When deciding to lose weight, many fear that major changes in diet will be required. They may be difficult to implement, and will also require increased spending on food. We hasten to reassure you: one of the components that will help you lose weight and enrich your diet is affordable gelatin; you can read more about its benefits and harm to the body in the article.
The main advantage of the product is that its predominant component is collagen. This fibrillar protein is the basis of human connective tissue, and it reaches an impressive proportion of 60% in the body. In simple words, by consuming gelatin granules, we take care of the skin, bones, joints, digestion and even psychological well-being. The composition doesn't stop there; find out what other substances are contained in this nondescript powder and how it can affect your health.
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Where does it come from?
Gelatin can be used for weight loss, health improvement, and simply in everyday cooking for preparing low-calorie and beautiful dishes. This cheap product contains a huge amount of nutrients, a minimum of calories and has the ability to create a jelly-like consistency, which is very much appreciated by housewives.
This combination of qualities is invaluable if you watch your figure and love to eat with taste. But there is one caveat that should be warned, especially if you follow a vegetarian diet or fast. Gelatin granules are of animal origin - they are made from the bones, tendons and skins of cows and pigs. But this circumstance does not detract from the enormous benefits of edible gelatin, and there is no harm.
The fact is that it contains a lot of protein (collagen and several amino acids), which is responsible for the condition of our bones and joints, as well as skin, hair and nails.
Composition, calorie content, balance of BJU
This product contains almost 90% protein, 0.7 grams of carbohydrates, and only 0.4 g of fat, the rest being water. Let's take a closer look at what protein components are present and how they affect the body:
- glycine - maintains normal brain function, helps maintain psychological stability;
- proline and lysine are amino acids that are involved in the process of cartilage restoration; it is thanks to these components that they have a very beneficial effect on cartilage tissue;
- Alanine - regulates energy metabolism, sugar levels, the functioning of the immune system, largely because of this substance they take gelatin and notice weight loss.
It should also be said about the rather rich content of minerals - calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, magnesium are present here. Of the vitamins, there is only nicotinic acid.
The calorie content of the dry product is high - more than 350 kcal, but it is almost never consumed in this form. There are only 58 calories in 100 g of jelly.
Compound
To determine what calorie content gelatin has, you should familiarize yourself with its composition. The product contains 86% protein and contains no carbohydrates. This composition is beneficial for the body of all people.
The product is rich in amino acids - glycine, lysine and proline. A person needs them for the synthesis of connective tissue, which is required for brain function, relieving nervous tension and stress. The composition includes calcium, phosphorus, iron, which is why gelatin products are healthy.
Natural or artificial
This division is rather arbitrary, since both options are actually of natural origin. But they differ very significantly in composition: the first includes the most common food gelatin, the composition, benefits and harms of which we have already discussed. This substance is obtained after prolonged heat treatment of animal skins, horns, and cartilage.
The second type is its plant counterpart, made from algae. They live in the White Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The gelling extract agar-agar is extracted using complex heat and chemical processing. As a thickener, it is several times superior to gelatin granules. But the composition is completely different - it is not protein that predominates, but carbohydrates.
Nutritionist's comment:
For weight loss, a plant extract will not help, because it is proteins that help control appetite and have a beneficial effect on energy metabolism.
Why is it useful?
The high nutritional value of the product explains the fact that gelatin is beneficial to the human body and practically does not cause harm, read more about how to take it and how it affects the body:
- Improves digestion - this is due to the fact that a dish based on gelatin granules can enhance the secretion of gastric juice, and there are no contraindications for those with high acidity. It also restores the integrity of the mucous membrane. Another favorable factor is the ability to retain water in the digestive tract, which generally has a beneficial effect on its functioning.
- Optimizes liver function - amino acids promote more efficient removal of toxins.
- Increases skin elasticity - collagen is responsible for this characteristic, the production of which in the body decreases with age.
- Improves the condition of teeth, hair and nails - this is due to the presence of keratin in the composition.
- Helps accelerate regeneration and reduce inflammation.
- Normalizes sleep and the activity of the nervous system - glycine is to thank for this.
- Accelerating metabolism and gaining muscle mass - it is for this property that gelatin granules are loved in the sports community; in combination with honey, they are used as an alternative to expensive supplements.
Nutritionist's comment:
This inexpensive protein product has justifiably earned a reputation as a good assistant in losing weight and improving health. It is advisable to introduce it into your diet if you want to enrich your menu with low-calorie ingredients with high biological value.
Areas of application
The benefits of using the product make it possible to use it in many areas of industry:
- In the food sector, thanks to gelatin, you can prepare desserts, sausages, first and second courses, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
- In medicine, it is used to stop bleeding and improve blood quality and clotting.
- In pharmacology, it is needed for the manufacture of gelatin capsules and tablet shells.
- Participates in the production of film and photographic paper.
- Gelatin is used in cosmetology to create masks and creams with a lifting effect.
Edible gelatin for joints: benefits and harms
Another very important property is its beneficial effect on cartilage and bone tissue. Therefore, regular use is indicated for weightlifters. But for those whose activities are not related to heavy lifting, jelly-like dishes will be useful. Collagen supports the connective epithelium, helping to cope with increased physical activity and restoring the structure of cartilage. This protein serves to prevent diseases of the musculoskeletal system and can alleviate the condition of a sick person.
Taking gelatin internally means no harm and great benefit for those who suffer from arthritis and osteoporosis. The product effectively relieves inflammation and strengthens joints, preventing the thinning of cartilage tissue.
After age 30, collagen production decreases by 1% annually. By the age of 60, synthesis practically disappears.
This means that as you age, to keep your joints healthy, you need to eat more foods that contain this fibrillar protein.
Nutritionist's comment:
Factors that reduce the amount of collagen in the body and contribute to its destruction:
- unbalanced diet;
- bad habits, namely smoking and alcohol abuse;
- regularly being under stress;
- insufficient rest, irregular sleep, sleep disturbances;
- diseases of the digestive system;
- influence of ultraviolet radiation.
Benefits of gelatin
The benefits of gelatin are obvious, first of all, because it contains a large amount of an amino acid called glycine, which, in turn, is one of the sources of energy for the normal activity of our body. It is known that protein products do not contain enough glycine, so we can say without a doubt that gelatin is a fairly useful additive to meat dishes.
In the human body, protein amino acids such as hydroxyproline and proline also play an important role in connective tissues. Due to their properties, doctors recommend eating dishes using gelatin for people with complex types of bone fractures, so that they heal faster. Therefore, the benefits of gelatin have also been proven for patients suffering from osteochondrosis. In addition to joints and bones, our hair, nails and skin also need gelatin. In cosmetology, special gelatin masks for hair and face have found their use, and gelatin baths are undoubtedly useful for nails.
What is useful for women
Taking gelatin, as we found out, is beneficial and practically does not cause harm - a universal food supplement is appropriate in the diet of any adult, regardless of gender. But for the fair half of humanity this ingredient is especially valuable, because it helps preserve youth and beauty.
Thanks to its cosmetic properties, it can be consumed not only as food, but also as a hand bath and hair mask. Such procedures help improve structure and strengthening.
For nail plates, make a solution of 1 tablespoon of gelatin granules per half liter of water. They need to be dissolved in a warm liquid; they should not be brought to a boil, as this will reduce the benefits of the product. Keep your hands in the product for 20-30 minutes. For a noticeable effect, the procedure is repeated 2-3 times a week. As a result, nails become strong, flexible, do not break, and grow faster. You can add lemon juice and honey.
For hair, the concentration should be higher - the ratio is 1:5. You can add vegetable oil (jojoba, almond, apricot or grape seed) to the solution. You need to keep the mask under the film; with regular use, the hair becomes shinier and more elastic, less porous.
But animal collagen is not able to penetrate the skin, since it has a high molecular weight. In this case, there will be no harm or benefit from the external use of gelatin for the woman’s body. To prevent the occurrence of wrinkles and smooth out existing ones, only oral administration will help. The exception is the marine analogue, extracted from fish; it is capable of penetrating into the deep layers of the dermis, but you will not find such a product on grocery store shelves.
Description
Gelatin is a mixture of protein substances of animal origin. It is obtained from bones, cartilage, tendons, that is, from products rich in collagen, by prolonged boiling. The most common sources of gelatin are cattle and fish. Edible gelatin, as a rule, has a light yellow tint, and it has no smell or taste.
From Latin the word “gelatin” is translated as “frozen.” This name can be easily explained by all the known properties of this product.
Most often you can see this product on sale in the form of small crystals or plates.
The composition of gelatin is dominated by a large amount of proteins (about 85%) and collagen. It is these substances that contain the main beneficial properties of gelatin.
Gelatin was patented by engineer Peter Cooper in 1845. However, for the next few decades the engineer’s invention was not popular. People simply could not understand what exactly the benefits of gelatin were and how this product should be used in general. But soon another scientist, Pearl Waite, invented jelly. From this moment on, gelatin finally gained well-deserved popularity and began to be widely used in cooking.
Today, many different delicious dishes are prepared from it. To make anything with gelatin, you must first let it swell in cold water and dissolve it in warm liquid.
This product has also found its application in pharmaceuticals. It is added in the production of candles and capsules. It is also used in the production of photographic paper and film, and is often added to the production of cosmetics: shampoos, balms and masks.
How to use
The daily norm is 10 grams. It is found on sale in the form of powder, granules or thin plates - all of the listed forms are suitable for use in food. The most popular methods:
- pour the contents of the package with warm water and stir in a water bath until completely dissolved;
- add to a drink at room temperature in the evening, you can drink it in the morning.
Used to prepare a variety of dishes: jellied fish, jellied meat, jelly, soufflé, marmalade, pudding. The proportion of gelling component varies depending on what structure is desired. For an elastic dessert you will need 20 grams of granules per half liter of liquid, for jelly - 5-7 g. How to drink gelatin for weight loss depends on your taste. The main thing is not to add sugar, otherwise the calorie content will increase greatly.
There are foods whose consumption increases your own collagen production; they contain essential amino acids:
- fish of the salmon family;
- red meat;
- cheese, kefir, yogurt and other dairy products;
- nuts.
Vitamin C, which is found in currants, sweet peppers, sauerkraut, and broccoli, also promotes protein synthesis. It is also advisable to eat plant foods that contain hyaluronic acid - beans and beets.
Is edible gelatin harmful to the human body, or only beneficial?
Many people who have learned about the value of such an affordable product have doubts about whether it really has only a positive effect. Yes, there is no negative impact. Only if the norm is regularly exceeded can a healthy person have side effects such as allergic manifestations on the skin. Those who are prone to constipation should also take gelatin granules with caution, since an excess of this substance in the body can harden the stool.
Application in medicine
In hospitals, solutions with gelatin are used for the following purposes:
- Instead of plasma for traumatic shock.
- With low blood clotting to stop bleeding in internal organs.
- For the treatment of hemophilia.
- In artificial blood circulation machines.
- The calcium found in gelatin in a form accessible to the body allows it to be used in medicine to increase blood clotting.
Gelatin is also used for the manufacture of dosage forms (capsules) filled with active medicinal substances.
When the harm to health outweighs the benefits, and treatment with gelatin is not recommended - contraindications
This product is usually absorbed very well, but there are still contraindications. They are relevant for those who cannot eat a lot of protein foods due to certain diseases:
- kidney;
- of cardio-vascular system;
- with increased blood clotting;
- in case of violation of salt-water metabolism;
- atherosclerosis;
- gout;
- the presence of stones in the gall bladder;
- hemorrhoids, constipation.
Sometimes increased sensitivity occurs, most often this is due to regular excess of the daily norm.
Harm and contraindications
Since the calorie content of food gelatin is average, it should be consumed in moderation. Although there is no harm from it, there are still several restrictions:
- Do not use if you are allergic to animal protein, or if you have a disease such as oxaluric diathesis.
- If you have urolithiasis, you need to monitor the amount of food you eat.
- Since blood clotting increases, it should not be used for varicose veins, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis.
- If you have chronic constipation, you should not eat a lot of gelatin dishes. Jelly with prunes, figs and other laxative ingredients are also contraindicated.
Recipes for weight loss with gelatin
This product can be included in various dishes - desserts, snacks, drinks. We offer several variations to complement your healthy diet.
Curd jelly
You will need 200 ml of milk, the same number of grams of cottage cheese (5% fat) - they should be mixed well. Combine half a glass of water and 30 g of gelatin granules and dissolve according to the instructions. You can use stevia or dried fruits as a sweetener, but it’s also delicious without the sweet component. When dissolution is complete, add to the milk-curd mixture. Pour into molds and refrigerate.
Jellied fish
You will need fillets of pike perch, trout or cod, pollock is also suitable - 500 g, it needs to be boiled, adding onions, carrots, cloves and bay leaves to the broth. After boiling, keep on fire for 30 minutes. Next, the hot liquid is carefully filtered so that it is free of impurities, and pre-dissolved gelatin (15 g) is added. The fish must be separated from the bones, cut into convenient pieces, placed in a dish and poured with a clear broth. When it cools down a little, put it in the refrigerator for several hours, or better yet, overnight. Greens and canned peas are used for decoration.
Fruit jelly
Dissolve 20 g of gelatin granules in 50 g of water or fresh juice in a water bath. Add this mixture to the main portion of juice (volume no more than 0.5 liters), mix well. We put our favorite fruits in the bowls - pieces of bananas, kiwi, peaches, apricots. Then fill it with the prepared liquid and put it in the refrigerator for several hours.
This recipe is good for those who love bright colors and experiments. You can prepare 2-3 types of nectar (without added sugar) in contrasting shades, and pour one layer on top of the other (the lower one must first be frozen to prevent mixing). The dish can also be supplemented with a layer of sour cream or yogurt.
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Despite the apparent attractiveness of the product, you should remember that gelatin is not a miracle remedy that will help you lose weight quickly and permanently. It can be recommended as one of the menu components. Proper and healthy weight loss can only be achieved by following an individually selected weight loss program and optimal physical activity. Specialists at Elena Morozova’s weight loss clinic will provide you with personal recommendations and a diet that is guaranteed to help you achieve a beautiful figure without harm to your health.
