5 solid facts about Gelatin

Gelatin is a common ingredient in soups, broths, sauces, gummy candies, marshmallows, cosmetics, and medications. Not only does gelatin have numerous health benefits, but it is also easy to use and won’t break your budget like other superfoods. Yet despite all the attention that gelatin is getting right now, there are still a lot of important things about gelatin that people don’t know. Here are 5 gelatin facts you’ll want to know to get the most out of it!

1. Gelatin is Collagen

Gelatin – generally extracted from the bones and skins of beef, pork, or fish – is a form of collagen in our foods. Because of its functional versatility, it is irreplaceable in many applications. Gelatin is not exactly the same as collagen peptides. Both are proteins made of amino acids, but the amino chains of collagen peptides have been cut into smaller pieces through a specific hydrolysis process. Collagen peptides do not have the gelling functionality of gelatin and are soluble in cold water.

As we can see, collagen and gelatin comprise almost 100% protein and provide practically the same amount of this nutrient per serving. They also share similar compositions of amino acids, organic compounds known as the building blocks of protein — with glycine being the most abundant type.

2. Gelatin contains amino acids lacking in modern diets

Apart from its technological functionalities, gelatin has various nutritional benefits. Except for tryptophan, gelatin contains all the essential amino acids and a very high proportion of conditionally essential amino acids. Gelatin is 98-99% protein, with glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline being the predominant amino acids. Either alone or in combination with other protein sources, it contributes to a healthy, variable, and balanced diet. By eating gelatin, you’re adding those missing amino acids back to your diet and correcting the imbalance.

3. Gelatin is good for fighting wrinkles

Gelatin is packed with the amino acids necessary for collagen production, which provides structure and support for your skin. The protein in gelatin also can help the body build more collagen, a vital element in healthy skin. As people age, their natural collagen levels drop. This can lead to skin losing elasticity and the development of wrinkles.

4. New applications of Gelatin in pharmaceutical field

For many pharmaceutical applications, gelatin has been indispensable for decades. Although mostly used for hard and soft capsules, pharmaceutical gelatin is also essential for many other applications. It’s a table binder and acts as a matrix in vitamin coating. Low endotoxin gelatins are the basis for plasma expanders, vaccines, and hemostatic sponges. Owing to its outstanding properties, gelatin is also used in a wide array of other medical applications: for skin-compatible zinc paste binders, as an excipient for granulates, tablets, or sugar coatings, or as a thickener for liquid dosage forms.

5. Acid residue might be in your Gelatin

You probably know that the gelatin brands in your supermarket aren’t exactly the highest quality. But you might be surprised at just how bad they could be – not just about the additives and food colorings!

There are two main ways that gelatin is made. The first method involves using acids and chemicals like:

Hydrochloric acid

Calcium hydroxide
Sulphur dioxide
Hydrogen peroxide

Traces of these chemicals can remain in the final product. The acids can also kill nutrients in the gelatin. This defeats the whole point of getting health benefits from it!

Summary

With the properties and advantages of Gelatin, we see its growth and popularity in food and pharmaceutical applications. The food & beverage application segment dominated with the highest revenue share of 56.52% in 2021, according to Gelatin Market Analysis by Grand View Research. Functional food products have enhanced nutritional properties that provide various health benefits like improved immunity and reduced fatigue. More than ever, consumers are now making the connection between their eating habits and health. This trend is expected to continue and, thus, likely to positively impact the market growth for functional food in the coming years.

>> Learn more: Functional Gummies: A convenient daily routine at your fingertips

Looking for high-quality, pure, and 100% natural gelatin for functional food products, learn more here or contact us today!

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