"Jello tea" is a thing. Here's why.
It's a REALLY CHEAP form of protein.
Gelatin is a high protein product. For example, 100 grams (g) of dry unsweetened gelatin powder contains more than 85 g of protein. An amount equal to 9oz of chicken breast.
Gelatin is gluten free. It is very easy to digest for everyone, including the sick.
Protein consists of various amino acids, and gelatin contains amino acids. In gelatin-based foods the specific amino acids depend on the food, the source of the gelatin, and its processing.
Typically the most abundant amino acids in gelatin are glycine and proline.
Glycine acts as neurotransmitter in central nervous system and it has many roles such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cryoprotective, and immunomodulatory in peripheral and nervous tissues. -from NIH
Proline plays important roles in protein synthesis and structure, metabolism (particularly the synthesis of arginine, polyamines, and glutamate via pyrroline-5-carboxylate), and nutrition, as well as wound healing, antioxidative reactions, and immune responses. -from NIH
Eating gelatin may help boost collagen levels and support skin elasticity. A 2016 study found that ingesting collagen helped the skin retain moisture and reduced wrinkles in participants.
Gelatin also has other beneficial effects.
A 2017 suggests that a supplement combining vitamin C and gelatin may help repair body tissues in athletes and prevent tissue damage. However, the study looked at supplementation rather than dietary intake.
However, experts are not sure that consuming gelatin would have the same effect as ingesting pure collagen.
Gelatin contains glutamic acid, which the body can form into glutamine. This substance may help promote a healthy mucosal lining in the stomach and aid digestion.
A 2014 study indicated that glycine, an amino acid in gelatin, may help people with type 2 diabetes manage the condition. The gelatin must be unsweetened for this to work.
Some studies suggest that glycine may improve sleep quality and other neurological functions. However, the researchers did not specifically recommend consuming gelatin to improve sleep.
Consuming gelatin-based products as part of a balanced diet may also help promote weight loss due to gelatin’s high protein and low calorie contents. Protein helps people feel full, making them less likely to overeat.
Collagen and gelatin are different.
Let's start with what "collagen" actually is. Collagen is a protein, exactly like the muscle fibers in a steak are proteins. Here's the difference, and you have to visualize this.
The fibers in the steak are made of proteins that are smooth and look like ropes. Collagen fibers look like Christmas trees. They are NOT smooth. Things catch on them.
That's what collagen does. It binds things together into clumps, as stuff sticks to it and it sticks to itself. That's how it turns water into a semisolid.
Collagen forms the scaffold that provides strength and structure within the body. It is an essential component of connective tissue and plays a crucial role in holding the body’s cells together. It also provides strength and elasticity to the skin.
Endogenous collagen is natural collagen that the body synthesizes. Exogenous collagen is synthetic. It comes from an outside source, such as supplements.
Endogenous collagen has a number of important functions. Starvation causes the body to feed on itself and natural collagen levels in the body can be depleted. Depletion and breakdown of collagen in the body is linked to various health problems, such as scurvy.
People use exogenous collagen for cosmetic purposes, such as improving skin elasticity or as a natural "filler". Doctors also use it in techniques for wound healing. For example, to promote bone regrowth a collagen scaffolding can be formed that the healing bone can “fill in”.
Collagen is really important biologically because it's what allowed life to stop being jellylike small blobs and start taking form. Collagen is what allowed the development of skin.
Collagen is plentiful in the human body. According to some research, one-third of the protein in the human body and three-quarters of the dry weight of skin consist of collagen.
As you might expect collagen is essential for healthy cartilage and bones. Some people say that taking supplements containing collagen hydrolysate may boost collagen levels and help manage symptoms of osteoarthritis. Many of those same people have a collagen supplement they want to sell you.
In 2018, scientists published the results of a trial involving 120 people, half of whom took oral supplements containing collagen and other substances for 90 days, while the others took a placebo. In those who took collagen, joint pain fell by 43%, and joint mobility improved by 39%.
This ONE study of 120 people is the ONLY clinical study of the benefits of collagen and joint health. Further studies are needed to confirm that oral collagen can improve joint health. The placebo effect is a real thing. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. This study is interesting but not conclusive.
If you are buying collagen for joint pain. You should probably see a doctor. You might have rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease. Instead of osteoarthritis, which is caused by accumulated wear and damage to joints.
Anyway, I hope this was helpful and not annoying. Unsweetened gelatin is a great “prepper” item to stock up on. It keeps, and it’s instant protein in a cup.
