Level 0: Thin Protein Tea

Okay folks it’s time to get real, I don’t know if Protein Tea really counts as a recipe.

I have somehow turned a two-step process (make tea, add protein) into five steps.

This is something my mom has done for quite a while to try to get more protein into her daily routine without adding even more bacon.

Many of my patients have supplement drinks added to their meals to increase protein intake for wound-healing and weight gain. I’ve found that a lot of patients don’t like the fake-milkshake texture or the chalky flavor of these protein drinks.

The benefit of using a loose protein powder is that you can customize your drink yourself. This is great for individuals who have dietary restrictions, as it can be very hard to find a dairy or soy free alternative to those supplement drinks.

I add my protein powder after I let the tea cool for 5 minutes, as we know that protein can denature in heat. I use a tub of collagen that my mother left here when I moved in for grad school, which apparently begins to show thermal changes at 302 degrees Fahrenheit (150 C) and undergoes the first stage of denaturation at 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 C). I skimmed this article to find this out, thanks for publishing this, Bozec, L. and Odlyha, M. (2011)!

My tea is probably not that hot, but I never miss a chance to use the word “denature.”

Basically, you get to drink a delightful tea and get some extra protein! This might be a good option for your level-zero loved one who can’t have a traditional protein shake due to the thickness.