One of the big dietary “things” over the last two years has been supplementing your diet with gelatin (or sometimes collagen).
Gelatin is a processed version of the protein collagen, found in humans and animals. Collagen is the most common protein in the human body, making up nearly a third of our total protein. Collagen strengthens connective tissues in the body and helps your joints stay mobile. It’s been called “the glue that holds our tissues together”.
I became interested in the potential healing effects of gelatin after watching an interview with someone I respect in the nutrition and fitness field and who said that he totally healed an Achilles tendon injury after a couple of months of taking supplemental gelatin.
Since I had injured my shoulder and a bicep tendon doing something stupid at the gym, I started looking into it as a possible healing aid.
I am not a great believer in supplements. It’s hard to believe some of the claims of many “experts” because the claims must be “adapted” to support the sales pitch. I take a Senior multi-vitamin but that’s it.
But gelatin is different.
Apparently as we get older, our bodies don’t produce all the collagen we need. Unlike our ancestors, we eat only the choice cuts of meat. Our ancestors ate the animal “nose to tail” and the collagen is found in the cartilage, the skin and other parts of the animals which we civilized folks don’t normally eat. So most of us don’t get enough. Note that gelatin is not for vegetarians or vegans. There are some religious restrictions on gelatin consumption as well.
There are many benefits claimed for gelatin. I’ve listed a few below. Some are anecdotal with years of anecdotal evidence. Others have a strong basis in science.
- Gelatin may be beneficial for overall joint and health, and may reduce joint pain of arthritis.
- It has been demonstrated to improve skin and nail health.
- It can help with hair growth and with long term use, has been shown to make hair shiny and healthy.
- It can help you sleep.
- It can help digestion.
- And more.
Where do you get gelatin? Most grocery stores carry unflavored gelatin. The most well known brands are Great Lakes and Knox in powder form. Great Lakes makes two kinds of gelatin, regular powder and hydrolyzed. The difference? Regular gelatin must be dissolved in hot liquid. Hydrolyzed gelatin will dissolve in both hot and cold liquid so it can be easily included in smoothies.
Good old Knox gelatin can be dissolved in your coffee or can be used to make your own “jello” or even “gummy bears”. I’ve used it in coffee and I’ve made “jello”. The “jello” was great — every bit as good as real store bought Jello.
You can also get high quality gelatin from bone broth, either from the store, or by making your own. That’s a topic for another day.
I would be curious as to whether any of you have given gelatin (or collagen) a try, and what the results have been. How about letting me know know at bob@thecomealiveproject.com.
Is gelatin a great “secret ingredient” that seniors particularly can benefit from? It reportedly works as advertised based on the information I have seen. Let’s see if it works for me. Perhaps for you too.
Thank you for reading.