Gummy bears/candies, jams, marshmallows, ice cream, desserts and lots more contain Gelatine. Gelatine, that colourless, tasteless rubber-like solid substance used to be a big part of healthy traditional diets around the world long ago, but today, people don’t have a clue about what to do with it, so it’s not given a second thought. Some people aren’t even conscious of its existence as a gelling agent in several of the food products they buy off the shelves in grocery stores. And for those that do, it’s often misunderstood as sugar-loaded and associated with unhealthy food.
On the contrary, gelatine is highly nutritious it’s been recently classified as a superfood! I was in the category of those who don’t know jack about what gelatine is till I stumbled on a book about it. This got me searching and desiring to know more. That I did, and I’m excited to share some of my discoveries here.
Usually, in powder form, gelatine is gotten from animal bones, skins, cartilage, and tissues.  Containing as much as 18 amino acids and brimming with substantial health benefits, it’s no wonder that gelatine is classified as a collagen protein.  These are the building blocks of proteins; essential not only for rejuvenating healthy cells for your skin and hair and promoting nail growth but for optimal immune function, healthy mood, weight maintenance, and appropriate muscle synthesis.
Gelatine is highest in essential amino acids glycine and proline. Glycine promotes the healthy functioning of your liver by working to eliminate toxins from your bloodstream. But that’s not all Glycine does. It also strengthens the gut lining which primarily facilitates the balance of digestive enzymes, plus it lowers inflammation and prevents gut damage. Here’s another good one – considered an “inhibitory neurotransmitter,” glycine acts just like an anti-anxiety or antidepressant drug but without side-effects. This means as you ingest gelatine, more happy hormones are triggered; you feel less stressed, and your mental clarity enjoys a good boost.
Another worthy fact is that gelatine is capable of absorbing water and fluids. This helps effectively to prevent fluid retention and bloated stomach which of course limits constipation and improves your digestive system.
Its gelatinous nature is that very advantage that makes gelatine a strong promoter of healthy joints. It helps forms strong connective tissue to give parts of the body the required elasticity, and due to the high amounts of protein in gelatine, degeneration of collagen which occurs naturally with aging is prevented. Consuming gelatine regularly can also drastically reduce arthritis-related stiffness and pain in joints.
Finding it difficult to sleep, dissatisfied with your sleeping pattern or having difficulties with your daytime cognitive functions? Add some gelatine powder to your smoothies, and you’ll be amazed at how well you sleep at night. Worried about the signs of aging and wrinkles showing on your skin? Consuming gelatine is a smart skincare therapy to try. You’re protected from free radical damage and potential skin cancer plus you get the youthful healthy skin to enhance your appearance.
And for the weight-watchers, do you know that you can make gelatine a helpful weight loss tool? With its high protein content, adding gelatine to your diet helps increase satiety and control hunger hormones significantly.
Gelatine is one of those ingredients you can add to practically any smoothie because it’s got no flavour (more ideas on consuming gelatine coming up).