I used to have an addiction to gummy bears, I could demolish a whole pack of Haribo Gummy Bears with ease – these days I can control myself around those little bears (thankfully!). So instead of tearing the heads off tiny multicoloured bears, I decided to have a go at making my own, and it is actually super easy!
What’s so great about gelatin?
Gelatin is made from the collagen extracted from the skin, connective tissues and bones of animals – it is a mixture of 18 amino acids and is 98-99% pure protein. It contains amino acids that you don’t regularly come across in your diet and therefore balances out your amino acid intake from meat and plant sources.
Glycine one of the amino acids present in gelatin and is the agent responsible for the gut healing, skin preserving, inflammation reducing, and mood-improving benefits of gelatin.
Glycine improves the amount of gastric acid produced which in turn facilitates better digestion, reducing bloating and improving the absorption of nutrients. It also assists with maintaining and protecting the stomach lining by thickening the mucus and helping the cells of the gut wall to band together more tightly reducing gaps in the lining through which food particles and bacteria can enter.
Glycine is used by the body to modulate and maintain the hormones that attribute to your mood. Glycine blocks reuptake of your ‘happy-calm hormones’ keeping more in circulation helping to maintain an even mood.
You may have heard that collagen is the golden nutrient needed to reverse the signs of ageing, and this is mostly true. Collagen is what keeps the skin plump and smooth, as you age it breaks down and the skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Gelatin is a broken down form of collagen and has the same amino acids needed by the skin to rebuild this collagen matrix, regular consumption can help to maintain the structure of the skin.
Not only can gelatin give you some great benefits, but it makes an easy snack or way to boost the protein content of your morning smoothie. Gelatin is almost all protein, so the gummy lollies below are actually a satisfying snack (protein helps curb hunger) and gelatin powder added to smoothies will help to keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Tips and tricks
For me, the chewiness is what I crave, rather than the sweet hit, so if you too like really chewy gummy lollies then add an extra tablespoon of gelatin to the recipe below. If you like your gummies really sweet then I suggest trying the recipe with apple juice rather than coconut water – but remember that they are still a sweet treat and to consume in moderation.
The recipe below is easily adapted if you keep the ratio of liquid to gelatin the same you can double it, or swap out the liquid for water, more blended fruit, almond milk or anything else you might like to try. Take a look at the notes below before you get creative.
If you are going to add gelatin into your diet you want to be using a good quality grass-fed beef gelatin, my favorite is the Great Lakes Unflavoured Gelatin.
