Wow, you guys. This recipe is incredibly easy and simple, but before we get to that, I have to regale you with the many reasons that these tasty gummies are so good for you. To me, there's nothing better than knowing the good something is doing for my body once I put it in my mouth. I'm not alone, right?! Hey pregnant Moms: these are a great way to increase that protein intake, which is so important for decreased swelling, reducing varicose veins, and protecting against birth complications. Not to mention the fewer wrinkles, reduced joint pain, and less cellulite for the rest of us!
So the recipe has 3 ingredients, each of which have lots of health benefits.
Blueberries have a low glycemic index, which means they don't make your blood sugar spike (which in turn spikes insulin, which is hard on your body and creates resistance to insulin over time, aka diabetes, eek!). They are known to have the highest number of antioxidants of any fruit, though unfortunately many of the antioxidants are lost during the cooking process, which is why we cook this very gently. The antioxidants in blueberries help protect against cancer, support the cardiovascular system, protect the digestive tract, and can help against neurodegenerative diseases! That all sounds pretty good to me, kinda makes me want to include more antioxidant-rich foods in my diet...
...Like lemons! Lemon juice has all kinds of vitamins, aids in digestion and detoxification, and has antioxidants (great for your skin). It is important that it isn't heated too hot as to undermine all these benefits, so add it once your blueberry mixture has cooled down a bit. As always, organic is best.
Now, the gelatin. The gelatin is the star of the show here. This is a great product (which I used), as is this one. Both of these are minimally processed forms of collagen from beef. The second option is even better than the first because it comes from grass-fed cows, which when it comes to beef, is really the only kind we should be eating. Protein powders are so popular these days, but the amount of processing it takes to separate the protein out of plants is something that is best avoided. Remember, processed foods are never as good for us as food straight from nature. Gelatin in our diets improves the lining of our digestive tracts, healing tiny holes that allow particles to leak into our bodies causing inflammation and allergies. An amino acid present in gelatin (called glycine) acts similarly to anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications, lowering stress hormones and improving our mood. Collagen has been present in the diets of humans for most of history, though in the olden days, it took the form of slow-cooked bone broths. Since many of us haven't yet adopted the bone broth habit, this is the next best thing! (What's that? You want to learn how to make bone broth, you say? Well, what do you know, I have a recipe and instructions right here!)
Now, lets make these babies.
Equipment:
1. A mold (I used a silicone ice cube tray, but you could pour your mixture into any pan and cut it into pieces once it sets)
2. Small saucepan
3. Blender (I used a Nutribullet)
Ingredients:
1. 1 cup organic blueberries
2. Juice from 1 lemon (you can use the zest too, if you want them really lemony!)
3. 4 Tbsp (1/4 cup) good-quality powdered gelatin
Instructions:
1. Heat the blueberries over low heat until steam just starts to rise and blueberries plump up slightly.
2. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and add juice from 1 lemon (no seeds!)
3. Place this mixture into your blender or Nutribullet and blend until smooth.
4. Add gelatin and blend again (the mixture should still be fairly warm in order to melt the gelatin sufficiently).
5. Pour mixture into your mold.
6. Place in fridge and allow to set for 1 hour.
7. Remove from the mold.
8. Place in a sealed glass jar.
9. Enjoy!
