We’ve written before about the incredible health and beauty benefits of bone broth, and one of its key ingredients, gelatin. Gelatin is derived from collagen, a protein which is found in most animals and humans. Getting enough gelatin in your diet can be highly beneficial for both health and beauty.
Here are seven reasons why.
It improves skin elasticity
A Stanford study found that supplementing with 250 milligrams of gelatin daily increased skin elasticity. This makes sense, as gelatin is essentially a form of collagen, a crucial protein for healthy skin. Gelatin also stimulates your body to produce more collagen, thus improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles, loose and saggy skin, and the possibility of stretch marks.
So instead of using an expensive collagen-filled (and likely chemical filled) face cream, try supplementing with gelatin!
It helps heal the digestive tract
The amino acid glycine in gelatin helps to increase hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which is needed for efficient digestion and nutrient assimilation. This important digestive juice decreases with age and high stress levels.
Gelatin also helps to heal the mucosal lining of the digestive tract, thus reducing symptoms associated with IBS, leaky gut, and other autoimmune-related conditions.
It supports joint health
Gelatin supports joint health in both the short and long term. In the short term, its anti-inflammatory nature helps relieve joint pain caused by arthritis or other conditions. When taken over time, it helps to and rebuild cartilage and tendons, contributing to strong, healthy joints.
It may aid in weight loss
Although no studies have been performed on this benefit yet, gelatin is thought to help with weight loss as it contains a lot of protein, which makes people feel fuller and more satisfied, leading to them eating less.
It helps to balance hormones
Gelatin provides the amino acid glycine, which naturally combats excess estrogen in the body. Excess estrogen can occur as a result of using cosmetics and body care products containing synthetic chemicals, or as a result of birth control pills, environmental pollution and diets high in processed food.
Excess estrogen is dangerous, as its thought to be a risk factor for many female cancers.
It’ll help you sleep
If you wake up frequently at night, gelatin could help, as studies have shown that gelatin improves sleep quality in those who have trouble staying asleep at night. This is because gelatin contains the amino acid glycine, which both promotes sleep and reduces anxiety.
It’s a good source of protein
Gelatin is a great source of protein for pregnant women, or others who may need a little extra. One tablespoon of gelatin contains about nine grams of protein. It should not be anyone’s primary source of protein, however, since it is not a complete protein.
If you’re like most people, you’re probably not currently eating a lot of animal bones, skin and tendons—the richest sources of gelatin. To get more gelatin in your diet and experience these benefits, you might want to consider supplementing your diet with homemade bone broth.
Possible side effects of gelatin use include upset stomach, burping, bloating, or a potential allergic reaction, so be sure to add gelatin to your diet a small amount at a time, and speak to your doctor first, just to be extra-safe.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
https://www.nuskin.com/content/dam/global/library/pdf/products/tegreen_study_01.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2007.00262.x/abstract
http://www.grassfedgirl.com/top-20-health-benefits-of-gelatin-helps-prevent-arthritis-cellulite-stretch-marks-wrinkles-brittle-bones-and-more
