Collagen is a widely known health product that can make skin look healthy and youthful, while gelatin is seen around kitchens as a food thickener. Did you know that gelatin is actually just a more processed form of collagen?
- Providing amino acids to help synthesize collagen in the human body: collagen itself is a protein extracted from the skin, bones, and joints of animals, and when consumed, will be broken down into the amino acids that are required to synthesize collagen in one’s body, mainly glycine, proline, and lysine (Bowes and Kenten 1948; Pauling and Corey 1951). So for the sake of regenerating collagen, getting these amino acids from gelatin is more efficient as it contains a larger ratio of them compared to other protein sources such as meat or eggs, but you might want to check out other sources if your diet requires more of the other amino acids. A common way to consume gelatin is from bone broth, but powdered gelatin is also a good choice. Food-safety wise, gelatin from grass-fed cows is recommended over those from an unknown source (the small packets that you can normally see in a grocery store).
- Aiding digestion: Have you heard of the leaky-gut syndrome? It’s when the gut lining has large cracks or holes in it, where bacteria and toxins are able to ‘leak’ through. This may trigger inflammation and also affect how normal bacteria in your gut may function, leading to digestive problems. The amino acid glycine in gelatin can help strengthen the mucous membrane layer of the stomach. And as mentioned in the previous paragraph, gelatin is largely composed of glycine, so getting this amino acid from gelatin would be more efficient than other sources. Click here for more info on leaky guts.
- Aiding weight loss: as a protein, gelatin is slower to digest, keeping the stomach feeling fuller for a longer time which helps reduce cravings. In addition, home-made gelatin desserts are low in calories! Check out fruity gummies, champagne jellies, and fluffy marshmallows!
There are also a lot of other benefits that need more scientific studies on, including: promoting nail and hair growth; sleep aiding; joint-pain relief and balancing hormones. Although consuming gelatin won’t provide an immediate improvement on current health conditions, it is a healthy and fun ingredient to have around the kitchen. 🙂
References:
- Bowes JH, Kenten RH (1948) The amino-acid composition and titration curve of collagen. Biochem J 43:358–365
- Pauling L, Corey RB (1951) The structure of fibrous proteins of the collagen-gelatin group. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 37:272–281
