calories.) But if you\u2019re already eating breakfast (especially one high in protein, like an omelet) and you just swap your regular coffee for protein coffee, you may not notice a difference.<\/p>\n Can protein coffee help you reach your fitness goals?<\/p>\n Fans of protein coffee also claim it aids with muscle growth, which is why it\u2019s popular among the fitness crowd. It\u2019s true; your body can use dietary protein to help repair damage to muscle tissue (like from weight lifting) and support muscle growth.<\/p>\n Add Prevention as a preferred source in your Google search results.<\/p>\n Use your Google account to add this to your settings.<\/p>\n Add to Google settings<\/p>\n For people who struggle to eat enough protein from their normal meals, a quick option like a protein shake or protein coffee can help support fitness goals like building strength and muscle, if paired with resistance exercise and an otherwise balanced and healthy diet.<\/p>\n But just like with the other supposed benefits of proffee, this is the case for any protein source. The advantage of protein coffee is simply that it\u2019s a convenient way to get that protein.<\/p>\n Is protein coffee worth it?<\/p>\n The most important thing to remember about nutrition is that context matters. No one can say definitively whether protein coffee is healthy or unhealthy in every case, because individual needs, preferences, and overall eating patterns all play a role.<\/p>\n![\"Google\"](\"https:\/\/www.prevention.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/social\/google.1467f37.svg\")
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