Gelatin

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Gelatin is a widely used culinary product. Some of our favorite pastries, creams and meat dishes are often prepared with gelatin. In stores you can find it in powder form in small granules or in strips. In addition to cooking, however, gelatin is an important component of human health and beauty of skin, nails and hair.

Gelatin is a substance of animal origin. It is a simple protein that is produced by the hydrolysis of collagen from animal bones or cartilage cooked in water. Gelatin is quite easily soluble in water and the degree of solubility is proportional to the temperature of the water. The best temperature for dissolving gelatin is from 42 to 60 degrees Celsius. If the dissolution takes place at a temperature higher than 60 degrees, it loses its gelling properties.

Under the trade name Gelatin is a product that is used in confectionery, wine, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc. Under industrial conditions, gelatin was obtained by cooking in the presence of weak acid in the bones and skin of animals and fish. Gelatin is classified as a food supplement with E number E441.

Composition of gelatin

Dry weight gelatin is 98-99% protein, but it has a lower nutritional value than many other sources of protein. Gelatin has a particularly high content of the essential amino acids glycine and proline (those that the human body can produce on its own), but it lacks essential amino acids (those that the human body cannot produce on its own). It does not contain tryptophan and is low in isoleucine, threonine and methionine.

The approximate amino acid composition of gelatin: glycine 21%, proline 12%, hydroxyproline 12%, glutamic acid 10%, alanine 9%, arginine 8%, aspartic acid 6%, lysine 4%, serine 4%, leucine 3%, varin 2%, phenylalanine 2%, threonine 2%, isoleucine 1%, hydroxylysine 1%, methionine and histidine <1% and tyrosine <0.5%. These values vary depending on the source of the raw material and the production technology.

Standards in the production of gelatin

In our country, all gelatin available on the market is produced from pig skins. There are established veterinary and sanitary requirements for the production of gelatin for human consumption. Bones, hides and skins of farm-raised ruminants, pigskin, hides and skins, tendons, hides and skins of game, hides and skins are generally used for the production of gelatin for human consumption. of fish.

The law stipulates that the use for the production of gelatin of bones from ruminants born, reared or slaughtered in category 5 countries is not permitted. gelatin production of hair with hair and skin without hair subjected to a tanning process.

In the final production stage, the gelatin can undergo a drying process and, if necessary, spraying or layering. In the production of gelatin the use of preservatives is not allowed except for SO (sulfur dioxide) and H O (hydrogen 2 2 2peroxide).

Gelatin in cooking

The ability of gelatin to gel liquid consistencies is the reason why it is used so often in the preparation of jelly creams, jelly cakes, jelly candies, souffles, jellies, etc. In stores you can find gelatin in granules or strips, and in pharmacies they sell capsules. A distinction must be made between real bone gelatin and that which is sold in sachets in stores. You can buy natural bone gelatin from a pharmacy or from a wine company. It is usually mentioned on the packaging that the gelatin is bony.

Both the gelatin granules and strips must be soaked first and necessarily in cold water to swell. This mixture is then usually melted slightly or added to hot sauces and syrups. It is important to know that gelatin should never boil because it causes it to lose its properties.

The gelatin should be melted at a low temperature, stirring constantly. Usually for 1 packet of gelatin of 10 g you need 10-15 spoons of cold water or about a cup of water. About 30-40 g of gelatin are needed per 1 liter of liquid. In cold weather a smaller amount is enough, in warm weather a larger one. The hardness of the jelly you want can be controlled by adding more gelatin for hard jelly and less for softer jelly.

Benefits of gelatin

You may be surprised, but gelatin has a number of benefits for our health. It is an excellent helper for healthy and beautiful nails, hair, skin and joints. 10 g of gelatin per day are needed to strengthen the nails. The Chinese use gelatin as a medicine made only from donkey skin. There is evidence that jelly dishes are suitable for gastrointestinal diseases because they soothe the mucous membranes. Additionally, gelatin is recommended for atherosclerosis.

Gelatin is used and as a powerful treatment for coxarthrosis. In this case, the principle of gelatin treatment is based on the fact that man is an omnivorous creature and we are created so that we need to supply the elements needed for our cartilage and joints by gnawing on the bones of our game. Successful gelatin treatment of coxarthrosis requires concomitant intake of natural calcium.

The principle of treatment is quite simple - animal bones are boiled and the resulting broth after tightening is used in dishes. A second treatment option is to mix a packet of pure bone gelatin in 1/2 yogurt in the morning. Consume it in the evening, and at the same time prepare another such portion to eat in the morning.

Gelatin has a laxative effect. You may feel a rumbling in your stomach until your stomach gets used to it. Usually the result of this treatment can be felt at the earliest after 16-20 days or a month. If there is no improvement, continue treatment for another 1 month, reducing the intake to 1 gelatin per day.

Harm from gelatin

It should be noted that gelatin is one of the few foods that cause total protein loss if it becomes an exclusive and common ingredient in the daily diet. This means that its consumption should not be overdone.

In addition, gelatin is not recommended for constipation or cardiovascular disease because it helps the blood to clot.

Beautification with gelatin

Along with culinary pleasure, gelatin can bring us lasting beauty. You can regularly apply a gelatin mask, which can strengthen the hair, increase its volume and provoke faster growth.

For the mask you need 1 tbsp. gelatin, 1 tsp. shampoo and 3 tbsp. water. Mix the water and gelatin in a bowl and mix until homogeneous. Allow the mixture to rest a bit, add the shampoo and stir again. Apply on hair, rub well, wrap your head with a plastic cap and stay with the mask for 1 hour. Then rinse with water and shampoo.

A second type of mask for beautiful and healthy hair is a combination of gelatin and egg yolk, which gives an instant effect. As a result, your hair is softer, thanks to the proteins contained in the yolk and gelatin. For the mask mix 1 egg yolk, 1 tbsp. gelatin powder, 1 tbsp. vinegar and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Stir and apply the resulting mixture to the entire length of the hair. You do not need to rub into the roots. Stay for 1 hour and then wash off.

There are Asian recipes for beautifying facial skin with gelatin. The substance is very effective in removing blackheads. For this you need 2 tbsp. fresh milk or water and 1-2 tbsp. gelatin. Mix the two components, leave for 10 minutes, melt for a short time and apply on face. Once dry, peel off and enjoy the pleasant effect and clean skin.