Benefits of homemade gelatin
If you’ve read my numerous blog posts about the benefits of bone broth, then you already know the power of gelatin as a gut remedy. That’s why I put together this delicious Jell-O recipe for homemade Jell-O. This is another way to get all the benefits of gelatin.
French research up to the 1950s shows that gelatin was used to treat diseases such as the following:
- Ulcers
- Jaundice
- diabetes
- infection
- Cancer
Bone broths contain minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, magnesium and trace elements. All in forms that the body can absorb and use immediately.
The breakdown of cartilage and tendons also makes substances such as chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine available to the body in an easily absorbing form.
Mushroom broths provide beta-glucans to heal and balance the immune system, and vegetable broths provide alkalinity and detoxification – benefiting the liver, adrenal glands and thyroid.
In the IBD remission diet, I recommend drinking homemade bone broths between Absorb Plus shakes to provide healing gelatin to the gastrointestinal tract, provide flavor variety (sweet-salty-sweet-salty, etc.), and stimulate your appetite.
The high gelatin content in properly prepared bone broth from organic or pastured animals is extremely beneficial for the intestines. And if you’re vegetarian or want a change, you can also drink homemade vegetable broth, or the mushroom broth I was talking about.
You can find more information about the health benefits of bone broth here. You can download this free eBook of broth recipes to get you started.
But what if you’re craving something sweeter?
What is Homemade Jell-O?
Homemade Jell-O made from clear fruit juice and gelatin is another acceptable part of the IBD remission diet. Strain the juice through a coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove the fiber. There are many ways to customize it to your liking. Recently a reader in our LTYG Facebook group asked me the following question. I thought this was a great idea:
I read in the IBD Remission Diet that one of the allowed foods is homemade gelatin (Jello) and that we could use clear juice to make it. All the organic, unpasteurized juices I can find contain a lot of sugar. Can herbal tea sweetened with honey be used for gelatin?
The answer is… yes! Technically, honey also contains a disaccharide sugar (along with the monosaccharide fructose). Although disaccharides are not allowed in an elemental diet, one could argue that the amount is so small that it is unlikely to make a difference.
You can also use monk fruit (luo han guo) to further sweeten the honey, and this is a permitted sweetener. This is what I do with my mint tea – I only use a small amount of honey and 3 drops of monk fruit.
Of course, you can always prepare your own herbal tea and sweeten it with the approved natural sweeteners of your choice. Fructose, dextrose, glucose, stevia or monk fruit (Luo Han Guo).
Reader feedback on the Jello recipe
What I love about my readers is that they are always happy to share their insights and successes with the rest of the LTYG community! This reader tried it, and here is her experience:
Today I made Stash brand hibiscus tea gelatin. Add 5 tea bags to 2 cups of boiling water. Allow the tea to steep for 15-20 minutes and squeeze the tea bags before discarding. Added 1 tablespoon of honey. Meanwhile, pour a cup of water into a small baking dish and, stirring with a whisk, sprinkle 2 tablespoons of gelatin over it. Then pour the tea into the water and whisk for a few seconds. Put in the fridge. About an hour later I had gelatin. It’s not sweet. So if you’re used to using juice, taste it before adding it to the water – and of course use as little honey as possible. If you want gummy bears instead of gelatin, add 3 tablespoons of gelatin to the water instead of 2. Next I try apple cinnamon herbal tea. 😉
Apple cinnamon sounds divine! The types/flavors of tea (or clear juice) can personalize your Jell-O – just make sure the tea you choose meets my guidelines in The IBD Remission Diet: You want a tea that is organic and caffeine-free.
You’ll find that I go into much more detail about all the acceptable ingredients/foods in my book, but here is the easy Jell-O recipe to help you make your own Jell-O…
Homemade Jello Recipe
Natural Jell-O is a really nice alternative texture if you only consume liquids. This Jell-O recipe also contains more gelatin to soothe the lining of your intestines. Try to find a high quality and kosher brand of gelatin. Since these usually have a very mild taste (similar to Knox gelatin):
- Pour 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin over 1/4 cup natural, unsweetened, clear fruit juice (preferably certified organic) OR herbal tea of your choice
- Add 1/4 cup boiling water and stir constantly until gelatin is completely dissolved (about 1-2 minutes).
- Add another 1.5 cups juice or tea, stir and refrigerate until solid
- *If you want a firmer jelly, add less juice
And if you’re looking for more gut-healing gelatin recipes, why not try this congee recipe? This rice porridge uses broth instead of water and adds extra minerals, gut-healing gelatin, and flavor. It calms the intestines and is one of my favorite recipes!
Thanks again to our amazing reader for sharing!!
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
