I’m sure we’ve all heard of collagen, but do we actually know what it is? Collagen is a structural protein that is the main building block for our skin, which is the largest organ in our body. Collagen makes up about 75-80% of our skin, which is a considerable amount! It has been proven that as we age, collagen production naturally decreases, resulting in fine lines and sagging skin due to loss of skin elasticity.
Previous generations actually had quite a bit of collagen in their diets, since they were more likely to boil down bones to make broth (bone broth is making a comeback now, though), and they also ate more of the animal. Traditionally, people didn’t tend to eat boneless, skinless chicken breasts and ignore the rest of the bird. They ate the skin, the organs, the fat, the meat, and used the rest of the carcass to make soup! The bones, skin, and connective tissues of animals are a wealth of nutrients, including protein, gelatin, and collagen, among others.
Sooo – what happens if gulping down bone broth and gnawing on chicken liver isn’t quite your thing? You can definitely get your collagen fix in other ways! My current favorite method is by making some tasty little gummies (yes – you heard me right!).
By using beef gelatin (which contains collagen), you can easily make homemade gummies that are low in sugar, incredibly easy to make, and are a healthy, nutrient-filled snack! Just make sure to find some good-quality gelatin that comes from grass-fed beef (Vital Proteins makes a great one). And don’t worry – the gelatin is tasteless so you won’t be making beef-flavored gummies.
Here are some recipes that you can try at home! Enjoy!
Tart Cherry Lime Gummy “Candy”
Berry Collagen Protein Gummy Bears
Lemon Raspberry Gelatin Gummies
Sources
https://blog.kettleandfire.com/beauty-benefits-of-collagen/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10978-skin
by Sarah Wilson
