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What is beef gelatin good for. Beef Gelatin Benefits, Uses, Nutrition, Comparison to Collagen

What is beef gelatin good for? Discover the benefits, uses, nutrition, and comparison to collagen of this popular supplement.

What is Beef Gelatin?

Beef gelatin is a powdered supplement made mostly from bovine hides (the natural, unbleached skin and hair of cows). It’s specifically sourced from bovine collagen, which is a structural protein that’s also found in the human body and essential for overall health in many ways — considering it helps form our joints, ligaments, skin, bones, lining of the gastrointestinal tracts and more.

Both gelatin and collagen supplements are made up of amino acids, including glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine, which have benefits for digestion, wound repair, joint support and beyond.

In addition to being a great source of protein, beef gelatin can be used as a thickening agent when cooking or baking. It’s considered a “texturizer” and “stabilizer” in recipes due to how it absorbs liquid and forms a gel or jelly consistency, such as in gummies, jams, jellies, puddings and marshmallows.

How is Beef Gelatin Made?

Powdered beef gelatin supplements do not actually have any beef in them, but they are called beef gelatin because they are sourced from collagen found in cows. Some of the best-quality beef gelatin supplements that are now available are sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine collagen. Collagen is then cooked and heated, which isolates the gelatin.

Extraction of gelatin in food manufacturing is usually done using hot water and acid solutions to hydrolyze collagen into gelatin. Then certain filtration, clarification and sterilization processes usually take place to form the dried, final product, depending on how it’s sold.

Beef Gelatin Nutrition

Gelatin is considered a “pure protein” because it hardly contains any fat, fiber, sugar, carbs or other vitamins and minerals. It’s made up of about 98 percent to 99 percent protein by dry weight.

One tablespoon of beef gelatin powder has about 35 calories and 9 grams of protein. The primary reason that gelatin is consumed is for its protein/amino acids. Amino acids are the “building blocks” of protein, and gelatin contains several in relatively high amounts that can be hard to get from other food sources.

Beef Gelatin vs. Collagen

What is the difference between beef gelatin and collagen? While they are both made from the same source (collagen), the main difference is that collagen protein powder (also called hydrolyzed collagen or collagen peptides) is unflavored and dissolves in both hot or cold liquids. Once hydrolyzed, collagen protein is easy to mix into things like smoothies, coffee, etc.

Gelatin, on the other hand, needs to be dissolved in hot water or other hot liquids, such as coffee. It works a bit differently than collagen powder because it needs to be heated to dissolve and take on a gel-like consistency.

Beef Gelatin Benefits

What are the benefits of beef gelatin? Beef gelatin can provide several benefits due to its unique amino acid composition, including:

  1. Improved digestion and gut health
  2. Better joint, bone and skin health
  3. Reduced inflammation
  4. Improved sleep quality
  5. Enhanced athletic performance and recovery
  6. Weight management support

Beef Gelatin Uses

In addition to being consumed as a supplement, beef gelatin has many culinary uses. It can be used as a thickening agent when cooking or baking, and is considered a “texturizer” and “stabilizer” in recipes due to how it absorbs liquid and forms a gel or jelly consistency. Some common uses for beef gelatin include:

  • Gummies
  • Jams and jellies
  • Puddings
  • Marshmallows
  • Desserts
  • Soups and sauces

How to Use Beef Gelatin

To use beef gelatin, it typically needs to be dissolved in hot water or other hot liquids. It works a bit differently than collagen powder because it needs to be heated to dissolve and take on a gel-like consistency.

When using beef gelatin, it’s important to follow the instructions on the package. Generally, the ratio is about 1 tablespoon of gelatin powder per 2 cups of liquid. The gelatin should be sprinkled over the liquid and allowed to “bloom” for 5-10 minutes before stirring to fully dissolve.

Once dissolved, the gelatin can be used in a variety of recipes or simply consumed on its own as a supplement. It’s important to note that beef gelatin is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans, as it’s derived from animal sources.

Beef Gelatin Benefits, Uses, Nutrition, Comparison to Collagen