Looking to support your soft tissue health? Gelatin may be a good answer for you.

What is Gelatin?

Gelatin is made by processing animal bones, cartilage, and skin. It comes mainly from cows and pigs; fish can also be used for gelatin. Cultures abstaining from pork or beef in their diets can use fish gelatin, making it a more popular option. Because of what gelatin is made from, more than 80% of its nutritional content is made of protein. Protein is what gives the human body its structure and is used for building muscles, organs, vessels, and more.

For those who are wondering, collagen and gelatin are not the same. Collagen is the most prevalent protein structure in the body, but it’s larger than gelatin. Basically, gelatin is collagen that has been broken down into smaller proteins during processing. They have roughly the same nutrient profile, but collagen can be used in hot or cold recipes. Notably, gelatin is usually best when used in heated recipes.

Why Can it be Good for You?

Research has found gelatin can be helpful for arthritis. One study followed eighty patients for more than two months. They found taking two grams of collagen extract daily improved pain and increased physical activity. Some studies have found gelatin and collagen can also support healthy skin. Collagen was found to lower skin dryness, support smoother skin, and reduce the severity of wrinkles. Gelatin also provides a natural source of antioxidants.

Where to Get Gelatin

Organic sources are most recommended as the animals tend to be healthier. This powdered supplement is generally colorless and flavorless, so it can be used in many different recipes. For those who are vegan/vegetarian, there are animal-free sources that can be used as a gelatin replacement in recipes. These healthy substitutes do not have the same effects as gelatin. Gelatin is made from protein while plant sources are made from polysaccharides. As always, speak with a qualified doctor or nutritionist before adding anything to your lifestyle. To learn more about natural options to support your health, consider scheduling your 15 minute Discovery Visit today with Dr. Blandford. She works with you to help tonify weakened systems to attain the health you've always wanted.

Resources:

1. GinoBiotech. N.D. "Agar vs Gelatin | Big Differences Between Agar and Gelatin." Revised Oct. 28, 2022. https://ginobiotech.com/agar-vs-gelatin/
2. Liu, Dasong et al. 2015. "Collagen and Gelatin." Annual Review of Food Science and Technology; 6: 527-57. doi:10.1146/annurev-food-031414-111800
3. Schauss, Alexander G et al. 2012. "Effect of the Novel Low Molecular Weight Hydrolyzed Chicken Sternal Cartilage Extract, BioCell Collagen, on Improving Osteoarthritis-related Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry; 60(16): 4096-101. doi:10.1021/jf205295u