Benefits of Collagen Vs Gelatin (+Recipe)

Collagen and gelatin are beneficial to your body, they are very similar, and offer many of the same benefits. Shutterstock

Is Collagen the Same as Gelatin? Do They Do the Same Thing? What Are They Good For?

Collagen and gelatin are very similar, but they do have several differences. Both have the exact same amino acids and are easily absorbed which means your body is getting nutrients with whichever form you consume. Both collagen and gelatin are made from the bones, skin, and connective tissue of animals.

To understand gelatin, we need to start with collagen. Collagen is the primary protein in connective tissue, skin, and bones. You have more collagen in your body than any other type of protein. Collagen makes up 25-35% of the whole-body protein content! Lack of collagen can cause a wide range of problems as you age from wrinkles to decreased joint elasticity.

Gelatin is simply the cooked form of collagen and is one of the best and most convenient ways to ingest the important amino acids in collagen. Collagen hydrolysate (sometimes called hydrolyzed collagen) is gelatin that’s been processed more intensively to break up the proteins into smaller bits.

The major difference between these two protein sources is how you like to consume them. While typical gelatin is only soluble in hot liquids, both BalanceDocs Gelatin and collagen will dissolve in hot or cold mixtures, making them ideal to add to any beverage, smoothie, soup, sauce, and even baked goods.

Most products are flavorless and are great for adding to recipes for an extra boost of protein.

Health Benefits of Collagen and Gelatin

• Improves the elasticity of the skin, while reducing roughness and aging
• Balance gut hormones
• Support healing of the intestinal lining
• Improves arthritis, general bone and joint health

How to Add Collagen and Gelatin Into My Diet?

Breakfast in a Mug

Short on time? Don’t want a big breakfast? Try this breakfast in a mug.

• Organic black coffee
• 1-2 scoops of Balanced Docs Gelatin
• 2 tsp of organic extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/3 C unsweetened almond/coconut milk
• Dash of cinnamon
• Vanilla extract or stevia drops to taste

Fight Food Waste

Save the juices at the bottom after cooking a roast or meat dish (especially if it contained a bone or joint). Reuse as part of the base of soups, boost the flavor of sautéed veggies or freeze it for later use. The meat “jello” that forms when chilled is rich in gelatin and nutrients that can support joints, hair, skin, and nails.

Better Baked Goods

Add a scoop or two of collagen peptides to your next batch of baked goods. The powder is flavorless and adds a punch of protein to offset the sugar rush.

No-Bake Energy Bites

Ingredients

• 1/3 C honey
• 1/4 C pumpkin
• 1/4 C creamy nut butter (peanut or almond)
• 2 C old-fashioned oats
• 1/4 C ground flaxseeds
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 scoops vanilla flavored collagen peptides.

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, chill the batter in the fridge for 30 mins.
2. Then roll into bite-size balls and place in the fridge for 30 mins to set.

Recipe from Vital Proteins

Homemade Fruit Gummies

Gelatin can be used to make homemade jello or fruits strips. Try this great pre-/post-workout recipe from paleoleap.com.

Serves: 4 Prep time: 25 mins + 1 hr chill Cook: 10 mins Macros: 6g Protein, 8 g Carbs

Ingredients

• 1 large mango, peeled cut into chunks
• 1/3 c lime juice
• 1/3 c water
• 4 Tsp gelatin powder

Directions

1. Add mango chunks, lime juice, and water to a saucepan and place over medium heat.
2. Stir occasionally until liquid barely starts to simmer.
3. Blend the mixture using a blender or food processor until smooth.
4. Let the mix sit in an uncovered bowl of your blending or food processor for about 10 mins in order for it to cool down before adding the gelatin.
5. Add in the gelatin powder and blend again until fully incorporated.
6. Pour the gummy mixture into a glade dish and place it in the fridge for about 1 hour.
7. When the gummies are set, you can cut them into small squares or use any cookie cutter to create fun shapes.

Try BalanceDocs Gelatin

While both collagen and gelatin can be beneficial for you, all supplements are not created equal. All-natural BalanceDocs Gelatin has been shown to help support healthy weight loss, HGH production, and improve symptoms of PMS, sleep, mood, hair and nail growth.

• Helps regulate the body’s metabolism
• Excellent support for muscles and joints
• Builds connective tissue in hair, skin, and nails
• Bio-active product containing 90 percent protein
• Rapid absorption, mixed with water
• Coldwater soluble

Nisha Jackson is a nationally recognized hormone and functional medicine expert, renowned lecturer, motivational speaker, radio host, columnist, author of the bestseller “Brilliant Burnout,” and founder of OnePeak Medical Clinics in Oregon. For 30 years, her approach to medicine has successfully reversed chronic problems such as fatigue, brain fog, depression, insomnia, and lack of stamina.

This story originally published on the One Peak Medical Center’s Blog.