I'm a Dietitian—Here's My Honest Review of the Viral Vital ...

As a dietitian, I know firsthand the benefits of collagen. It’s not a miracle cure, but collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and plays a key role in supporting skin, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and more. The thing is that we gradually make less collagen as we age, which is one of the reasons why collagen supplementation has become so popular.

For many healthy individuals, I think taking a quality collagen supplement a few times a week can be a reasonable addition to an overall healthy routine. I’ve tried to stay consistent with it myself, but I go through phases and ultimately stop. I just get tired of measuring scoops and washing shaker bottles (and I don’t drink coffee so I can’t incorporate it into that either). Sometimes I think I like the idea of collagen more than the actual process of incorporating it into my routine.

This year, while evaluating products for our Good Housekeeping Snack Awards, I was skeptical when Vital Proteins' new ready-to-drink shake came across my desk. Although collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, it’s not found in most common protein drinks that you’ll see on the shelf. Part of the reason is that collagen is an incomplete protein, meaning it doesn’t provide all nine essential amino acids. That’s different from proteins like whey, which are complete proteins and are commonly used in ready-to-drink shakes.

And in general, I'm not a huge fan of protein drinks. Most of the ones I've tried are either gritty, overly sweet, packed with additives, or leave behind an artificial aftertaste. I rarely buy them unless I need a quick, convenient source of protein in a pinch. And I’ve found that protein shakes almost always taste better cold, so I tossed this one in the fridge first before giving it a try.

At first sip, I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the chocolate flavor was. It was lightly sweet, and there was no chalky texture so common with many others. I was also surprised by how filling it was, tiding me over in the afternoon until dinner later that night.

From a nutrition perspective, it’s worth pointing out that the 30 grams of protein doesn’t come solely from collagen. The shake uses milk protein isolate, so it’s not suited for vegans and may not work for those who are lactose intolerant. But I did like that each bottle has 10 grams of collagen peptides, the equivalent of a full scoop of collagen powder, and that there is no added sugar. Normally, I'm not a fan of monk fruit and stevia because they can leave an aftertaste. But since they're listed near the end of the ingredient list, they're likely used sparingly—and I think that's why the sweetness feels balanced instead of overpowering.

Is it more expensive than collagen powder or capsules? Definitely. For that reason, I don't see myself drinking one every day. But if consistency has been your biggest challenge with collagen supplements, this may be one of the easiest and most convenient ways to stick with the habit and change things up once in a while.