Earlier today, I was flipping through my copy of The Gelatin Secret, my friend Sylvie's beautiful new ebook. I was planning on writing up a nice post for you on how gelatin can strengthen bones, improve brain function, or heal gut health – all super fascinating stuff.
Then I came upon the section on gelatin for beauty…
I'll be the first to admit it: I wouldn't mind slowing down the aging process… just a little bit. I truly believe that growing older is a privilege; I do enjoy my life more with each passing year. But the wrinkles setting in along my forehead? I'd like a non-toxic magic eraser please.
Now, I've got two disclaimers right out of the gate so no one gets their panties in a wad:
1) Beauty is not everything, and we should all learn to love ourselves just the way we are. (You can read more about this and my weight loss journey here).
2) There's no such thing as a magical cure for anything – at least not one I've found yet.
All that aside, gelatin is one of my very favorite superfoods as part of a real food, nutrient-dense diet. Not only is it found in everything ranging from savory soups and sauces to fun jiggly, wiggly treats, gelatin can help to improve your health in so many ways – not to mention, make you prettier.
Let's take a look at…
How gelatin can give you a beauty boost
Gelatin helps heal acne, eczema, and other skin issues
I have written extensively on how healing from the inside out is the best way to address skin issues from eczema and psoriasis to acne and boils.
Even if you don't have obvious digestive problems, most skin conditions are caused or exacerbated by poor gut health. Gelatin is one of the best foods to heal the gut, acting like a spackle filling holes in the gut lining.
I was interested to learn that gelatin can actually stimulate stomach acid production, which improves digestion and plays an important role in allowing beneficial gut flora to thrive.
For hormonally related acne, the glycine in gelatin can help to regulate estrogen. And regardless of the cause of your skin condition, gelatin helps to reduce inflammation and calm your nervous system, making the way for clear, radiant skin. Yes, please!
Gelatin may prevent wrinkles
Collagen is the substance that gives our skin elasticity. When it starts to break down, the skin becomes thinner, making it easier for wrinkles to form.
Collagen skin creams are a hoax, because the molecules are too big for the skin to absorb. Collagen injections are expensive, painful, and well, frankly, unnatural. Not my first choice for a beauty boost.
Luckily, gelatin is basically a cooked form of collagen, and studies show that the collagen from gelatin is easily absorbed and utilized, reducing collagen breakdown throughout the body. WOO-HOO for affordable, effective wrinkle prevention!
To be fair, it's not known whether collagen consumption can actually replace broken down collagen and reverse wrinkles. But when it comes to growing older, I'd rather parachute gently than be catapulted into old age. You know what I mean?
Gelatin can help you diminish cellulite and shed fat
Despite that title you just read, this isn't a scammy post filled with false promises. Sylvie has a solid explanation in her book:
Cellulite is caused by a combination of two factors: fat and collagen. When your skin is healthy and contains adequate amounts of collagen, it creates a smooth covering over our bodies.
If collagen becomes weak or develops holes through it, the fat underneath our skin will poke through and make those lumps we call cellulite. Reducing your body fat may help, but… you also have to boost collagen if you want to get rid of cellulite.
Beyond providing you with plenty of collagen to smooth out the appearance of cellulite, gelatin can actually help you to shed fat by balancing estrogen – especially important for us ladies who want to look and feel our best.
Gelatin works inside and out for thick, shiny hair
Most of the internal structure of a hair is made from collagen, which ultimately produces hair cells. Healthy hair follicles are large and strong, and push out thick, lush hair.
Sylvie admits that it will take a while to notice the improvement from consuming gelatin, since hair takes so long to grow out. Luckily you can topically apply gelatin conditioner in the meantime. (If you want to learn how, check out The Gelatin Secret for her gelatin conditioning recipe.)
Gelatin promotes strong, healthy teeth
Last on our tour of gelatin beauty perks – pearly whites!
If you haven't heard the news, your toothbrush is not going to prevent cavities. Even avoiding sugar alone is not enough.
Gelatin is part of a collection of nutrient dense foods that not only help to keep your teeth healthy and strong, but actually work to HEAL tooth decay. You can read more about my five favorite foods for strong, healthy teeth in this post.
4 ways to get more gelatin in your diet
So now that we've established you'll have radiant skin, lustrous hair, and beautiful teeth from consuming gelatin, how the heck can we load up on this superfood? Gelatin is both easy and versatile. With the 4 options below, there's no excuse not to give yourself a beauty boost with plenty of this amazing food.
#1 – Bone broth
The most frequently featured gelatin-containing food in my family's diet is bone broth, which is basically just classic, homemade soup stock. You can learn how to make chicken bone broth here and beef bone broth here. Want the health benefits of bone broth, but don't want to make your own? Buy bone broth online here.
This old-fashioned, simple food can star in simple yet delicious soups, stew, and sauces. We also use it to cook rice and quinoa instead of water. You can even season it with a bit of sea salt or herbs and drink it like a tea.
#2 – Jello
One of my childhood favorites, jello is truly a surprising health food when it's made from well-sourced, healthy pasture-raised cattle. Check out my super simple recipe for finger jello here. This is the healthy gelatin that I stock in my pantry.
#3 – Gummies
I've never met a kid that doesn't love gummy snacks, and now there's a fantastic reason for moms to love them too. This homemade strawberry cream gummy recipe packs a punch with 13 tablespoons of gelatin – and it's takes very little kitchen skill. Wins all around.
#4 – Smoothies
Broth, jello, and gummies are nearly as easy as boiling a pot of water, but if you're still intimidated by the prospect of working with gelatin, never fear. You can add a scoop of this collagen hydrolysate to your smoothies or shakes for all the benefits of gelatin – minus the gel.
Are you excited yet?
You better bet I'm going to be putting gelatin in ‘all the things.' I may welcome each passing year, but I'd still like to look good while it's happening, you know what I mean?
Even if you're just in it for the beauty perks, gelatin-rich foods can dramatically improve your health, too. Sylvie and her husband, Eric, both lost over 65 pounds and healed a myriad of health issues using gelatin and other real food solutions.
Here are just a few other things that gelatin can help to resolve:
- Allergies & food sensitivities
- Joint and mobility pain
- Digestive problems
- Hormonal imbalances
- Dental problems
- Weight issues
- Anxiety and fatigue
The Gelatin Secret is a beautiful, meticulously researched ebook, packed with everything you MUST know about gelatin and its powerful ability to transform your health and beauty —naturally.
Plus you get all the recipes you could ever need to make gelatin so you can start consuming gelatin with ease.
Click here to get The Gelatin Secret now
Thank you for this! Question for you and your readers: I made gummies (as I have several times before) using the Great Lakes gelatin you recommend above. I made a double batch with blueberries, mixture of fresh lemon juice and bottled orange juice, raw honey and gelatin. The gummies were stored in the fridge and went moldy after about 8 days. Never did that before. Any idea why? I’m wondering if it’s possible the gelatin has gone bad — I’ve been afraid to use it since but it was expensive and I don’t want to replace it if I don’t need to. I’ve had it about a year and stored in my pantry. We live in central Texas – it gets mildly humid and hot, but we have a/c! Any ideas on why the gummies molded so quickly?
I keep mine on the pantry too so out of interest I looked it up on their website. The humidity might be the problem. I’d probably call the company, they may be willing to send you a new bottle? http://www.greatlakesgelatin.com/consumer/storage.php
Great question! I would definitely not suspect the gelatin but rather the blueberries or other fresh ingredients. If you think about it, your gummies shelf life will equal the shelf life of the freshest ingredient. My fresh blueberries certainly don’t look great after 8 days. I would suggest making a half batch if you don’t think you’ll consume them within 5 days. Now, a question for you: Would love to hear your tips for preventing them from disappearing within seconds like they do at my house! 😉 Hope that helps, Sylvie
Hey there. Would fish gelatin work as well as gelatin from other animals? What about gelatin from non-pasture-fed cows? I keep a halal diet, so at the moment, those are my only 2 options, until organic/ pasture-fed cow gelatin becomes available….Thanks!
Hi Sabijo – Yes, fish gelatin is great and very nutrient dense.
I would like to take the Gummy snacks as a treatment fro my wife. Thank you so much for the article. I have already saved it and will research on it soon.
Good article. I first learned about this from the book, “Sip Away Your Wrinkles.” I’m a man in my 60s, and I think it has made a definite difference in appearance. I get comments from people who are surprised when they learn my age.
If I have a beef allergy do you think I would react to the gelatin made from beef bones? Is the porcine one as good in your opinion?
Yes, pork would be a better option as you would probably have a reaction to gelatin from beef if you have a true beef allergy.
If I were to take the gelatin orally (via a pill capsule) what is the recommended dosage or amount we should have on a daily basis? Thanks!
Hey Sarah,
You don’t need much. With a daily dose of one tablespoon (roughly 4 capsules), you will notice a difference. Hydrolyzed collagen blends seamlessly into smoothies, if you’re worried about taste and don’t want to bother with capsules. This is the one I use.
Emily xoxo
Great article, do you know if gelatin can help get rid of chronic Urticaria (hives) and rashes?
I was diagnosed with this condition recently and all the doctors can do to treat it is tell you to take Zyrtec or prescribe steroids. It’s been a nightmare waking up to rashes and large raised hives each morning.
Hey Steve,
I wish it were that easy! Have you looked into a low histamine diet?
Sometime the body looses the ability to clear histamine and chronic hives / rashes can be a sign of histamine overload.
Low histamine Chef is a good resource for getting acquainted with histamine intolerance. Take a peek. I have a feeling it might take you in the direction you want to go.
All the best!
Emily xoxo