Jello: 10 Reasons You Should Eat It Every Day

Now, I am not talking about that gross Jello you find on the shelves of supermarkets which contains all sorts of artificial flavors, colors, and loads of sugar. That Jello is right up there on the list of processed foods you should never feed your kids. What I am talking about is real jello made from gelatin – you know, the nutrient-dense superfood.

Before we get into all the reasons you should eat real Jello every day, let’s do a quick refresher on what gelatin is. Gelatin is basically a cooked form of collagen which is made from cooking down bones and connective tissues. When mixed with water, the collagen (gelatin) creates a jelly-like substance. It doesn’t have much of a flavor to it, so you can use it for all sorts of things from creating jiggly treats to thickening your smoothies.

If you want the full scoop on gelatin, you should check out my ebook, The Gelatin Secret. This eBook is loaded with information (plus lots of recipes) about all the ways gelatin can help you improve your health and wellbeing. Buy it here.  Now, on to the top 10 reasons you should eat gelatin every day!

Disclosure: This post was written by Sylvie McCracken from Hollywood Homestead. It contains affiliate links to her book. We receive a small percentage if you purchase her book but it doesn’t affect the cost. We thank you for supporting our site and the work we do!

1. Gelatin Gives You Gorgeous Skin

You know all of those expensive collagen creams that people put on their face to reduce wrinkles? Well, your skin can’t really absorb collagen. However, we can absorb collagen internally. And what better source of collagen than gelatin, which is just cooked collagen?! It certainly beats Botox!

 2. Gelatin Will Heal Your Gut

Did you know that gut health is linked to everything from obesity to immune function? Unfortunately, our gut health doesn’t get much attention. After years of eating a junk-food diet and pro-inflammatory foods like gluten, our guts can develop holes in them – which means leaky gut disorder and a slew of problems so big we couldn’t address them all here (I talk about this a lot in The Gelatin Secret).  What you should know is that gelatin basically acts like spackle to fill in the holes in your gut. No wonder bone broth (which is naturally rich in gelatin) is considered the go-to remedy for all gut problems!

3. Gelatin Improves Your Joints

You might not be too worried about your joints now, but unless you want to end up like your great aunt Martha with the debilitating arthritis, you’re going to want to make sure your joints are getting enough nutrients. We need the amino acids proline and glycine to produce new cartilage for our joints. Guess what gelatin contains. Yep – proline and glycine!

4. Gelatin Will Save Your Bones from Osteoporosis

Yes, you need calcium for healthy bones – but did you know that your bones are mostly made up of collagen? About 90%-95% collagen to be precise. Gelatin is just cooked collagen, and a form which your body can easy absorb. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that something made from cooked bones is going to be good for your bones!

5. Gelatin Helps Weight Loss

Aside from being a tasty low-calorie snack, Jello is good for weight loss in other ways. The main way is that it helps weight loss is by regulating blood sugar. In fact, gelatin has been used as a remedy for diabetes for over 100 years! In The Gelatin Secret, you can find lots of guilt-free savory and dessert recipes with gelatin in them.

6. Gelatin Keeps You Calm!

Feeling stressed? As a mom of 3 kids, I know what it means to be frazzled sometimes. Instead of freaking out, try eating gelatin gummy treat. Gelatin contains glycine, which is one of the body’s two calming neurotransmitters (the other is GABA). Glycine also gets converted into the neurotransmitter serine which helps you focus, reduces stress, and improves memory.

7. Gelatin Keeps Those Pearly Whites Healthy

With the exception of enamel, all parts of your teeth contain some collagen. The collagen is important for the structure of your teeth and anchoring them into your gums. Eating gelatin helps you get the collagen you need for healthy teeth. It also improves your gut health so your body better absorbs the nutrients needed to make hard, healthy teeth.

8. Gelatin is a Great Source of Protein

Gelatin is LOADED with protein! In just 2 tablespoons, there is 11 grams of protein. That’s about 10% of your RDA! Gelatin isn’t a complete protein because it lacks some amino acids, so you won’t want to use it for post-workout recovery, but it definitely can help you get much-needed protein in your diet.

9. Gelatin Beats Fancy Shampoos for Hair Care

I stopped using regular shampoo (opting for baking soda and apple cider vinegar instead) a while back because they just contain harsh chemicals which strip your hair of natural oils.   My hair improved dramatically, but you know what? It improved even more when I started eating gelatin every day! Hair grows in a sheath (follicle) which is made up of collagen.   By eating gelatin, you improve your hair follicle health, which means stronger and thicker hair.

10. Gelatin Could Help with Cellulite

I personally think this obsession with cellulite is ridiculous – it is normal and natural to have some cellulite! But, of course no one wants it and, if there is a simple thing you can do to reduce it, why not? Cellulite occurs when the collagen in your skin gets weak so adipose tissue (fat) can show through, creating that “cottage cheese” appearance. Eating gelatin – an absorbable form of dietary collagen – can increase in the collagen in your skin so you don’t get cellulite and reduce the cellulite you do have.

 

Want to learn more about gelatin and get loads of recipes for how to use it to make your own healthy Jello treats? Read my eBook The Gelatin Secret – which you can buy here.

About Hollywood Homestead:  Sylvie is a mother of 3 unschooled kids, a former celebrity personal assistant who recently moved to Abu Dhabi where her husband, Eric, is teaching. She and Eric each lost over 65 lbs with paleo and continue to improve their family’s health with food and lifestyle tweaks.  Sylvie is the author of Paleo Made Easy: Getting your Family Started with the Optimal Healthy Lifestyle and  The Gelatin Secret: The Surprising Superfood that Transforms your Health and Beauty . She shares recipes and health tips at www.hollywoodhomestead.com.