Gelatin: benefits and harm to the body, how to take it for weight loss

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.

Is it good for losing weight?

Despite its high calorie content, gelatin also promotes weight loss, but it must be consumed in limited quantities. The main benefit of the product is that it promotes rapid saturation and accelerates metabolic processes.

There are two main ways to take gelatin while losing weight:

• eating dishes with gelatin throughout the week, for example, broths and fruit jellies;
• diluting gelatin with water and using it before meals as a product that will reduce food intake.

In the second case, the drink is prepared as follows: 2 teaspoons of powder are diluted with 100 ml of cold water. Before drinking the drink, add warm juice or water to the mixture in a volume of 100 ml. Be sure to drink the drink 20 minutes before meals.

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.

Content of chemical elements

table 2

At a high level of significance of the nutritional value of the chemical macro- and microelements of the product are:

• Fe (iron) is involved in blood formation.
• Ca (calcium) is necessary for bone and dental tissues.
• Mg (magnesium), helps increase the activity of food enzymes.
• Cu (copper) is involved in the process of hematopoiesis, growth and development of cells and tissues, and the construction of proteins.
• P (phosphorus), required by the skeletal system and teeth.

Low level elements of this product include:

• Mn (manganese) is necessary for proper cell development and iron absorption.
• Na (sodium) actively participates in the formation of gastric juice for the digestion process and, together with potassium, maintains the salt composition of the blood unchanged.

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.

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

Gelatin is well absorbed by the body and does not cause increased secretion of the digestive glands, so it is often included in dietary foods.

It is useful to use it for bone injuries, for example, when cracks and fractures form, as it promotes their rapid fusion and quickly restores joint tissue after injury. Regular consumption of gelatin is recommended for elderly people suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as osteochondrosis and arthritis.

The beneficial properties of gelatin for hair and nails have been noted, so it is often used as a component for masks and baths.

For internal bleeding, it is recommended to take jellies and mousses that contain gelatin, as it promotes blood clotting.

The amino acids included in its composition give gelatin properties that strengthen the heart muscle, promote mental activity and strengthen the body's immune system.

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.

Gelatin in cosmetology

Gelatin is widely used in cosmetology. As it contains collagen, it improves the condition of hair, nails, and skin. Masks with it even out the skin, making it firmer, reducing sagging and removing wrinkles. You can do them on the face, décolleté, and hands. It is important to keep the skin clean and avoid the eye area.

Recipe for a face mask (nourishing, moisturizing, toning, rejuvenating)

Soak 1 tablespoon of gelatin in 1/3 cup of water and let it soak. Heat to a boil, do not boil. Remove from heat, let it cool slightly, you can add any of the following products: cucumber juice, milk, kefir, activated carbon tablets, flour, oatmeal, strawberries, banana, cosmetic oil, glycerin, any product that has a beneficial effect on the skin and depending on what effect you want to achieve.

Apply with a warm brush to the face in 2-3 layers. Don't get up and stay calm. Exposure time is 20-30 minutes. Moisturize your face periodically. Rinse off first with warm, then cool water. You will see the effect of the mask on your face