Top 5 Health Benefits of Gelatin

Why You Want to Eat More Of It

Even though my parents were farmers and raised cattle, chicken and large gardens, the only “salad” I knew growing up was Jell-O with canned fruit. In the Midwest they have a lovely tradition of calling Jell-O desserts salads. My favorite was orange flavored Jell-O with canned mandarin oranges! Yum!

Sure, an occasional lettuce salad harvested from the garden appeared on our dinner table during the summer. But usually we set the table with our meat and potatoes, bread and “salad” – from a Jell-O mold.

Rounded nutrition it was not, but it turns out that gelatin – the base composition of Jell-O – can compensate for what you might be missing nutritionally. Yes, jello can be health food!

Anyone who has roasted a chicken (beef or pork) for dinner has seen beautiful glistening juices coagulating on the edge. This is gelatin, a cooked form of collagen. It is made by cooking down the bones, connective tissues and hides of animals, which are all rich in collagen.

Collagen is a protein from the connective tissues of animals that gives our skin its elasticity. Two amino acids compose collagen: glycine and proline. Your body cannot make enough of these amino acids on its own, especially as you get older. These amino acids are needed not only for proper skin, hair and nail growth but for optimal immune function and weight regulation.

Glycine has anti-inflammatory properties, speeds wound healing and even improves ease of falling asleep and sleep quality.

The brand Jell-O contains gelatin, but it also consists of colorings, sweeteners and/or sugar, as well as other flavorings. My not so favorite Jell-O “salad” growing up was lime flavored with carrot shreds, creating a cascading orange waterfall over and under a green mountain glob. Was my Mom trying to trick me into believing this green salad monster was nutritious?

But good old fashion gelatin is one of the healthiest foods you can eat and has many benefits, including:

• Reducing wrinkles
• Healing joints
• Building stronger bones
• Losing weight
• Restoring the gut

Before you run off to re-create memories of eating strawberry Jell-O with bananas, let me quickly describe some of these specific ways pure gelatin can benefit your body.

Benefits of Gelatin

Gelatin for Wrinkles

No need for needles here! The decrease in collagen production creates thinner skin and creases. Gelatin has been shown to have a very high bioavailability, which means your body absorbs it well. The collagen from gelatin is readily taken in and directed to where the body needs it…crow’s feet and under eye wrinkles, anybody? Truly, gelatin is better than Botox.

Gelatin for Joints

The connective tissues in our joints are primarily made up of collagen. The amino acids in gelatin produce a two-fold affect in your cartilage. They strengthen existing cartilage and assist in the production of new cartilage. If you suffer from stiff joints or joint pain, then gelatin will ease your suffering!

Gelatin for Bone Strength

Most people associate bone strength with calcium. Oddly enough, bones are made up mostly of collagen. Your bones actually strengthen or weaken with every bite you eat. Gelatin is one of the best ways to get bioavailable forms of collagen your body needs to build a healthy bone matrix.

Gelatin for Weight Loss

I have other delicious memories from my childhood. My formative years also included a sweet snack after school, dessert after dinner and another sweet treat bedtime. At Grandma’s house, it was buttery crackers and ice cream before bed! So when the world of natural health began to open up to me, weight loss was one of my goals.

The amino acid glycine found in gelatin can help beat sugar cravings by blocking stress signals from the brain. I don’t have to tell you that as stress levels rise, so do cravings! Instead of reaching for sugary junk food, grab a homemade tasty gelatin treat instead.

Gelatin for Gut Health

I love our screened-in porch. We enjoy the early morning birds and the quiet evenings through our protected enclave. It allows us to enjoy the outdoors while sheltered from the harsh elements like the sun or pesky creatures like mosquitoes and gnats.

Our gut is like a screened in porch. The screen allows air to pass but keeps out annoying insects like gnats and flies. However, if the screen gets damaged, then the invaders pass through. The screen is the lining of the gut, the gnats and flies are undigested food particles and toxins, and the air represents the amino acids our bodies need.

Unfortunately, your body attacks the undigested particles as if they were your own body. This overworks your immune system and your body attacks itself.

Many factors also cause tears in the lining of your gut (gluten, food sensitivities, GMOS, antibiotics, NSAIDs). It turns out gelatin is one of the best foods you can eat for your gut. It basically acts like spackle and fills in holes in the gut lining.

Gelatin is an amazing complement to your healthy diet and lifestyle, nourishing each part of your body.

Gelatin is easy to make…and easy to buy.

When you cook down bones and other animal parts containing collagen, the collagen is released as gelatin. This gelatin is very rich in proline and glycine that your body can absorb.

Making bone broth is as easy as putting quality bones in a slow cooker, adding filtered water to cover the bones and 1-2 tablespoons of organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar. (The vinegar helps draw the amino acids out of the bones.) Add vegetables for additional flavor. Cook for 24 hours.

Add chicken and you have a well-known, time-tested and proven recipe for curing the common cold.

Buying powdered gelatin , such as Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin, is simply cooked collagen that has been dried and turned into a powder. This gelatin will form a jelly when mixed with water and should be used for jelly treats. Collagen hydrolysate is gelatin that can dissolve in both cool and warm liquids, which is perfect to add to morning teas or foods.

Eat More Gelatin

I wish I could go back in time and teach my Mom to make some Jell-O gummies that were actually nutritious! But today I can make some that are free of refined sugars and artificial dyes that will help the digestive tract, repair joints, strengthen bones, reduce the waistline and minimize wrinkles!

Sour Gummies

Ingredients:

• 

  • Pinterest
  3 T. gelatin
• 1/3 c. orange juice
• 3 T. raw honey
• Additional flavoring (optional: citrus zest, lemon extract)

Directions:

1. Whisk orange juice, honey and gelatin in a saucepan until there are no lumps.
2. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted.
3. Add additional flavoring, if desired.
4. Pour into mold or pan.
5. Freeze for 5-10 minutes.
6. Enjoy! Store for two weeks in fridge.

Maybe you wanted no part strawberry Jell-O with bananas or hideous Jell-O served in school cafeterias. Now you can appreciate the amazing benefits and uses of gelatin, incorporate into your family’s REAL food diet and use it often.

If you liked this article, then you’ll love these:

• Grandma’s Guide to Growing Non-GMO
• Grandma’s Bizarre Home Remedy: Magic Soap
• Healing Foods & Liquids to Fight the Flu

Sources:
http://www.functionalmedicineuniversity.com/public/867.cfm
http://www.grassfedgirl.com/top-20-health-benefits-of-gelatin-helps-prevent-arthritis-cellulite-stretch-marks-wrinkles-brittle-bones-and-more/
http://wellnessmama.com/7419/gelatin-uses/
http://www.judytsafrirmd.com/gelatin-for-anxiety-sleep-and-appetite-suppression/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/16/bone-broth-benefits.aspx